236 DESCRIPTION OF A NITRE CAVE. 



or to state the various theories to which they have given rise, 

 would be a task very different horn that which 1 have underta- 

 ken; which is merely to communicate a short account of some 

 of the most remarkable caverns and rocks from which that 

 salt is obtained in Kentucky; and to offer some conjectures re- 

 lative to the causes of the imperfection of the gun-powder ma- 

 nufactured in the United States. 



The quality of the nitre procured from the earth in calcare- 

 ous caverns, is universally believed to be different from that 

 which is found in the sand rocks. I have not been able to as- 

 certain, with any degree of precision, the quantity annually 

 manufactured in this State, nor the number of caverns which 

 are known to contain it. I have however visited several of the 

 most remarkable of them and from the best information I could 

 procure I have formed the following estimate. 



The great cave on Crooked creek, ft of Nitre, 



a branch of Rock castle, supposed to contain - - 1000000 

 Scott's cave, two miles distant from the great cave 200000 

 Davis's cave, six miles distant from the great cave 50000 

 Two other caves, within a mile of the great cave 20000 

 A cave on Rough creek, a branch of Green river 10000 

 Besides these, which 1 have had an opportunity of examin- 

 ing, I have heard of many others in various parts of the State; 

 some of which are esteemed very rich in nitre, and are said to 

 be of great extent. 



The great cave on Crooked creek in Madison county, is situat- 

 ed about 60 miles south east of Lexington. It has two mouths 

 which are 646 yards distant from each other, and about 150 

 yards from a large creek, which winds round the hill through 

 which the cave affords a commodious passage for horses and 

 waggons. The general level of the floor of the cave is 80 feet- 

 above the creek. The average height of the arch is ten feet, 

 though in many places it rises to fifty or sixty. The breadth 

 of the passage is generally about forty feet, in some parts it is 

 seventy or eighty feet. The floor has the appearance of a large 

 public road, which has been much frequented. The ceiling 

 is in most places smooth, with but few incrustations or stalac- 

 tites. In some of the chambers however there are appearances 



