Saving The Springs

Saving The Springs. . The tranquil woodlands that surround you now once resembled an industrial park. The springs were exploited for their carbonic gas during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many companies, including the Geyser Natural Carbonic Acid Gas Company and the Champion Natural Gas Company had set up gas extraction plants, factory buildings and huge water tanks. They pumped thousands of gallons of water each day to extract the gas for sale to soda manufacturers., The gas extraction plants operated as many as 200 wells in the area. The amount of water being pumped from the ground eventually took its toll on the quality and flow of the mineral springs of Saratoga, and they began to run dry. A local Committee of Concerned Citizens successfully lobbied the State Legislature for the preservation of the springs, resulting in the introduction of the Anti-Pumping Act of 1908 by Assemblyman Whitney and Senator Brackett. The gas companies challenged this Act in the courts and continued pumping as litigation proceeded., The Committee of Concerned Citizens, led by Spencer Trask, pleaded with the Legislature to bring all of the springs under State control to ensure their survival. They were successful, and in 1909 the State Reservation was created and the springs were saved from exploitation. The gas companies were shut down and many of the wells were capped. It took many years for the remaining springs to regain their normal flow.