50 Saliferous Rock Formation in the Valley of the Ohio. 



as four hundred gallons from the old surface wells ; producing an im- 

 mense saving of time and labor to the manufacturer, and a much 

 better article to the consumer. The space, now occupied by the salt 

 wells, extends to the distance of twelve or fourteen miles along the 

 shores of the Kenhawa, and is about seventy miles from the mouth 

 of the river. The upper wells reach the salt rock at two hundred 

 and fifty feet. The lower wells strike it at a number of feet deeper, 

 the rock dipping to the north as it recedes from the mountains, or de- 

 scends the river. 



Salt Region on the Muskingum River. 



The first attempt at procuring salt on this river, was made by Mr. 

 Ayers, in the year 1817, a few miles below, and at the foot of the 

 rapids at Zanesville, in the year 1819, by S. Fairlamb. He being a 

 man of considerable mechanical ingenuity, constructed some simple 

 machinery, connected with a water mill, which performed the opera- 

 tion of boring without much expense. Salt had been made for many 

 years at the works on Salt Creek, nine miles S. E. of Zanesville, 

 and some slight indications of salt on the rocks at low water, led to 

 this trial. Water was found, impregnated with muriate of soda, at 

 about three hundred and fifty feet. It afforded salt of a good quality, 

 but was not abundant, nor sufficiently saturated to make its manufac- 

 ture profitable. Within the period of a few years after, several other 

 wells were bored in this vicinity, but generally lower down the river. 

 It was soon discovered, that the water was stronger as they de- 

 scended, and that the salt deposit was at a greater depth. At Dun- 

 can's falls, nine miles below and at the mouth of Salt Creek, the rock 

 had descended to four hundred and fifty feet, and with a proportion- 

 ate increase in the strength of the water. At the latter place, the 

 owner of a well not finding a sufficient supply of water for his furnace, 

 although it was of the desired strength, pushed his well to the depth 

 of four hundred feet below the salt rock. His praise- worthy per- 

 severance, however, met not with its proper reward. No additional , 

 salt water was found, although it is highly probable that other salt 

 strata are deposited below those already discovered, but at such a 

 depth as to render it very difficult to reach them, by the present 

 mode of boring. As we descend the river, wells are found, at short 

 distances, for thirty miles below Zanesville, gradually deepening, un- 

 til the salt rock is reached, at eight hundred and fifty feet below the 

 surface. The water is also so much augmented in strength, as to 



