ALLUVIAL DIVISION. 
99 
which the water would rise ; but the possibility of obtaining a permanent spring in that place, 
is worth risking something. 
Dr. Steel has described these springs, as well as those of Saratoga.* In regard to the Sara¬ 
toga and Ballston waters, Prof. Silliman has juslly remarked, that “ the mineral impregnation 
of the waters, in the two places, is substantially the same, differing only in proportions. If 
the saline ingredients are in less quantity at Ballston than at Saratoga, there is a greater pre¬ 
dominance of iron; and the carbonic acid gas being abundant, very delightful acidulous 
chalybeate waters are thus afforded. Saratoga and Ballston must be regarded as one grand 
system of springs, depending upon the same general causes ; and the variety that exists 
between the different springs is altogether desirable, and adds much to their utility. The 
repeated eruption of new springs, especially at Ballston, (either by accident, or in conse¬ 
quence of boring,) is an interesting geological circumstance ; and the expulsion of the water 
in copious jets above the surface of the ground and boiling with carbonic acid gas, evinces 
that there is much power condensed below, and renders it not improbable that the elevating 
agent is carbonic acid gas itself.”! 
Prof. Beck has examined these springs, and of them he remarks, “ The springs at Balls¬ 
ton are mostly situated in the valley of the stream which passes through the village. The bed 
of this stream is slate, and it is probably in this formation that the carbonated waters have their 
origin. An interesting group of springs occur in this village, near the present bathing house. 
Here we have the United States spring, which is acidulous ; at the distance of nineteen feet is 
the Fulton chalybeate spring; while in an opposite direction, and within twelve feet of the 
former, is the Franklin sulphur spring. Thus there are three springs, differing considerably in 
their chemical composition, rising within a few feet of each other. The United States spring 
is highly charged with carbonic acid gas, while the others contain only a small portion of it. 
“ From several of the springs at Ballston, there is a discharge of gas in smaller or larger 
bubbles, which does not unite with the water. At the Park spring in rear of the Village Ho¬ 
tel, minute portions of gas are continually rising through the water; but at an interval of a 
minute, the whole well is agitated by the evolution of a comparatively large bulk of the gas. 
This gas, which in all cases is the carbonic acid, also rises in great abundance through the 
water of a well near Low’s spring, and in various places in the valley of the stream. A few 
years since, there was a very remarkable and indeed almost volcanic discharge of it near the 
old factory, which threw up the water of the creek several feet into the air; but the gas soon 
diminished greatly in quantity, and can now be observed rising only in small bubbles through 
the bed of the stream. 
“ From these facts it is evident that here, as at Saratoga, there are certain agencies in ope¬ 
ration, which cause an abundant evolution of carbonic acid. That this gas originates at great 
* Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Saratoga and Ballston, with an account of their medicinal properties, etc. by John Steel, 
M..D.; and American Journal of Science, Vol. 21, p. 182. 
t Idem, p. 183. The explosion of a sulphureous water at Ballston, by which the peculiarity of the water was destroyed and a 
sulphureous smell diffused to a considerable distance around, would seem to imply that some of the gases of sulphur are occa¬ 
sionally concerned in generating the power. American Jownal of Science, Vol. 21, p. 184. 
