Saratoga and How to See It Part 3

Properties.

The water of this spring has a general resemblance to that of the Congress. In the cathartic effects of the two waters the difference is scarcely appreciable, although from the presence of a larger quant.i.ty of magnesia in the Congress, its operation is perhaps somewhat more pungent. The Empire is highly esteemed for the treatment of obscure and chronic diseases requiring alterative and diuretic remedies. It is also recommended as a preventive or remedy for the diseases natural to warm climates, especially intermittent, gastric and bilious fevers, dysenteries and disorders of the liver. The directions for using are the same as for the Congress.

EUREKA MINERAL SPRING

Is situated on Lake avenue, and on Spring avenue, about a mile east of Broadway, and a few rods beyond the Excelsior Spring. Eureka Spring Company, proprietors. A.R. Dyett, Esq., President.

The location of the spring is in the midst of very romantic and picturesque scenery, embracing a beautiful park of some twenty-five acres. Since the water was a.n.a.lyzed the fountain has been retubed, and its quality improved. It is serviceable in dyspepsia and all diseases and affections of the liver and kidneys, and is cla.s.sed among saline and cathartic waters.

It resembles in taste and appearance the other Saratoga waters. The New York office of the Eureka Spring Company, for the sale of their bottled water, is at No. 7 Hudson R.R.R. Depot, Varick street. Mr Benj. J. Levy is the agent.

Within a few steps of the Eureka, and belonging to the same company, is the White Sulphur Spring and bathing-house. The water of the White Sulphur Spring is an hepatic water of an excellent character, possessing, as the company claim every essential element to render it equal for internal use to the best White Sulphur waters in this State, and far superior to most of them. The company have erected a commodious bath-house, containing fifty bath-rooms, with every convenience for warm and cold baths, at a moderate price.

Frequent omnibuses convey pa.s.sengers to and from these springs for 25 cents, pa.s.sing the princ.i.p.al hotels.

THE EXCELSIOR SPRING

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Is found in a beautiful valley, and amid most romantic scenery, about a mile east of the town hall. The princ.i.p.al entrance to this spring is on Lake avenue, about half a mile east of Circular street. Another route is via Spring avenue, by which we pa.s.s a majority of the other springs, and also the Loughberry water-works which supply the village of Saratoga Springs with water from the Excelsior Lake by the celebrated Holly system. Just before us, as we reach a point where the avenue turns towards the Excelsior, is the fine summer hotel known as the Mansion House, and the pretty cottage residence of Mr. Henry Lawrence.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BOTTLE MARK.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: TRADE MARK.]

History.

The Excelsior Spring has been appreciated for its valuable qualities by some of the oldest visitors of Saratoga for more than half a century. The water, however, was not generally known to the public until in 1859, when Mr. H.H. Lawrence, the former owner, and father of the present proprietors, retubed the spring at a considerable expense, having excavated it to a depth of fifty-six feet, eleven of which are in the solid rock. By this improvement the water flows with all its properties undeteriorated, retaining from source to outlet its original purity and strength. Since then, the present proprietors, under the firm of A.R. Lawrence & Co., by a new and improved method of bottling and barreling the Excelsior water under its own hydrostatic pressure, have given it an increased reputation and it is rapidly attaining a wide-spread popularity.

Properties.

The water of this spring is a pleasant _cathartic_, and has also alterative and tonic properties, and is moreover a very delightful beverage. Two or three gla.s.ses in the morning is the dose as a cathartic. As an alterative and diuretic, it should be taken in small quant.i.ties during the day. We have seen stronger commendations of this water from the highest medical authority than of any other.

Exportation of the Water.

After a refres.h.i.+ng draught from this sparkling and delicious fountain, let us not fail to examine the proprietors' peculiar and very perfect method of bottling and barreling the Excelsior water by its own hydrostatic pressure. Since last season a handsome brick bottling-house has replaced the ancient wooden structure. Entering this bottling-house we find our way to a capacious and well-lighted cellar, in which we discover a perpendicular opening some ten feet in diameter; this proves to be a circular brick vault, in whose depths the process of filling is performed. Twelve feet below the surface of the spring a block tin tube conveys the water into reservoirs placed at the bottom of this vault. These reservoirs are strong oak barrels, lined with pure block tin in such a manner as to be perfectly gas-tight, and furnished with two tubes, one quite short and the other extending from the top to the bottom of the reservoir. Then, by filling the reservoirs through the long tube by hydrostatic pressure, the air is excluded, while the gas is not allowed to escape. When sold on draught, it is necessary simply to connect the long tube with the draught tube, and the short tube with an air pump, when the water can be forced out by the pressure of the air, and will flow forth sparkling and delicious as at the spring, without being re-charged with gas.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GEYSER SPRING THE SPOUTING SPRING]

Having concluded our investigation, and tarried to notice the MINNEHAHA, UNION, and other springs which bubble up in this immediate vicinity, we have now the choice of continuing along the banks of a winding stream to the Eureka and White Sulphur Springs, or of returning by the way of Lake avenue. But should we prefer the healthful exercise of walking, we may dismiss our carriage and stroll into those magnificent woods that border the hill and valley for half a mile between Excelsior Spring and the village. Through them there is a wide and shady path, well known to visitors who love the picturesque, and along its winding way is found the shortest walk to the center of the village.

The beauty of this region would seem to indicate it as the proper site for the future Central Park of Saratoga.

THE GEYSER SPOUTING SPRING

Is about a mile and a half below the village, on the b.a.l.l.ston road, and near the railroad. Business address, "Geyser Spring."

History.

This wonderful mineral fountain was discovered in February. 1870.

There had been indications of mineral water in this neighborhood, which had been noticed for a long time. The building which is now used as a bottling-house, and beneath which the spring was found, was used as a bolt factory. The proprietors, Messrs. Vail and Seavy, determined to bore for a spring. They were successful, and when they had reached a point 140 feet below the surface rock, they struck the mineral vein.

The water immediately burst forth with vehemence, and the marvelous phenomenon of a spouting spring was established.

The orifice bored in the rock is five and a half inches in diameter and 140 feet deep. The tubing is a block tin pipe, encased with iron, eighty-five feet in length and two inches in diameter. The diameter of the orifice of the tube is three-eighths of an inch. The tube is firmly secured at the bottom, and "seed bags" are filled in around it, so that all the water and gas is compelled to enter the tube, thereby preventing the possibility of adulteration. The fact that the spring is located 140 feet beneath the solid rock renders it free from all impurities of surface waters.

Peculiarities.

The water is thrown up by the action of its own carbonic acid gas, with great force, producing a fountain jet very attractive in appearance. The height of the fountain is twenty-five feet. A portion of the stream is allowed to flow through a hollow globe of gla.s.s, and large bubbles of gas of a bright pearl color rising in rapid succession through the water, form a beautiful addition to the attractiveness of the fountain. The curious will find an opportunity to obtain a sniff of pure gas at a wooden tube, near the bottling room, where water is drawn for bottling.

It is noticeable that when a portion of the stream is allowed to flow through another tube to the bottling-room, the fountain spouts to an unusual height.

Properties.

The water, as shown by the a.n.a.lysis, is a powerful _cathartic_, and contains a larger amount of valuable medicinal properties than any other spring at Saratoga. The dose is from one to two gla.s.ses. The temperature of the spring is 46 deg. Fahr., being only 14 deg. from the freezing point. As the water is drawn from the fountain it foams like soda water, from the great abundance of carbonic acid gas, which gives to the water its agreeable taste.

During the two years since its discovery the water has been introduced all over the Union, and is now to be obtained in the princ.i.p.al cities of America and Europe.

A beautiful ravine, cascade and lake, and a sulphur spring also are in the immediate vicinity south of the spring. Seats are provided and the pleasure seeker will find a few hours in this locality a delightful recreation. The Geyser Spring is one of the chief attractions of Saratoga, and no visitor should fail to see it and taste its sparkling water.

THE GLACIER SPOUTING SPRING,

"Sparkling, rippling, and dancing about, Freighted with health and brilliant with light, Soothing the ear and entrancing the sight."

May be found in a little valley east of the railroad and directly opposite the Geyser Spring, about a mile south of the village. b.u.t.ton & Gibbs, proprietors.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GLACIER SPRING]