This wonderful mineral fountain was discovered in February. 1870.  There had been indications of mineral water in this neighborhood, which had been noticed for a long time.  The building which is now used as a bottling-house, and beneath which the spring was found, was used as a bolt factory.  The proprietors, Messrs. Vail and Seavy, determined to bore for a spring.  They were successful, and when they had reached a point 140 feet below the surface rock, they struck the mineral vein.  The water immediately burst forth with vehemence, and the marvelous phenomenon of a spouting spring was established.

The orifice bored in the rock is five and a half inches in diameter and 140 feet deep.  The tubing is a block tin pipe, encased with iron, eighty-five feet in length and two inches in diameter.  The diameter of the orifice of the tube is three-eighths of an inch.  The tube is firmly secured at the bottom, and “seed bags” are filled in around it, so that all the water and gas is compelled to enter the tube, thereby preventing the possibility of adulteration.  The fact that the spring is located 140 feet beneath the solid rock renders it free from all impurities of surface waters.

Peculiarities.

The water is thrown up by the action of its own carbonic acid gas, with great force, producing a fountain jet very attractive in appearance.  The height of the fountain is twenty-five feet.  A portion of the stream is allowed to flow through a hollow globe of glass, and large bubbles of gas of a bright pearl color rising in rapid succession through the water, form a beautiful addition to the attractiveness of the fountain.  The curious will find an opportunity to obtain a sniff of pure gas at a wooden tube, near the bottling room, where water is drawn for bottling.

It is noticeable that when a portion of the stream is allowed to flow through another tube to the bottling-room, the fountain spouts to an unusual height.

Properties.

The water, as shown by the analysis, is a powerful cathartic, and contains a larger amount of valuable medicinal properties than any other spring at Saratoga.  The dose is from one to two glasses.  The temperature of the spring is 46 deg.  Fahr., being only 14 deg. from the freezing point.  As the water is drawn from the fountain it foams like soda water, from the great abundance of carbonic acid gas, which gives to the water its agreeable taste.

During the two years since its discovery the water has been introduced all over the Union, and is now to be obtained in the principal cities of America and Europe.

A beautiful ravine, cascade and lake, and a sulphur spring also are in the immediate vicinity south of the spring.  Seats are provided and the pleasure seeker will find a few hours in this locality a delightful recreation.  The Geyser Spring is one of the chief attractions of Saratoga, and no visitor should fail to see it and taste its sparkling water.