The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-08
MINERAL.-WA TRADE.

The annual report on the produc-
ton of mineral water in the United
States. which has just been compiled
by r. B. Dole, OF. the United States
Geographical Survey, from reports re-
ICeiyeds from spring operators, shows
that 54,35S.466 gallons of mineral
water, valued at $4S92,328, was bot
tied and sold in 1914. The water was
marketed for both medical and table
use and ranged in composition frOh
the purest of table beverages to the
strongest mineralized water in the
country. In addition to this quantity,
6,261,743 gallons OF mineral water was
consumed in the manufacture of soft
drinks" The latter quantity does not
begin to represent the entire produc-
ton of soft drinks but only that part
made from mineral waters, by far the
greater part of the favored drinks be-
ing compounded with municipal or pri
vate supplies not classified as mineral
waters. Though IS new springs re-
ported production, a large number
hitherto active were idle, so that the
total number OF commercial springs
was S29, or 8 less than in 1913. The
total production in 1913 was 81, S67 1893
gallons, valued at 1851 ,39l; thus the
decrease in 1914 was 8 per cent in
quantity and Ii per cent in value.
Similar decreases in the trade have
been observed since 1911, and may be
attributed chiefly to central improve
ment in the quality of municipal sup
plies, because of which the necessity
of purchasing bottled drinking water
has been lessened. During the last ten
years the introduction of safe filtered
water into several large cities has been
followed by notable falling off in bust.
ness of table water producers in the
immediate vicinity.
Another change that has been TAX
ing place since 1906 is the drop in the
price per gallon, from II cents in 1906
to 9 cents in 1914. This has been due
partly TO increase OF price of indi-
yidual water but mostly to increased
sales of low priced taOle waters and
decreased sales of high priced mineral
waters reputed to have peculiar meji-
.cinal properties. The value of table
waters sold in 1914 was 1888, 861.
while that of medicinal waters was
.$1,298,437
The State of New York leads in
number of commercial springs, in the
quantity and total value of water sold,
and in value of table waters, though it
is far behind in the value of medicinal
waters, in the sales of which CalifOr-
MIA takes first rank. Indiana and Vir-
GINA are also notable producers of
medicinal waters. In value of table
waters Wisconsin is second only to
New York and is followed by CalifOr-
MIA, Maine and Pennsylvania Sales
were reported from every State in
the Union except Arizona and Idaho.
Nearly half the trade was in the
hands OF about 20 producers, each of
which dill more than $4,000 worth of
business, and more than 100000 gal
Ions was marketed from each of )
springs Yet the trade is essential
~ local. for us other springs scatter
Cd throughout the country reported
sales ranging in value from s. to
100000. Practically four-fifths of the
mineral water was sold at prices
ranging from One-half cent to 10
cents gallon, and only per cent
was sold at prices greater than 30
cents. AS a general rule most of the
nigh priced waters are sold for med
ical use, though the demand for sew
eral we'll known table waters has suS,
tanned their prices.