304 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



spring into a large reservoir by a water-wheel, which works a 

 double pump. This wheel is worked by a stream of water which 

 flows from the high ground at Chartley. The quantity of brine 

 daily used is about 600 hogsheads, from which 520 bushels of salt 

 is made, of half a hundred weight to the bushel, or thirteen tons 

 per day. The proportion of salt in the brine is about one-fourth. 

 The whole process of the manufacture is gone through in 24 hours : 

 the water is evaporated, and the salt is formed in squares of about 

 half a hundred weight each. These squares are neatly formed, 

 dried in kilns, and will bear conveyance without packing. The 

 loose salt is packed up in baskets and bags. The pans in which 

 the brine is boiled are made of wrought iron. Eight of these 

 pans are kept boiling. About 20 families of 100 persons are prin- 

 cipally employed in this business, and all live at Shirley -wich, 

 which is also the residence of Mr. Moore. The quantity of salt 

 produced every year is about 160,000 bushels of half a hundred 

 weight each; the duty paid to Government is fifteen shillings per 

 bushel, or cf^OjOOO per annum, and the salt is sold at sixteen 

 shillings per bushel. Thus only one shilling is allowed for the 

 owner of the estate, and the manufacturer, including the expence 

 of machinery, the rent of the premises, and the interest of capital. 

 The quantity of coal used is about one hundred tons per week, and 

 the quantity of salt made is about 80 tons weekly, or 4,160 tons a 

 year. 



The salt spring is supposed to be inexhaustible, and only varies 

 a few feet with the vicissitudes of the seasons. Some years ago 

 the quality of the brine was weakened, as is conjectured, by the 

 breaking-in of fresh water. A number of men were employed for 

 some weeks to lower the brine in the shaft, and endeavour to discover 

 the cause, but without effect. The brine could not be materially 

 reduced, and it has remained ever since at the present standard. 

 From the incident, however, it seems that the works might be 

 ruined by a sudden influx of fresh water into the reservoir, but 

 the spring has existed in great strength for some centuries, and 

 may continue so for ages to come. This saline water in its natu- 

 ral strength is destructive to vegetation, and if accidentally let into 

 the fresh water stream, will destroy the fish as far as the Trent. 



As the duty is remitted on the salt used in bleaching, a similar 

 indulgence might be granted to the agriculturist, and it is very 

 probable that salt properly applied would powerfully promote 

 vegetation. For this purpose foul or impure salt might be used, 



