122 



although in considerable quantity, detracts very little from the real 

 value of the salt." # The suggestion, therefore, which I have from time 

 to time made in in regard to the removal of these deliquescing chlorides 

 is, of all others, worthy of attention, and I am satisfied that if this was 

 in all cases carefully attended to, no complaint would be heard in re- 

 gard to the western salt. 



Brine Spring, Galen, Wayne county. Some time during the year 

 1843, a salt spring was opened at a place called Lockpit, within thirty 

 rods of the Erie canal, about eight miles west of Montezuma, and on 

 the westerly border of the great Montezuma marsh. A boring was 

 executed here which attained the depth of about 400 feet. The water 

 obtained from this well is more highly charged with saline matter than 

 any which has heretofore fallen under my notice. The following are 

 the results of an analysis which I made in November, 1843 : 



1000 grains of the brine contain 247*50 grains of perfectly dry saline 

 matter. Of these 247*50 grains, 59*66 grains consist of chloride of 

 calcium, mixed with very small proportions of chloride of magnesium, 

 sulphate of lime, and oxide of iron. The remaining 187*84 grains 

 are chloride of sodium, or pure common salt. 



The proportions in 100 grains of the Lockpit brine, therefore, are as 

 follows, viz : 



Chloride of calcium and other impurities, as above, 5*97 

 Chloride of sodium (pure salt), - 18*78 



Water, 75*25 



100-00 



The richest Onondaga brine that I have examined, contains in 100 

 grains : 



• Mr. Meriam seems to take rather too much credit to himself for this very plain 

 proposition, which he thinks many " excellent chemists" have overlooked. But 

 this is a matter concerning which no chemist can be mistaken. All agree that the 

 great objection to the Onondaga salt, arises from the presence of the deliquescing 

 chlorides. But this is entirely owing to the neglect of the manufacturer. With 

 care they can all be removed, and hence if the proportion of chloride of sodium 

 is large as in the case of the Lockpit brine, even if it is mixed with a large pro- 

 portion of these chlorides, salt may still be manufactured from it, by a close at- 

 tention to the proper drainage of the salt, and washing it with saturated brine. 

 No better evidence of the correctness of this statement need be given, than the 

 fact that sea water, and the brines from which the best foreign varieties of salt 

 are manufactured, contain considerable proportions of these earthy chlorides. 

 Indeed the Onondaga brines are, perhaps, as free from them as any that are else- 

 where used. 



