Ten Bays in Ohio. 227 



doubtful whether a shaft could be sunk to that depth, on account of 

 the supposed difficulty in keepingout the water. Thus in one fatal hour, 

 the silver dreams of the anxious stockholders, vanished into thin air ; 

 and it remains to this day, a sober problem, for naturalists and miner- 

 alogists to solve, whether native silver was ever found* in a secondary 

 formation, belonging in this instance to the coal formation ; or wheth- 

 er the evil genius, who is said to preside over mines, fearful of los- 

 ing his charge, knocked out the plug of the salt well, to be revenged 

 on the invaders of his dominions. The stratum in which the silver 

 was supposed to be deposited, is without doubt, the same found in 

 sinking salt wells on the Muskingum river, fifteen or twenty miles 

 S. W. of this spot, and described in the 24th. Vol. of the Journal 

 of Science, in an article on the " saliferous rock formations, of the 

 valley of the Ohio." 



We left Chandlers at 3 P. M., crossing Salt Creek on a neat, 

 covered wooden bridge, supported by piers of cut stone. It is here 

 about thirty yards wide, and unites its waters with those of the Musk- 

 ingum, nine miles below Zanesville. It is a turbulent little stream, 

 and, before the bridge was built, was, in rainy weather, the dread of 

 all travellers. On its waters are many fine setdements and excellent 

 farming lands. Three miles east of Zanesville, we came upon the 

 Nadonal Road. It was in fine condition, and as smooth as a floor; 

 our horses, forgetdng that they were attached to a heavy carriage, 

 moved on it with much freedom. The State has taken it in charge, 

 as far as it is finished in Ohio ; appointed a superintendant, and levied 

 a small toll, sufficient to keep it always in good condidon. We reach- 

 ed Zanesville a little before night. By the road-side on Salt Creek, 

 we saw many plants of the teazle, (Dipsacus fullonum,) growing wild. 

 Black haw in full bloom.' Afternoon showery and cold, making our 

 cloaks quite comfortable. 



MORGAN COUNTY. 



May 24. — Morgari County, through which we have just passed, 

 lies on the Muskingum River, between Washington and Muskingum 

 Coundes. The general face of the country is hilly, but the soil is 

 rich, producing fine crops of all the cereal grains. Its greatest 

 wealth, however, is found in its inexhaustible salt deposit; affording 



* It is not for us to say, what was the source of the small particles of silver, sup- 

 posed to be discovered here ; some specimens of the so called silver rock, which we 

 received while the exploration was going on, presented no indications of silver — Ed. 



