Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-04-16
From the National Intelligencer.
MISSOURI sALINEs.

From the National Intelligencer.
MISSOURI sALISEs.
Very interesting account Of them.
The Grand Saline is situated about
$50 miles south west Of Fort Usage, be-
| tween the forks Of a small branch ct the
Arkansas, one of which washes its south
ern extremity, and the other, the princi.
psi one, runs nearly parallel with, and
within mile of its opposite side. tits
. hard level plain, of reddish colo ed
land, Of an irregular or mixed figure-its
greatest length is from north west to south
east, and its circumference full so miles.
This plain Is entirely covered in dry hot
weather, from to 6 inches deep, with
crust of clear white .alt, of quality ra-
ther superior, think, to the Imported
blown salt 1. this state the Saline bears
a striking resemblance to field of bril-
liant white snow, 9TH frozen crust on
it after rain.
The Grand Saline is environed with
ridges OF sard hills; SEINE IF which are
perfectly naked; same thinly clothed
with serdure and small trees and others
afford on thei. declivtes thicke's Of
dwarf plumb trees, not more thar thirty
inches high, which yielded Us June sj)
a great abundance Of ripe plunfs, the
largest and fnest ever tasted. / think
the salt may easily be "aggOned from
this place to the Arkansas, where keel
boats may receive it at certain seasons.
The road is through an open prairie all
the wav, and the distance not more than
80 or 90 miles.
The Rock Saline lies Is miles north
west Of the Grand Saline, surrounded by
naked mountains of red clay and gyp-
sum. II is level fat of hard red sand
oil about 500 acres, through which passes
a small stream, dividing it into two uH-
equa! parts, one fifth, Or about 100 acres,
being IN the south vest side, close under
q tremendous hill, IRON the base Of which
issue several springs of salt water, which
gradually covers the plain. and by the
acton of the sun is, in dry or hot seasons,
converted into solid mass of salt, seve.
raj inches in thickness. There are also
within this plain four springs of salt wa
ter perfectly saturated. around which are
formed hollow cones of rock salt, from
IL to 30 inches in thickness. When
visited this Saline it had just been mum
dated by excessive rains, aud all the salt
was swept Oft. except that around the
four springs-i found an immense guam
tity there, and actually blocked out with
my tomahawk a very clear piece, full Is
inches thick From what | saw myself,
and what my faithful Indian guides told
me on the spot, and had often told me
before, have not the least doubt but
there are times when this " cole section,
next the hills, is covered completely with
q solid rock of salt from 4 to I2 inches
thick, and Immediately around the four
springs II to 90 inches thick, resembling
fed Of ice in large fakes. The other
section produces salt exactly like that Of
The Grand Saline. the country around
the Rock Saline is very mountainous, att
the Saline can be approached only on
foot, or with some difficulty on horse
back.
You have specimen Of the salt which
| got al this Saline from one Of the
springs; therefore l need not describe it.
q SIBLBY.
Col. REcrOR. July %. 1914.