370 The American Geologist •'»°^' ^^^^ 
THE SALT DEPOSITS OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.* 
J. A. BowMocKBR. Columbus, Ohio. 
PLATE XXVII. 
Introduction. The first settlers of the territory of 
Ohio found salt one of the most expensive necessities. Not 
a pound was produced in the territory, nor was there a 
supply west of the Alleghanies. In consequence, salt had 
to be transported across the mountains, making the cost 
to the settlers from four to eight dollars per bushel. So 
heavy was this burden that many thought it would per- 
manently handicap the development of the territory. 
However, when the hills of the southeastern portion 
of the territory were explored, the situation was found to be 
more favorable. Salt springs were discovered and these 
would at least yield a partial supply, thus helping keqp the 
price of salt within the reach of all. 
Probably the first salt made by white men on land now 
forming part of Ohio was on the banks of Salt creek in 
what is now Jackson county.t The brine was obtained 
directly from springs or from shallow wells, and evapor- 
ated in iron kettles. Brines were found also in the valleys 
of the Muskingum. Duck creek and other streams. Salt 
furnaces were built in many places, thus making the peo- 
ple independent of an eastern supply. 
These furnaces flourished for many years, but the com- 
petition of New York and Michigan with their much 
stronger brines proved too much and one by one the fur- 
naces of Ohio were abandoned. About the year 1890 salt 
making was practically restricted to Pomeroy and vicinity 
in the valley of the Ohio river, that locality having fuel in 
the adjacent hills and water transportation for the manu- 
factured product. These advantages, however, great as 
they were, would not have been sufficient to keep the in- 
dustry alive. The brines contain bromine and calcium 
chloride, and it is these by-products that have saved the 
Pomeroy furnaces from the fate of others in that part of 
Ohio. 
So great had been the decrease in the manufacture of 
* Published by permission of Edward Orton, Jr., State Geologist of 
Ohio., 
■; Am. Jour, of Sci. and Arts, Vol. 24, p. 46. 
