134 ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 



we have no good reason for saying that the gas is confined to the bed of these springs. It 

 may constantly issue from the dry parts of the soil in their immediate vicinity, and become 

 manifest only w^here the water covers the soil, by bubbling through it. By pressing upon a 

 surface of the gravel equal to five or six inches square, a quart of the gas may be collected 

 in an inverted jar or bottle, in ten seconds."* 



Seneca County. At Canoga in this county, there is a pool nearly twenty feet in diame- 

 ter, from which nitrogen gas is abundantly evolved. The force of the water is so great that 

 the pool is kept in violent ebullition, which, with the constant escape of the gas, gives it the 

 appearance of a boiling cauldron. No deposit of any kind is left by the water. Its tempera- 

 ture is about 40° F.t 



Franklin County. To the above, I can add only the springs of Chateaugay in this 

 county. These springs rise from a white sand, and from them there is a flow of water suffi- 

 cient to turn a mill wheel. The water is quite cold, but bubbles of nitrogen gas continually 

 rise from the bottom.^ It must also hold in solution some calcareous salts, as tufa is abun- 

 dantly formed in the vicinity. 



The origin of nitrogen gas in springs has been referred by some to the decomposition of 

 animal matter in the interior of the earth ; but a much more consistent theory is that which 

 ascribes it to certain processes going on in the interior of the earth, which occasion the ab- 

 straction of oxygen from common air.^ 



ACIDULOUS OR CARBONATED SPRINGS. 



By acidulous or carbonated waters, I mean those which are charged with a considerable 

 proportion of carbonic acid, giving to them a peculiar sparkling character, and which also 

 contain some alkaline carbonate as one of their constituents. 



The springs belonging to this class in our State, although not very immerous, are several 

 of them quite celebrated, and have been for a long time great centres of attraction and sources 

 of wealth. 



Saratoga County. At Xhe head of the list, are undoubtedly to be placed the waters of 

 the Saratoga Spi-ings. These, in consequence of the high reputation which they have en- 

 joyed, have often been made the subjects of chemical examination ; and on this account, it 

 will be the less necessary for me to devote much time to them in the present report. Indeed, 

 were it not that I am desirous of presenting a general view of our carbonated waters, I should 

 be content, so far as those of Saratoga are concerned, with the simple reference to the detailed 

 and valuable description published by Dr. Steel. || 



* Geological Survey of RcnssielatT Cunnty, iV. 1^ p. 29. 



t Hall. New-York Geological Rqiorts, 1839. J Emmons. Ibid. 1837. 



ij Davibeny. Report on Mineral and Thermal Waters, in the Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 for 1636. 



II An Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Saratoga and Ballston, with Practical Retnarks on their Medicinal Properties, etc. By John 

 H. Steel, M.D. 1831. 



