fSENATH 



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 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 : 



IGOO 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, vk : 



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

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

 Water, - - - 75*25 



100 -OC^ 



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 propor- 

 tion of these chlorides, salt may still be manufactured from it, by a close attention 

 to the proper drainage of the salt, and washing it with saturated brine. No better 

 evidence of the correctness of this stateme3>t need be given, than the fact that sea 

 water, and the brines from which the best foreign varieties of salt are manufac- 

 tured, contain considerable proportions of these earthy chlorides. Indeed the On- 

 ondaga brines are, perhaps, as free from them as any that are elsewhere used. 



