ACIDULOUS SPRINGS. 
139 
Another curious fact noticed at the locality now under consideration was, that when the 
pump in the present Mineral Garden was put in operation, the level of the water in the other 
well was soon reduced, and it was at length rendered entirely valueless. It may hence be 
inferred that there is here a subterranean vein of mineral water; and from the general simi¬ 
larity in its composition to that of the springs of Saratoga and Ballston, it is not improbable 
that this vein is of considerable extent. Nor would it be at all surprising if carbonated water 
should be found by boring to a sufficient depth at any place in the range from Albany to Sara¬ 
toga, where its discovery should be thought of sufficient importance to warrant the necessary 
expenditure. 
The occurrence of carbonic acid in all these waters, has been ascribed with some plausi¬ 
bility to the reciprocal action and decomposition of the sulphuret of iron and carbonate of lime, 
contained in the strata of argillite, in which they exist. But if this view is correct, it is not 
easy to account for the absence of sulphate of lime, a salt so generally found in mineral 
springs, and which would, by this supposed process, be abundantly formed; and it leaves 
still unaccounted for, the singular fact, that in the same rock formation, different gases are 
given out at different depths, and appear to be, as far as their origin is concerned, entirely 
independent of each other. Thus at the Albany spring, sulphuretted hydrogen rises from 
about thirty feet from the surface, and when a tube is sunk below this, the water contains 
no admixture of this gas; again, at the depth of about four hundred feet, the carburetted 
hydrogen appears, and lastly, the carbonated water. We must, therefore, refer the production 
of these gases to more general, and probably more effective agencies. 
It may be proper to state, as it may throw some light upon this interesting subject, that at 
the Albany spring a tube was sunk into the boring about a hundred feet, and to it was attached 
a pump for raising the water into a cistern. When the pump has been worked for some time, 
the sulphur water sinks below the surface of the ground, and again appears when the pumping 
has ceased. After the mineral water is discharged from the cistern, and the pressure is thus 
relieved, the inflammable gas flows out. It burns with- a reddish white flame, blue at the 
base. Neither this gas nor the water contains the least portion of sulphuretted hydrogen. 
The specific gravity of the Albany mineral water at 60° F. is 1.00900 ; temperature, 51° 
to 52°. The following is its composition, in one pint — the first analysis is by Dr. Meade;* 
the second by myself: t 
* American Journal of Science, XIII. 145. 
f The portion of this water which I analyzed, was obtained from the boring, soon after its mineral character was first noticed. 
The amount of carbonate of iron obtained from it was not, as I have since learned, all chemically combined. I have accordingly 
made the proper correction. 
