Saratoga and How to See It | Page 7

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.

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 title 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.
[Illustration: CONGRESS SPRING.]
Properties.
When taken before breakfast the water is a very pleasant and effective
cathartic. Drank in moderate quantities 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
appetite 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
class of waters."
In submitting a new analysis (which appears elsewhere) Prof. Chandler
writes,--"A comparison of this with the analysis 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.
[Illustration: 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 quantities 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 quantities frequently
during the day, generally preceded by the use of the cathartic waters
taken before breakfast.
Only from one-half to one glass should be taken at a time. When taken
in large quantities 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