44 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Saratoga Springs. The commercial production of carbon dioxid, 

 formerly an important product from the wells at Saratoga, has 

 ceased altogether, as a result of the legal proceedings recently taken 

 against the companies operating wells for the purpose. The lands 

 of these companies also have now been incorporated in the State 

 reservation. Of the large number of springs once so used for gas 

 or for the sale of bottled waters, only a few, like the Arondack, 

 Vichy and Gurn, are still held in private hands. The report of 

 the Commissioners of the State Reservation, submitted in March 

 1913, indicates that there has been a marked improvement in the 

 flow of many of the wells since the stoppage of pumping operations 

 by private owners. 



Of timely interest, in view of the proceedings looking toward the 

 conservation of the mineral waters at Saratoga, is the report by 

 James F. Kemp which appeared during 19 12 as Bulletin 159 of 

 the New York State Museum. After an introductory sketch of the 

 historical features connected with the springs, the report describes 

 the local geology in its bearing upon the methods of accumulation 

 and storage of the waters, regarding which various views have been 

 presented by geologists and chemists. There are chapters also on 

 the composition of the springs, the carbon dioxid that accompanies 

 their issue, temperature, gravity, classification, and variations that 

 have been noted in the character of certain springs with the lapse 

 of time. In the discussion of origin, Professor Kemp brings out 

 the various data that appear to be related to the problem, upon 

 which he bases the conclusion that the waters are essentially deep- 

 seated, though taking their content of calcium and magnesian car- 

 bonates from the limestones near the surface and mingling with 

 meteoric waters in their ascent. Numerous chemical analyses of 

 the waters are appended to the text. 



NATURAL GAS 



The natural gas industry of New York has shown surprising 

 vigor during the last few years. The State ranks as one of the 

 first in which this valuable fuel was produced, but the resources 

 have apparently not yet been developed to their maximum capacity, 

 except perhaps in the oil well region which has been more thor- 

 oughly prospected than any other section. The gas fields, as dis- 

 tinct from those of oil and gas in the southern parts of Allegany 

 and Cattaraugus counties, are mostly small as to area and by no 



