No. 199.] 107 



staple branch of trade: which it is probable, could be lucratively carried 

 on, considering the low price of common salt, the facility aflbrded by 

 authracite fuel, and the low price of oil of vitriol. The introduction 

 of the manufactures of crude carbonate of soda would be the com- 

 mencement of the establishment in this country of a national trade, 

 perhaps only second, at some future time, to that of cotton and iron. 



Your committee, in consideration of the improvement in the mode 

 of manufacture of Salseratus and Carbonate of Soda, the facility of ex- 

 tension, and 'unusual purity of material obtained, as conducted by 

 Messrs. Browne and Lombard, recommend that some special mark of 

 merit be awarded to these manufacturers. 



THOMAS ANTISELL, M. D., 



DAVID DICK, 



H. MEIGS, Committee. 



LETTER FROM CHARLES HENRY HALL, ESQ. 

 On the production of Barilla. 



Harlem, November 21 y 1849. 

 Hon. Henry Meigs, 



Rec. Secretary American Institute : 

 Dear Sir, — In reply to your inquiry relative to the article known 

 in commerce by the name of Barilla, I would state, that during my 

 residence in Spain, it came under my cognizance in trade ; having 

 shipped quantities ©f it under orders from England, in which country, 

 (as well as elsewhere,) it is used in making of hard soap, the finest 

 glass, and for bleaching, in preference to any other " carbonate of 

 soda?^ This article is produced from the plani called '■^Glasswort^^ 

 in England, and '■'■Salscla-sativa^'' in Spain. The plant grows in 

 many countries, and there are said to be as many as eighteen sorts 

 of it, under the name of "ICa/i," but the best sort is the '■'• Salsola^^ 

 above named, grown in Spain as well as in the south of France, on 

 land impregnated with salt j and salt marshes are cultivated for a crop 

 of the article. The Spaniards also cultivate several of the species, as 

 most of the sorts may be indifferently used for tlie making of pot ash; 



