No. 108.] 65 



An account was published in the Journal of Commerce of the 9th 

 instant, of the explosion in the well near Elmira, Chemung county, 

 N. Y., the week previous, in consequence of a lighted candle being 

 taken down into a well newly dug, which ignited the carburetted 

 hydrogen gas. This must have been abundant, and had become 

 mixed w^ith about an equal volume of atmospheric air, thereby be- 

 coming explosive. In this case two men were injured by the explo- 

 sion, and one killed. 



The salt made in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-Jer- 

 sey, Delaware, Maryland, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Flo- 

 rida Territory, and the sea shore of Virginia, is from sea water eva- 

 porated by solar heat. 



All the other salt noted as made in the other States, is made from 

 saline springs and wells. The salt mine in Virginia, at the period 

 at w'hich the census was taken, was not then discovered. 



In the United States a limited quantity of salt only is used, but in 

 England and France a cheap means of manufacturing a valuable al- 

 kali from it has been discovered. At the present time large quanti- 

 ties of soda ash and sal soda are made from common salt, and these 

 articles are now being extentively used throughout the world. 



The soap manufacturers and glass makers are using soda ash as a 

 substitute for pot ash, which latter article is becoming scarce and 

 dear, ia consequence of a diminution in the quantity of wood ashes. 



A well has recently been sunk at Montezuma, in this State, to the 

 dept of 605 feet, yielding water of great specific gravity. This wa- 

 ter by the hydrometer denoted 100 degrees, which is full saturation 

 of common salt in hot water. On analysis it yields 1024 grains of 

 common salt, and 1088 grains of chloride calcium and magnesium to 

 one pint of water. 



Mr. L. P. Rice, w4io superintended the boring of the well, in his 

 letter to me of June 26, 1842, states: 



" At 190 feet struck the first vein of salt water, which stands by 

 the hydrometer at 44 degrees; at 245 feet at 48 degrees; at 501 feet 

 at 52 degrees; the last vein, at 298 feet, stands 100 degrees, or full 

 saturation. The boring w^as thorough red and blue indurated clay, 

 plaster rock and slate." 



His Excellency Governor Seward, in a letter to mt of June 22d, 

 remarks: 



" The operations at Montezuma are likely to result in the disco- 

 very of important facts bearing on your theory." 



Nature has been most bountiful in its provision in the supply of 

 the material for the manufacture of this article of absolute necessity, 

 both in the salt mines and springs of salt water, which are to be so 

 abundantly found in various sections of our country. 



I will, in the course of a few days, lay before the public a further 

 statement in relation to the salines of this State, and also in relation 

 to the fossil salt in Virginia. 



E. MERIAM. 



Brooklyn^ October 10, 1842. 



[Senate No. 108.J 9 



