30 
[Assembly 
all the brines forty-five gallons actually contain a bushel of common 
salt J in its ordinary state of purity. 
The following statement will show that heretofore there has been a 
great waste of brine. During the year 1836, the three pump-works were 
in operation at Salina, Syracuse and Geddes, at least two hundred and fifty 
days. During this period there were raised not less than 230,000,000 
of gallons of brine, while the amount of salt made during that year fell 
short of 2,000,000 bushels. At least 100,000,000 of gallons of brine, 
therefore, were lost; and although this may seem to be a matter of small 
moment, it will, when properly considered, be found of some impor- 
tance. The State, it is true, is more interested in it than the manufac- 
turers, for on account of this waste the expense of supplying the brine 
is greatly increased. 
The great waste of brine, rendered evident by the above statements, 
has been in part owing to the distance to which it has been carried. 
Thus, the salt works at Liverpool were, until the present season, sup- 
plied with brine from the Salina well, conducted through wooden tubes 
for nearly three miles; and the Syracuse works were also for many years 
supplied from the same source. There must have been, therefore, a 
considerable loss of brine from leakage. But this waste is undoubtedly 
in a great measure owing to the faulty construction and management of 
the reservoirs by which the individual works are furnished with brine. 
As the success of the manufacture of salt depends upon the strength 
of the brine, price of fuel, &c. a few facts upon these points may not be 
uninteresting; especially as it is feared by many persons that the abun- 
dant supply of coal found near some of the salt springs in other States 
will have an unfavorable effect upon our works. 
The following table will exhibit the relative strength of the different 
brines from which salt is manufactured in the United States: 
At Nantucket, 350 gallons sea water give|"a bushel of salt. 
Boon's Lick, (Missouri,) 450 gallons brine, give do 
Conemaugh, (Penn.,) .. 300 do do 
Shawneetown, (Illinois,) 280 do do 
Jackson, (Ohio,) 213 do do 
Lockharts, (Miss.) 180 do do 
Shawneetown, (2d Saline,) 123 do do 
St. Catharines, (U. C.) .. 120 do do 
Zanesville, (Ohio,) 95 do do 
Kenawha, (Va.) 75 do do 
