Saratoga and How to See It Part 2

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 gla.s.s 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.

At one time Mr. Putnam had three large potash kettles evaporating the water. The salts thus precipitated were sold in small packages to the amount of several hundred dollars. It was not long, however, before it was discovered that _Congress water_ was not obtained by re-dissolving the salts, as might have been expected if the nature of the water had been considered.

About the year 1820, Dr. John Clarke, the proprietor of the first soda fountain opened in this country, purchased the Congress Spring property. By him the water was first bottled for transportation and sale, and to him the village is indebted for much of its beauty and attractiveness.

The simple and tasteful Doric colonnade over the Congress, and the pretty Grecian dome over the Columbian were erected by him. Dr. Clarke realized a handsome income from the sale of the water. He died in 1846, but the property continued in the hands of his heirs, under the firm name of Clarke & White, until 1865, when it was purchased by an incorporated company, under the t.i.tle of "Congress and Empire Spring Company." The capital is $1,000,000, and the company is composed of a large number of individual stockholders. The present proprietors of Congress Spring have contributed not a little to the beauty and attractiveness of this favorite watering place.

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

Properties.

When taken before breakfast the water is a very pleasant and effective cathartic. Drank in moderate quant.i.ties throughout the day, it is a delightful, wholesome beverage, its effects being alterative and slightly tonic. It is successfully used in affections of the liver and kidneys; and for chronic constipation, dyspepsia and gout it is highly valued. It has been employed in cases of renal calculi with decidedly beneficial results.

Crowds gather round the fountain in the early summer morning to win appet.i.te for breakfast and life for the pleasures of the day. Old and young, sick and well, everybody, drinks, for the Congress fountain is as much the morning exchange as the ball-room is the resort of the evening.

Prof. G.F. Chandler, the leading chemist in America, says: "The peculiar excellence of the far-famed Congress spring is due to the fact that it contains very much less iron than any other spring, and that it contains, in the most desirable proportions, those substances which produce its agreeable flavor and satisfactory medicinal effects; neither holding them in excess, nor lacking in anything that is desirable in this cla.s.s of waters."

In submitting a new a.n.a.lysis (which appears elsewhere) Prof. Chandler writes,--"A comparison of this with the a.n.a.lysis made by Dr. John H.

Steel in 1832, proves that Congress water still retains its original strength, and all the virtues which established its well merited reputation." Higher authority there is none.

Bottling the Water.

It should be remembered that the water of this spring is sold in _bottles only_. What purports to be Congress water for sale on draught in various places throughout the country is not genuine. The artificial preparations thus imposed upon the public may have a certain resemblance in taste and appearance, but are frequently worse than worthless for medicinal purposes.

COLUMBIAN SPRING.

In Congress Park, under the Grecian Dome, near the Congress spring, Congress and Empire Spring Co., proprietors.

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

History and Peculiarities.

This spring was opened in 1806 by Gideon Putnam. The water issues from the natural rock about seven feet below the surface of the ground, and is protected by heavy wooden tubing. It is the most popular spring among the residents of Saratoga. The escaping bubbles of free carbonic acid gas give to the fountain a boiling motion. Large quant.i.ties of the gas can easily be collected at the mouth of the spring at any time.

Properties.

It is a fine chalybeate or iron water, possessing strong tonic properties. It also has a diuretic action and is extensively used for that purpose. The water is recommended to be drank in small quant.i.ties frequently during the day, generally _preceded_ by the use of the cathartic waters taken before breakfast.

Only from one-half to one gla.s.s should be taken at a time. When taken in large quant.i.ties or before breakfast its effects might remind one of that great race in northern and central Europe,--the Teutonic (_too_ tonic). A peculiar headache would certainly be experienced.

The proper use of this water is found to strengthen the tone of the stomach and to increase the red particles of the blood which, according to Liebeg, perform an important part in respiration. It has been proved by actual experiments that the number of red particles of the blood may be _doubled_ by the use of preparations of iron.

Though containing but 3.26 grains of iron in one gallon of water--Prof. Chandler's a.n.a.lysis--it is an evident and remarkable fact that the water thus weakly impregnated has a most perceptible iron taste in every drop. Is it much to be wondered at, then, that a mineral which has so extensive a power of affecting the palate, should possess equally extensive influence over the whole system? Many minerals in a dilute state of solution may pa.s.s easily through the absorbents, while in a more concentrated state they may be excluded.

Carbonic acid gas, for instance, when diluted is readily inhaled, but when concentrated acts in a peculiar manner upon the wind-pipe so as to prevent its admission. So the happy medicinal effects of these iron waters seem to consist--to some extent--in the minute division of the mineral properties so that they are readily taken into the system.

[Ill.u.s.tration: EMPIRE SPRING AND BOTTLING-HOUSE.]

THE CRYSTAL SPRING

Is under the southern extremity of the new hotel. The proprietors have named it the Crystal Spring from the crystalline appearance of the water, which does not rise to the surface, but is pumped up from a depth of several feet. It was discovered in 1870 by experimental excavation. The characteristic, and to many disagreeable odor of sulphuretted hydrogen, is readily perceived. Sulphur veins, or iron pyrites, are found in all sections of this valley; one of the most provoking problems of the owners of the springs being to keep their fountains from a sulphur taint, the quant.i.ty and quality of which is not considered beneficial, while it injures the sale of the bottled water.

The Crystal Spring is somewhat alterative in its therapeutic effects.

THE ELLIS SPRING

Is near the railroad, between the Glacier and Geyser Springs. It has been known for a long time. The water flows through the _slate rock_, and, unlike any other spring at Saratoga, issues in a horizontal direction from the side of the hill. It is a very fine chalybeate, but is not bottled.

EMPIRE SPRING,

Situated on Spring avenue, at the head of Circular street, and near the base of a high limestone bluff, in the northerly part of the village, a few rods above the Star Spring, and about three-fourths of a mile from the Congress. Owned by the Congress and Empire Spring Company. O.H. Cromwell, Superintendent.

History.

Mineral water was known to trickle down the bank at this point ever since the land was cleared of its primitive shrubs. It was not till the year 1846 that the fountain was taken in charge. The tubing is eleven feet, and fits closely to the rock. Messrs. Weston and Co., the early proprietors, made extensive improvements in the grounds surrounding, planting shade trees, etc., and during the past year the opening of Spring avenue has rendered the place more attractive.