^^ AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM- 



acid the Salt contains after evaporation, leave no doubtj 

 that an exuberant source orciystallized ?ah exists subja- 

 cent to the stratum of rock, which constitutes the basis 

 of the river, and probably the mountain on each side of 

 it — I am daily confirmed in the opinion, since every at- 

 tempt hitherto made to obtain this rich saline water, has 

 been fruitiul. — The C'inlignity of this plenteous source of 

 salt to the Westein Countries, so peculiarly adapted to 

 cattle of every denomination, is certainly a remarkable 

 instance of the cecononiy of nature making suitable 

 provision v\ here she was apparently unprovided — A 

 steel pointed borer between one and two inches in dia- 

 meter is emplojedin piercing the various strata of rock, 

 which compose a depth of between 25 and 30 feet. 



When the instrument has perforated the silicious stra- 

 tum of rock, superincumbent the salt, a strong current 

 of bituminous inHam.nable air issues from the aperture, 

 termed by an intelligent medical Gentleman, who exam- 

 ined it, sulphui'ated hydrogen gas, holding phosphorus in 

 solution; generated, as he supposes, from digestion op 

 decomposition of vegetable matter, enveloped by some 

 early convulsion of nature — The proprietors of the salt 

 works introduf'e a Tin or Copper tube of suitable capaci- 

 ty through the rock in communication with the salt, so as 

 more efieciually to exclude the river water. It is raised 

 by pumps and conveyed into boilers, fourteen of which 

 holding each as many gallons, constitute a furnace — • 

 Eacli turnace prepai es hfty bushels of clean dry salt a 

 day, v\hich the laborers dispose of at fifty cents per 

 bushel — The Sciota salt water is not above one fourth sa- 

 turated, and that of Kanawha more than three fourths 

 according to ])r. SmitlL The latter is impregnated with 

 some foreign matter, which renders it extremely difficult 

 to manage, and since no jiure salt can be obtained, before 

 the. water is divested of this unknown mineral, it has 

 been a subject of industrious enquiry among the literati 

 of the western country. Since it possesses none of 

 those properties which characterize Iron, Tin, Copper, 



