1857.] Salt. 521 



terests of Western Virginia. It has inexhaustible sources of wealth, 

 but for want of public improvements to transport it to market, the 

 coal, iron and salt all lie in its mountains as so much worthless 

 rock. 



The consumption of salt in France is estimated at 19^ lbs, and in 

 Great Britain at 22ibs, for each inhabitant ; while in the United 

 States it is about one bushel of 50 lbs. to each inhabitant. This 

 difference between the United States and foreign countries is doubt- 

 less caused by the larger number of live stock raised with us, and 

 the greater amount of salt meats which we prepare. From these 

 data, the importance of the trade and manufacture of salt can be 

 estimated. 



The existence of salt water on the Kanawha was known as early 

 as 1756. The first salt ever made west of the Alleghanies, in which 

 any white person was engaged, was on the Kanawha. This event oc- 

 curred one hundred years since, and the salt was made by an ancestor 

 of Dr. Hale, of Charleston, while a captive among the Indians. Sub- 

 Bequent to this, the white hunters found that the valley of this river 

 was resorted to by Buffalo and Elk, in search of the salt licks which 

 existed in many places. The Indians, also, visited it to boil salt for 

 their own use, even after the white settlers began to encroach upon 

 their territory. 



The regular manufacture of sa't, by whites, was commenced on 

 the Kanawha about the year 1808, and has continued ever since. — 

 The salt water was discovered first on the surface, by digging in the 

 salt licks, and the wells were gradually deepened until within the 

 last ten years, when they have been sunk, generally, to a depth of 

 about 900 feet. Since the completion of the boring to this depth, 

 a uniform flow of salt-water has been constantly supplied by the 

 wells, and no fear of failure is entertained. 



The manufacture of salt on the Kanawha has been attended with 

 many fluctuations of fortune. When the salt factories have been 

 placed under the control of one directory, the basiness has usually 

 been most prosperous. The first company formed, paid in a capital 

 of $8,000 per share, and divided $60,009 per share on closing opera- 

 tions. Another company made 300 per cent, upon its capital. Others 

 succeeded very well, also, and efforts have recently been made for a 

 reorganization of the business upon a permanent basis. 



Attempts have recently been made to disparage American manu- 

 factured salt, and to impress the public with the belief that it is 



