ORIGIN AND USE OF NATURAL GAS AT MANITOU. 85 



The problem of the compression of the ^as in order to 

 re-c'har<fe the water with it, was one of vexation and difficulty. 

 The plan at first attempted was to pump the gas into the old 

 iron gas-generator, whence it could be drawn and used in the 

 same manner as was the artiticially-made gas. It was not 

 successful, because the pump bought for the company would 

 not continuously, nor even for an houi-, compress the gas 

 without destroying the packing of the piston-head. The heat 

 developed by the compression and the strain upon them, in 

 a few moments reduced rubber washers to shreds, and leather 

 ones lasted but little longer. About this time the writer, 

 while in New York city, heard of a new form of carbonating 

 apparatus invented by the Wittemann Brothers. Three of 

 these machines were then employed in practical work, and 

 an inspection of the one operating in New York left no room 

 for doubt as to their merit. The principle of the machine 

 was one to tickle the fancy of a man of science. The gas was 

 pumjjed into a small cylinder of glass or metal and the water 

 to be carbonated was also pumped into the same chamber by 

 the action of the same piston-rod. The water entered the 

 cylinder of compressed gas through a smaller interior cylin- 

 der pierced by a great number of very small holes. The 

 water was thus sprayed through the compressed gas. and was 

 therefore most advantageously disposed for quickly abso^fbing 

 the gas; in fact the absorption was instantaneous. The 

 carbonated water now flowed to a balanced reservoir which 

 operated to shut off the supj)ly of gas or water or both, if 

 necessary, to maintain a proper pressure and a constant 

 supply for the bottling tables with which it was connected. 

 Thus the machine was automatic and continuous- working in 

 its operation. The success attending the use of this pump 

 induced the Gbnipany to put in several larger machines of 

 the same sort as their business increased. As a result of the 

 experiences in the operation of the apparatus described in 

 this part of the paper, several slight modifications might be 

 made if new ones were to be constructed, but it is fair to 

 observe that in practical working the results have been on 

 the whole very .satisfactory. 



The writer wishes to acknowledge the courtesy of the 

 Manitou Mineral Water Company in assenting to the publi- 

 cation of many details pertaining to the successful operation 

 of their business. 



