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Introduction

The Saratoga Valley Geology General Properties of the Springs Discovery of the Springs Are They Natural Commercial Value Medicinal Value Analysis by Prof. Chandler Individual Characteristics History and Properties of each Spring Congress Spring Columbian Spring Crystal Spring Ellis Spring Empire Spring Eureka Spring Excelsior Spring Geyser Spring Glacier Spring Hamilton Spring Hathorn Spring High Rock Spring Pavilion Spring Putnam Spring Red Spring Saratoga "A" Spring Seltzer Spring Star Spring Ten Springs United States Spring Washington Spring White Sulphur Spring Directions for Drinking the Water Saratoga Abroad Special Notice

Places of Interest History Routes and Distances Railway Station The Village Hotel Accommodations Congress Hall Grand Union Grand Central Hotel Clarendon Everett House Alphabetical List of hotels Temple Grove The Climate Drs. Strong Churches YMCA Rooms Real Estate Hack Fares Drives and Walks Moon's Lake House Saratoga Lake Chapman's Hill Wagman's Hill Hagerty Hill Wearing Hill Lake Lovely Stiles Hill Corinth Falls Luzerne Lake George Ballston Glen Mitchell Excelsior Grove Walk to Excelsior Spring Congress Park Gridley's Trout Ponds Saratoga Battle Ground Surrender Ground The Village Cemetery Verd-Antique Marble Works Amusements Josh Billings Routine for a Lady Balls Races Indian Camp Circular Railway Shopping Evenings Saratoga in Winter Romance Saratoga Society

Conclusion

Appendix

INTRODUCTION.

The design of this work is not to give a history of the village of Saratoga. That, as well as a more elaborate description of the geology of the county, may be found in a very interesting book, published several years since, by R.L. ALLEN, M.D., entitled the "Hand Book of Saratoga and Stranger's Guide." We acknowledge our indebtedness to the work for several items in regard to the history of the Springs.

We would acknowledge here also, the assistance and uniform courtesy which we have received from the Superintendents and officers of the various Springs. The failure of an engraving company to fulfill their agreement has delayed the issue of the work and prevented the insertion of several other engravings.

R.F.D.

The Analysis, History and Properties OF THE MINERAL SPRINGS.

THE Mineral Springs of Saratoga.

The region of Mineral Springs in Eastern New York consists of a long, shallow and crescent-shaped valley, extending northeast from Ballston, its western horn, to Quaker Springs, its eastern extremity. The entire valley abounds in mineral fountains of more or less merit, and in the central portion bubble up the Waters of Healing, which have given to SARATOGA its world-wide celebrity.

Professor CHANDLER, of the Columbia School of Mines, thus describes the

Geology of the County.

"Beginning with the uppermost, the rocks of Saratoga county are:

"The northern half of the county is occupied by the elevated ranges of Laurentian rocks; flanking these occur the Potsdam, Calciferous and Trenton beds, which appear in succession in parallel bands through the central part of the county. These are covered in the southern half of the county by the Utica and Hudson river slates and shales.

"The Laurentian rocks, consisting of highly crystalline gneiss, granite and syenite, are almost impervious, while the overlying Potsdam sandstone is very porous, and capable of holding large quantities of water. In this rock the mineral springs of Saratoga probably have their origin. The surface waters of the Laurentian hills, flowing down over the exposed edges of the Potsdam beds, penetrate the porous sandstones, become saturated with mineral matter, partly derived, perhaps, from the limestones above, and are forced to the surface at a lower level, by hydrostatic pressure. The valley in which the springs all occur indicates the line of a fault or fracture in the rocky crust, the strata on the west side of which are hundreds of feet above the corresponding strata on the east.

"The mineral waters probably underlie the southern half of the entire county, many hundred feet below the surface; the accident of the fault determining their appearance as springs in the valley of Saratoga Springs, where, by virtue of the greater elevation of their distant source, they reach the surface through crevices in the rocks produced by the fracture.

"It is probable that water can be obtained anywhere in the southern portion of the county by tapping the underlying Potsdam sandstone. In these wells the water usually rises to and above the surface. Down in the rocky reservoir the water is charged with gases under great pressure. As the water is forced to the surface, the pressure diminishes, and a portion of gas escapes with effervescence. The spouting wells deliver, therefore, enormous volumes of gas with the water, a perfect suds of water, carbonic acid and carburetted hydrogen.

"The common origin of the springs is shown by the analysis: all contain the same constituents in essentially the same order of abundance; they differ in the degree of concentration merely. Those from the deepest strata are the most concentrated. The constituents to which the taste of the water and its most immediate medicinal effects are due, are: Chloride of sodium, bicarbonate of lime, bicarbonate of magnesia, bicarbonate of soda and free carbonic acid. Other important, though less speedily active, constituents are: Bicarbonate of iron, bicarbonate of lithia, iodide of sodium and bromide of sodium."

The solvent power which holds all these solid substances in solution, and which contributes to their agreeable taste, is the carbonic acid gas with which the water is so freely charged. This free carbonic acid gas is probably formed by the decomposition of the carbonates which compose the rock. The water, impregnated with it, becomes a powerful solvent, and, passing through different strata, absorbs the various mineral substances which compose its solid constituents.

General Properties.

Writers upon mineral springs generally divide them into the following classes: Carbonated or acidulous, saline, chalybeate or iron, alkaline, sulphur or hepatic, bitter and thermal springs.

The Saratoga waters embrace nearly all of these except the last two; some of the springs being saline, some chalybeate, some sulphur, and nearly all carbonated; and in the list may be found cathartic, alterative, diuretic and tonic waters of varied shade and differing strength. The cathartic waters are the most numerous and the most extensively used. The curative agents prepared in the vast and mysterious laboratories of Nature are very complex in constitution and different in temperature, and on that account do not, like iron, opium, quinia, etc., exhibit single effects; they exercise rather, with rare exceptions, combined effects, and these are again modified by various modes of employment and the time and circumstances of their use.

The Discovery of the Springs.

All the older springs have been found in beds of blue marl, or clay rather, which cover the valley more or less throughout its whole extent. On digging into this clay to any considerable depth, we are pretty certain to find traces of mineral water. In some places, at the depth of six or eight feet, it has been discovered issuing from a fissure or seam in the underlying limestone, while at other places it seems to proceed from a thin stratum of quicksand which is found to alternate with the marl at distances of from ten to forty feet, below which bowlders of considerable size are found.

The spouting springs have been found by experimental boring. As this is the cheapest and more certain method, it is "the popular thing" at present, and the day may not be far distant when all Saratoga will be punched through with artesian wells reaching hundreds of feet, if not through to China, and thus an open market made for the Saratoga waters among "the Heathen Chinee."

Mr. Jessie Button, to whom we are indebted for both the Glacier and the Geyser springs, seems best to understand the process of successfully boring artesian wells, having made these his special study and profession. Like Moses of old, he strikes, or taps, the rock and behold streams of water gush forth.

Are the Springs Natural?

The Commercial Value

Of the various springs differs as widely as does people's estimate of their individual merits. Spring water property is very expensive. It costs large sums of money to manage some of the springs. The old method of tubing, by sinking a curb, may cost several thousand dollars, and is uncertain then. Moreover, it is no small work to keep the springs in perfect repair, and in a clean and pure condition.

The artesian wells cost not far from per foot for the boring, and are much less expensive.

The Medicinal Value of the Waters.

There is no doubt of their power to promote evacuations of effete accumulations from the kidneys, skin and bowels.

Dr. Draper, an eminent physician, in speaking of the springs, says: "They restore suppressed, and correct vitiated secretions, and so renovate health, and are also the means of introducing many medicines into the system in a state of minute subdivision, in which they exert a powerful alterative and curative action."

The value of mineral water has been shown in the treatment of obscure and chronic diseases. In many instances persons have been restored to health, or greatly relieved, by the use of mineral waters when all other remedies had proved of no avail.

The best known waters are now prescribed by the faculty in certain diseases with as much confidence as any preparation known to the apothecary. Indeed, no prescription is known equally beneficial to such differently made patients.

A large majority of those who resort to the springs for their health have tried other means of cure without relief.

It may also be considered a marked compliment to the medicinal properties of the waters, that the thousands who come here for pleasure merely, living fast and indulging in dissipation while here, return to their homes in better health--as they almost always do--than when they came.

Unlike certain other springs, whose wonderful properties and vaunted cures are found in pompous advertisements, the Saratoga waters have not made their celebrity by printer's ink. Their reputation has depended upon their own intrinsic merits, and steadily and surely has their renown advanced.

To repeat all the disorders which they have been known to benefit, would be very nearly to copy the sad list of ailments to which our creaky frames are subject.

In short, spring water is good for the stomach, good for the skin, good for ladies of all possible ages, and for all sorts and conditions of men.

Individual Characteristics.

In stating the special properties of the individual springs, we have conscientiously endeavored to make this work as reliable and accurate as possible. Those who are familiar with the reputation and claims of some of the several springs in past years will notice many changes, but it is believed that the information herein given is on the best authority, and brought down to the latest date.

WATERS OF SARATOGA COUNTY, N.Y.

Individuals have their preferences, and opinions may differ in regard to the relative value of the springs, particularly when parties are interested in them. We have no interest in one more than in all, and have brought to our task, we believe, no partiality. The manuscript has been submitted to leading physicians of Saratoga before publication, and is approved by them. The arrangement is alphabetical.

CONGRESS SPRING.

In Congress Park, opposite Grand Central Hotel. Congress and Empire Spring Company are the proprietors. The New York office is at 94 Chambers street.

History.

Congress Spring was discovered in 1792, by a party of three gentlemen, who were out upon a hunting excursion. Among the party was John Taylor Gilman, an ex-member of Congress from New Hampshire. Probably in that day, office conferred more honor than at the present time, and as a compliment to so distinguished a person, the spring was then and there christened the Congress. The attention of the hunters was attracted to the spot by the foot-prints of large numbers of deer, the first patrons, it seems, of the sparkling water. Although more especially esteemed by pretty dears of a different character at the present day, the liquid-eyed fawn, who grace Congress Park, are among those who take their daily rations. At the time of discovery, the low ground about the spring was a mere swamp, and the country in the immediate vicinity a wilderness. The mineral water issued in a small stream from an aperture in the side of the rock, which formed the margin of a small brook, and was caught by pressing a glass to the side of the rock. The flow of water was only about one quart per minute.

From the date of its discovery to the present time this celebrated spring has been the center of attraction at Saratoga. Its name has become a household word through out the land, and the whole civilized world are its customers.

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