Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-06-11
From the Charestown Va. Republican.
A REMARKABLE ENoN--XANAwHl



SALT WORKS.
Il has been known 10 the public for two
or three years that several extensive salt
furnaces in the Kanawha salt region have
been operated exclusively by gas. The
gas forcing up The water from depth Of
a thousand or fifteen hundred feet, and
then being collected in barrel, which
serves as gasomeler, il is conveyed by a
pipe TO the furnace, furnishing all the pro.
cess Of the manufacture Of salt 10 its com
pleIiop, 10 an establishment capable of
making hundred barrels in day, and al
night brilliantly lighting up The whole
works; thus saving the expense Of a steam
engine to pump up the water, and all the
fuel and lights.
Last week in deepening one Of the wells
Of Messrs. Dickinson and Shrewsbury, the
auger struck stream of gas, at the depth
Of one thousand feet, that in quantity and
force far surpassed anything of the kind
heretofore discovered here, or perhaps in
the world. The auger was passed up with
such force as almost to overcome the ex-
ertions of the workmen to hold it down,
while they could unscrew the detachments.
The way being cleared, the gas having
full play, sent column of water one hun
dred feet, (and if tubed would no doubt
raise il double that distance occasionally
discharging stones from the size Of mus
ket ball 10 that Of hens egg, almost
with the force of a grape shot from piece
Of ordnance. When we were there on
Tuesday last, all hands were engaged in
active efforts TO get down a plug to check
the force of the gas SO as to enable them
10 insert the tube.
They have, we learn, partially succeed.
ed, and in few days both the gas and wa.
ter will be turned to good account. Sc.
rious apprehensions were very justly en-
tcrtained Of the destruction of the lurna-
ces in the immediate neighborhood, as well
as the residence of Mr.. VIM. Tompkins,
should this immense body Of gas take fire,
which il was thought might occur from a
steamboat passing in the river, so exten-
sivcy was it didused in the atmosphere.
A strong guard is kept up night and day to
prevent such catastrophe. On Saturday,
the third well from The one we are speak
ing of took fire, and with the most active
exertion, washot extingu;shed ill conside-
rable damage was done TO the works.
That our readers may have some idea
of the extent of Natures laboratory or
gas mandatory on the Kanawha, we will
sag that gas enough issues from this single
well to light oil the cities in the United
States, and we think we might safely throw
in London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and a
half duzen other big cities Of Europe.
Some entertain fears that both the gas
and the salt water will shortly fail but we
incline to the opinion that the upper sira-
tum, the outskirts, the suburbs only, Of
the treasures Of salt and gas, as well as
many subterranean wonder, are just now
being reached. No matter whose donIin-
ions down there may be encroached upon,
whether those Of Pluto or Eous, our en-
ierprisng salt manufacturers are as deter
mined to explore them, annex them, and
reve in their palaces, as the annexaion-
lists are, by.and-by, to revel in the halls Of
the Moniezumas.