150 Frank Carney 



found on the Kanawha and other locahties, the Scioto hcks were at a 

 disadvantage, the result being that the industry languished and was 

 finality abandoned. 



In 1818 the legislature announced that the salt licks were no longer a 

 success, and asked Congress to permit the state to sell the land. This 

 request was not granted until the closing days of 1824. In June, 1826, 

 a three days' public sale was held and all lands not sold during that 

 time were disposed of privately. 



The act of Congress which provided that the Scioto salt licks should 

 be reserved by the state also provided that where other licks were found, 

 the enclosing land, 640 acres in area, should in a similar manner be re- 

 tained by the state. Under this provision it appears that one tract 

 was reserved on Salt Creek in Muskingum County, and another one in 

 Delaware County. These three localities were the only ones in Ohio 

 known at that time where salt licks existed. These tracts also seem to 

 have been disposed of by the state in 1826. 



It is said that as late as 1808 the wells penetrated the mantle rock only. 

 The first effort to secure brine in bedrock is reported to have been made 

 in the valley of the Great Kanawha, near Charleston. Xi first these 

 wells reached depths ranging from 70 to 80 feet, but later extended to 350 

 feet. The brine was found to increase in strength with the depth, a dis- 

 covery of great importance. In some places, however, deep wells were 

 not a success, for example those of the Scioto salt licks. 



In 1817 drilling began in the Muskingum valley, the first well having 

 been located a few miles below Zanesvillle. Two years later a well was 

 drilled in this town, water furnishing the power. These wells, however, 

 seem never to have been profitable. Farther down the valley results 

 were more favorable, wells existing at short intervals for a distance of 

 30 miles. Finding that the strength of brine increased with the depth, 

 wells were drilled 850 feet deep, when a brine of such strength was found 

 that a gallon made one pound of salt. By 1833 this valley is reported 

 to have produced between 300,000 and 400,000 Imshels per year. 



Among other places producing considerable salt at about that time 

 may be mentioned Yellow Creek, Columbiana County, the valley of 

 Hocking River in Athens County, and Leading Creek in Meigs County. 



Drilling in those days was a laborious process. A hole from four to six 

 feet in diameter was dug through the surface material into the bed rock. 

 Into this hole, called the ''head," was placed a hollow sycamore log 

 known as the ''gum," or in its stead a rectangular tube constructed of 

 planks, to exclude surface water. At the lower end of this drilling began. 

 In early years the spring pole was used, men furnishing the power. This 

 was succeeded by the treadle, a horse doing the work. In still later years 

 steam was used. During the first part of the century work continued as 

 a rule day and night, the men working in shifts or tours of six hours 

 each. Progress was very slow. It is stated that six feet were considered 

 a large day's work. Caving was usually prevented by the insertion of a 

 copper tube, though it does not appear that long strings of this tubing 

 were used. 



