Crystal Springs, Benton Township, Davies County, Missouri
One of the institutions of Benton township, and we
might say of the county, are the famous Crystal Springs. They are
situated on the farm of John 'Gagan, about five miles northwest of
Pattonsburg, on Crystal Springs Branch, a small creek which empties
into Sampson Creek, not far distant. There is a beautiful grove of
forest trees near the springs, which are three in number, and
chemical analysis has shown them to possess wonderful curative
properties. The last few years they have become famous, and camping
parties, numbering thousands, during the summer months, drink of
their healing waters. There is yet but one hotel at the springs, but
if another large one was built it would probably be filled for three
months.
The bed of the creek is mostly dry during the summer months. It has.
a rocky bottom of limestone formation of a blue cast and very hard.
Blue soap stone and soft slate, scaly and easily crumbled, is found
near the surface from one to two feet, while at the depth of about
three feet a rich clay loam is found. Below this a soft, dark slate
stone, very free, and, still further down, slate-stone, hard, and
then succeeded by a species of lime-stone, hard and brittle. The
bath house is a small building near one of the main springs. The
citizens around these springs have known of their great medicinal
qualities for years, but they have only been known to the general
public for a few years past. In that time, however, they have become
famous. Messrs. Wright & Merrill, chemists, of St. Louis, give the
following analysis of the waters of these celebrated springs.
Reaction alkaline, specific gravity 10,021, carbonic acid abundant,
carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of oxide of
iron, sulphate of lime, chloride of sodium, chloride of potassium,
silica, organic matters.
These are the ingredients of the best mineral healing waters to be
found, and these springs in their great medical properties, have few
equals, if any,. in the country. They will yet become a great summer
resort.
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