26 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
drinking or table waters, or for medicinal purposes, or used in any other way. 
If the water comes from a spring and is put on sale—-in bottles, jugs, barrels, or 
any other way —it is entitled to a place in our reports. If, therefore, you sell a 
spring water, please send us an estimate of your sales for 1901, no matter what 
the amount—large or small. The information received is regarded as confi- 
dential, the figures, as published, being included in the totals by states, as will 
be seen on reference to the report sent you herewith.”’ 
In studying these waters, there is also a class of waters some- 
times called neutral, like the Poland spring, in Maine, which 
are simply very pure, and which have a beneficial effect upon 
the system when taken in large quantities by reason of their 
very purity. These contain no special mineral constituents, but 
sometimes, on account of the heat at which they are discharged 
from the earth, or sometimes simply because of their very 
purity, they have found favor as remedial agents. 
ORIGIN OF MINERAL WATERS. 
It is no doubt true that the study of the origin of mineral 
springs belongs properly to the science of geology; yet as the 
geologist must refer ultimately to the chemist in explaining 
this subject, it is proper to consider it from this standpoint also. 
M. Garrigau divides the geological distribution as follows : 
1. Warm waters are found in the oldest rocks (granites). 
2. Bicarbonate and gaseous waters in the midst of volcanic 
rocks. 
3. Ferruginous waters should have their origin in the strata 
of transition. 
4. Simple saline waters, obtained in the secondary strata or 
at their limits. 
Our best received theory in regard to the earlier history of 
water is, that while this globe was hot and surrounded by va- 
pors there was mingled with the vapor of water that of other 
substances which at the present time are solids. This condens- 
ing vapor would carry with it to the earth greater or less quan- 
tities of other elements condensed, and these no doubt formed 
a basis for the oceans as they now exist. As the sea has given 
up much of its mineral matter to the earlier forms of life—that 
is, as such immense quantities of fossil remains containing sub- 
