Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-05

such siesta, we insist, makes far
more deectable appeal than sundae
debauch. ............ .......
Expanded Soda Habit.
The United States census shows that
the soda habit has acquired a tremen-
dous grip. over 475OO0,O00 gallons of
soda water are consumed in this coun-
try alone in a single year approximately
8, 900, 100000 glasses, or about seventy
glasses per capita. This does not in
clude the popular sundae or college ice
Fifty years ago the annual expenditure
for soda water in the United States
amounted to only a few thousand dollars
today the expenditure involved in the
industry is about $5O0,OOOOOO. There are
more than 10000 soda fountains in the
country.
This means an awful amount of gas,
whose chief charm lies in its especial
antipathy to heat. It is the most active
enemy of that very fiery article-alco-
hol. And yet beer and soda water have
the same source. Each starts from the
brewery. The carbonic acid gas which
used to be allowed to escape from the
fermentation watts as a useless bypro-
duct is now caught and compressed to
q liquid, and forms the chief supply of
the soda fountain. So that soda water
does not contain soda any more than
lead pencil contains lead
Linen collars and parlor cars are the
only things that can compete with sum
mer drinks when It comes to names.
few are pineapple temptation, soul KISS
Cupid's delight. sunset sizzle, Halley's
comet, heavenly hash, the Pocahontas
quilp, the country cousin and the subway
cooler. Some are doubtful aids to health.
An Elderly InstitutiOn.
The first soda water patent was taken
out in this country in 1910, by Simmons
& Rundell Of Charleston, 9. c. But the
man who founded the soda water indus
try in New York city was John Mat
thews He began in 1892 with small
fountain hitched to a push cart He
mixed his own syrups, charged the wa
ter and did his own hawking In the
streets.
Soda fountains cost from 500 to $4,000,
but It is seldom that a salesman permits
purchaser to pay less than 500 Tor
one. Fashions in fountains change as
they do in automobiles, in style, con-
struction, material, equipment labor
saving devices anG efficlency-promoting
gewgaws, all OF which influences the
operators to buy again.
A fountain becomes antiquated several
times more quickly even than battle
ship, and a newer and better one must
be installed to meet the enterprise OF
the Greek across the street. Improve
ments are always being made in nut
cutters, ice breakers, straw covers, glass
washers, candy racks, furniture. water
purifiers, and, in fact. everything else
pertaining TO the business.
scope of the Industry.
THE Pharmaceutical Era's' historian
OF the soda water industry wakes elo-
auent when he considers the vast scope
of the business. We quote:
Few realize the scope of the indus
tries allied TO that OF soda manufacture.
Quarrying, metal working, silver plat
ing, brass working and plumbing; glass
making and china baking; fruit preserv-
ing and syrup making: wood carving and
loaded glass work: edible nut gathering
in every clime and the culling Of rare
extracts and flavors from temperate and
torrid zones-aI these and more are af-
filiated with the soda water Industry
and have 10 take their toll before the
fizz of the fountain is possible in the
production Of even one glass OF the
great American beverage
Great orchards are devoted exclu-
sIyeIy TO the culture Of fruits for syrups
and preserved delicacies; immense groves
in Jamaica, Porto Rico, Hawaii and the