112 ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 



turers ; for, on account of tliis waste, the expense of supplying the brine is greatly increased. 



The great waste of brine rendered evident by the above statement, was in part owing to the 

 distance to which it was carried. Thus the salt-works at Liverpool were formerly supplied 

 with brine from the Salina wells, conducted through wooden tubes ; and those at Syracuse 

 were also, in part at least, supplied from the same source. Since the sinking of the wells at 

 Liverpool, and the numerous new ones at Salina and Syracuse, the difficulty has been in some 

 degree obviated ; but there is still a great loss of brine, arising from the faulty construction 

 and management of the reservoirs by which the individual works are furnished with brine ; 

 and the additional expense which is now incurred in consequence of this waste, should be. 

 taken into the calculation in any suggestions which may be offered to improve this manufac- 

 ture. 



As the success of the manufacture of salt depends upon the strength of the brine, price of 

 fuel, etc., a few facts upon these points may not be uninteresting ; especially as it is feared 

 by many persons that the abundant supply of coal found near some of the salt springs in other 

 States will have an unfavorable effect upon our works. 



The following table will exhibit the relative strength of the different brines from which salt 

 is manufactured in the United States : 



At Nantucket, 350 gallons sea water* give a bushel of salt. 



Boon's Lick, Missouri, 450 gallons brine, give a bushel of salt. 



Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, 300 ditto ditto. 



Shawneetown, Illinois, 280 ditto ditto. 



Jackson, Ohio, 213 ditto ditto. 



Lockhart's, Mississippi, 180 ditto ditto. 



Shawneetown, Second Saline, 123 ditto ditto. 



St. Catharines, Upper Canada, 120 ditto ditto. 



Zanesville, Ohio, 95 ditto ditto. 



Kenhawa, Virginia, 75 ditto ditto. 



Grand River, Arkansas, 80 ditto ditto. 



Illinois River, ditto, 80 ditto ditto. 



Montezuma, N. Y. (old wells,) 70 ditto ditto. 



Grand Rapids, Michigan, 50 to 60 ditto ditto. 



Muskingum, Ohio, 60 ditto ditto. 



Montezuma, N. Y. (new well,) 50 ditto ditto. 



Onondaga, N. Y. (old wells,) 40 to 45 ditto ditto. 



Onondaga, N. Y. (new wells at Syracuse,) 30 to 35 ditto ditto. 



* Of the sea water at New- York, about three hundred gallons would give a bushel of salt. The following are the results of an 

 eiamination of a portion of water taken from the East river, at very high tide :— Specific gravity at 60o F., 1 .02038. 1000 grains 

 contained 26.80 grs. of dry saline matter, viz: Carbonate of lime, 1.22; carbonate of magnesia, 0.50; sulphate of lime, 0.80; 

 sulphate of magnesia, 1.72; chloride of magnesium, 2.26; chloride of sodium, 20.30 ; organic matter, traces.— I could not detect 

 the presence of either iron or iodine in this water. 



