"The mineral waters probably underlie the southern half of the
entire county, many hundred feet below the surface; the
accident of the fault determining their appearance as springs
in the valley of Saratoga Springs, where, by virtue of the
greater elevation of their distant source, they reach the
surface through crevices in the rocks produced by the fracture.

"It is probable that water can be obtained anywhere in the
southern portion of the county by tapping the underlying
Potsdam sandstone. In these wells the water usually rises to
and above the surface. Down in the rocky reservoir the water
is charged with gases under great pressure. As the water is
forced to the surface, the pressure diminishes, and a portion
of gas escapes with effervescence. The spouting wells deliver,
therefore, enormous volumes of gas with the water, a perfect
suds of water, carbonic acid and carburetted hydrogen.

"The common origin of the springs is shown by the analysis: all
contain the same constituents in essentially the same order of
abundance; they differ in the degree of concentration merely.
Those from the deepest strata are the most concentrated. The
constituents to which the taste of the water and its most
immediate medicinal effects are due, are: Chloride of sodium,
bicarbonate of lime, bicarbonate of magnesia, bicarbonate of
soda and free carbonic acid. Other important, though less
speedily active, constituents are: Bicarbonate of iron,
bicarbonate of lithia, iodide of sodium and bromide of sodium."

The solvent power which holds all these solid substances in solution,