72 KisMminitas and Conncmaugh Salines. 



formable direction. At the salines on the Kenawha river, there is 

 a similar elevation of the rock strata but at a much smaller angle — 

 the base line being qbout ten miles and the elevation three hundred 

 feet — apparently designed by the creator to bring this precious de- 

 posit near to the surface, for the benefit and the use of man. The 

 same rich deposits of coal are also found to accompany the saliferous 

 rocks in both places, to supply fuel for the manufacture of salt. At 

 the salines on the river Muskingum, the same arrangement is found 

 to take place. Rock deposits at the depth of several hundred feet 

 at one point on the river, are found on the surface at another place 

 a number of miles above. But all the strata being of secondary 

 "origin and composed of arenaceous, argillaceous, or calcareous ma- 

 terials, the change produced on the surface is not apparent to com- 

 mon observers, and is detected only by close inspection, and the ob- 

 servation of those engaged in penetrating the earth in quest of salt 

 water, who, operating at different points on the river, take notice in 

 their downward passage, of some rock, remarkable either for its com- 

 position or extraordinary hardness, and noting its distance from the 

 main salt rock, can trace its progress to the surface with great accu- 

 racy and certainty. The main muriatiferous deposit on the Kiski- 

 minitas and Connemaugh, lies at the depth of from five hundred to 

 seven hundred feet, according to the rise or the dip in the rock, cor- 

 responding in this respect to the strata on and near to the surface ; 

 although salt water is found in strata much nearer the surface, it is 

 but slightly impregnated ; the deeper wells have much stronger wa- 

 ter. The strength varies at different wells, some requiring two hun- 

 dred gallons to make fifty pounds of salt, while at others seventy 

 five gallons afford this quantity, evidently depending on the abund- 

 ance of the saline particles contained in the muriatiferous strata be- 

 low, and the facility with which the water can reach those particles ; 

 and this depending on the compact, or porous quality of the rocks, 

 through which the water percolates. The quantity made at both 

 these places now amounts to about five hundred thousand bushels 

 annually. The Pennsylvania canal, passing along up these streams, 

 affords every facility for its transportation to market. 



At the Connemaugh works, a few miles above, the hills are only 

 about two hundred feet high, but they observe the same order in 

 their stratification with those at Kiskiminitas, the strata correspond- 

 ing to the curve assumed by the hills, and they evidently owe their 

 elevation, to the same upward force from below, that raised the Al- 



