Saliferons Rock Formation in the Valley of the Ohio. 53 



upon new principles and with flattering success. It is thus described 

 in the Kenhawa Banner. 



*'The manufactory now in operation consists of a large pan, aboutL 

 thirty five feet long, set in a furnace, and is closely sided up and cov- 

 ered over, so as to prevent the escape of any portion of the steam 

 evolved. Connected with this furnace, is a vat, made of plank, one 

 hundred and thirty five feet long and sixteen feet wide, underneath 

 and along the bottom of which is a trunk, sixteen inches square, of 

 strong plank, which is connected with the pan at the furnace and 

 conducts the steam the whole length of the vat. The upper surface 

 of this trunk or conduit is upon a level with the floor of the vat, and 

 is composed of lead. The pan is used to convert the water into 

 brine, which is then drawn off into vats and settled, when it is again 

 conducted into the large vat, where it is evaporated and converted 

 into alum salt of the finest quality. The heat applied in the furnace 

 to the pan, rapidly reduces the water into brine ; and the steam^ 

 generated by this process, and conducted under the vat, as before 

 described, raises the temperature of the brine therein contained to 

 upwards of a hundred and fifty degrees, and renders the progress of 

 crystaUization very rapid. With these very simple fixtures, the pro- 

 prietors are now making not less than two hundred bushels of salt per 

 day, with much less labor and a consumption of a smaller quantity of 

 coal than is required by an ordinary furnace, which produces much 

 less salt. In the process, all the foreign matter is excluded, and the 

 salt produced is, both in appearance and quality, equal to any in the 

 world. With the means of production almost unlimited, the salt 

 from this region would have supplied nearly the whole territory on 

 the Mississippi and its tributaries, had not alum salt been deemed in- 

 dispensable in putting up provisions for commercial purposes, distant 

 shipments and the like. This led to the introduction of alum salt 

 from the West Indies, which, to the extent used, excluded the do- 

 mestic salt from market. The alum salt* now manufactured here, 

 being in no respect inferior to the imported, and furnished at a lower 

 price, will, ere long, entirely exclude or supersede the use of the 

 foreign article, on all of the western waters." 



Messrs. Donally and Patrick, two of the company engaged in this 

 new mode of manufacturing coarse salt, were amongst the earliest 



* An injudicious name : the salt in question appears to have no resemblance to 

 alum, except in forming larger and more distinct crystals. — Ed. 



