A GEOLOGICAL HISTORY. 31 



the made ground on top, and came to the old 

 swamp, with all its black mud, its remains of peat, 

 roots of trees and other materials, such as are 

 known to be in these places, but no fresh water, 

 on the contrary, it was hard and stinking. What 

 was to be done ? after spending so much money ! 

 no good water ! no good water ! " Why it is a 

 mineral spring," said one ; " It is a mineral spring," 

 said another, " The Corporation should certainly 

 purchase it for the public," cried a third ; " There's 

 no doubt but it will cure all diseases, the Corpora- 

 tion should certainly purchase it !" a petition to 

 this effect was sent in, and a Committee of the 

 Corporation appointed for this purpose. The com- 

 mittee sent to Drs. Torrey and Macneven, and 



to the writer of this through Alderman 



requesting an analysis of the water. Drs. Torrey 

 and Macneven did nothing as I have understood, 

 I examined the water, and gave an analysis to Al- 

 derman but never received any acknowl- 

 edgement, although by this analysis and report, the 

 Corporation, no doubt, saved some thousands of 

 dollars, which the owners and projectors of the 

 spring asked. A regular fountain was set up at 

 the spring, and six cents per glass was charged for 

 this corrupt tanyard swamp water — one glass 

 which I drank gave me a cramp in the stomach ; I 



