Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-06-21
DANGER APPREHENDED.


The Charleston, (KauawhaA Repub.
lican of last week has the following article
in regard to most scurous phenomenon
of the salt wells there:
1t has been known TO the public, for some
two years, that several extensive salt lurna-
ces in the Kanawha salt region have oeen
operated exclusively by gasiorclng up the
water from a thousand or fifteen hundred
feet, and then being tcollected in Darrell
and serves as a gasometer,sit is conveyed oy
pipe 10 the lurnace-Iurnishlng all the heat
necessary for, carrying out at the same lime,
all the processes Of the manufacture oil SAT-
to its completion, in an establishment ca
pabe Of making hundred barrels day,
and at night brilliantly lighting up the
whole works; thus saving the expense OF
steam engine to pump up the water, oil the
fuel and light. Last week, in deepening
one Of the wells of Messrs. Dickinson and
Shregsbury, the 'augur struck a stream OF
gas, at the depth OF one thousand Ieet, that,
in quantity and force, far surpasses any
thing of the kind heretofore discovered here
or perhaps in the world. The augor was
pressed up with such force as almost to
overcome the exertion OF the workmen to
| hold it down while they could unscrew the
gas detachments. The way being clear
ed, the gas, having full play, sent column
Of water one hundred feet, land if tubed,
would no doubt raise it 10 double that
distance,) occasionally discharging stones
about the size OF musquet ball to that Of
hens egg, almost with the force Of
grape shot from piece OF ordnance.
When we went there on Tuesday last,
all hands were engaged in active efforts TO
get down plug 10 check the force Of the
gass, so as to enable them to insert the
tube. They have, we learn, partially sue
ceeded, and in few days both the gas and
water will be turned to good account. Sc
rious apprehensions were very justly en-
terlained Of the destruction Of the furnaces
in the immediate neighborhood, as well
as Of the residence Of Mr.. William Temp
kins, should this immense body Of gas take
fire, which it is thought might occur from
steamboat passing up the river, so extern
sively was it diffused in the atmosphere.
A strong guard is kept up day and night to
prevent such catastrophe. On Saturday
night the third well from the one we are
speaking Of took fire, and with the most &C.
tive exertions, was not extingushed till
considerable damage vas done to the work.
That our readers have some idea of the
extent of natures laboratory or gas manu-.
factory on the Kanawha, we will say that
gas enough issues from thus single well to
light all the cities in the United States, and
think we might safely throw in London,
Paris, ST. Petersburg, and half a dozen
other big cities in Europe.
Some entertain fears that both the gass
and the salt water will shortly fail; but we
= are inclined to the opinion that the up.
per stratum, the outskirts, the suburbs
only Of the treasures Of salt and gas as
well as many a subierranean wonder,
, are just now being leached. No matter
whose dominions down there may be en-.
:. croached upoR, whether those of Pluto or
Eolus, our enterprising salt manufacturers
are as determined TO explore them, to an
mex them, revel in their palaces, as the
wings say the annexationits are, by and
bye, TO revel in the halls Of Montezuma.