Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-04
RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA.

A Correspondent Of The New York Journal
Commerce furnishes some interesting statistics Of
the Salt operations in Little Tennessee. While
The Saline Water in Virginia is stronger than that
in New York, and fuel cheaper, there seems 10 be
a remarkable difference in the prices Of the Two
articles. II strue, eyaporating kettl"s cost more
in our State, bot this would not account for the
higher prices. The Virginia-made Salt is, We
doubt no of superior qualify, but the great
cause of The advanced price Of salt must be The
very narrow market, within which il is circum-
>cribed, By The utter want Of means Of lranspora
lion. Give tina, fire country in South Western
Virginia coed roads tie salt boilers will be en-
abled 10 manufacture and sell a much larger
quantity, and at reduced prices. But we shall
not go into statistical examination OF subject
which we do not understand. We desired simply
10 lay before our readers number ofiacls which
are probably new TO mos, of them. Who can
think of the "So'id mineral SALT 100 feet in thick
ness" in Washington county, and not lcel deeply
Interested in the efforts OF our South Western
friends 20 oren market for their abundant trea-
sules OF lac earth limay not be this year, nor
The next, but TIE TINE must soon arrive when all
sections OF Virginia will work together, 10 unite
Eastern and Wes'ern Virginia, BY an efficient
chain Of communication, for The promotion OF
mutual benefit and good feeling
1.-THE AMERICAN SALT MINEs-My cores
ponIen A. Mccall, Esq., writes me from South
western Virginia, under dale OF the 2Slh uliimo,
that the Salt Stratum, under Kings Wall OF Sc
lid mineral SALT is 100 ieet in lhickness-thaI
] from 81 10 bushels OF the water make one buShel
Of beautiful salt, Of superior quality. The salt
sells al SO cents per bushel oil fifty pounds weight,
/ al the works, and rs cents per bushe al the De-
pots on the Holston. Wood, for iucl, is one dol
! lar and fifty cents per cord. One hundred gallon
kettles, for evaporators, cost fily-six dollars per
! ION Heavy wooded land, in The vicinity OF The
mines, is selling lor one dollar per acre The cost
+ of making sa't at these mines is rated from II 10
I 10 cents per bnshe!.
! "a comparison Of these estimates with The New
| York State Salincs is highly instructive.
| "Onondaga salt has been selling in The city Of
! New York the present year, for SO cents per bar
I rel, containing $50 lbs; equal 10 3 5 of Vir-
I ginia bushels, including the barrel, which costs
The packer ID cents, and for which no charge IS
made beyond The plce OF 30 cts. for The salt anc
barrel. The Saline water Of Onondaga produces
81 lbs for bushels Of water; the wood costs S. per
cord and tie kettles $40 per ton. may be in
error with regard 10 the las, item, and incline Il
;h;n,. am This however, is not very material.
/ There is 10 be adde the freight and tolls from
i Syracuse 10 New York, (ttc STATE tribute of six
4 cts. The bushel, being RENTED bark on The sal;
J reachingtie Wacr.) Here then is the cosl OF The
barrel. The Toll, AMI The freight, 10 he dednctcd
I from so cts, say 40 cts; leaving 40 cts. Tor the
! manufacturer; or cts. per bushel, which is less
! than twohrds The lowest estimate 0. The cost OF
making the Virginia salt, and less than half the
/ highest Virginia estimate The difference between
Virginia bu>hel and New York bushe being
G.lbs. the former being so lbs and The later 81 lbs
"Thcse facts require no comment A simple
comparison is sufficient, and an instructive COM
men,ary.
/ 1.-THE Virginia Salt Mines have brought an an
pual rental of As 900 dollars, but al present are
rented Tor "a 500 dollars These mines are pr-
vale property The New York Salnes are trust
! estate The Government Of The Stale are iht
trustees for the white men and Tic red men, for
whose use this property was conveyed III trust ~
those whose lille 10 il was By light Of possession,
from lime beyond The memory Of man, and also
from original discovery.
awhile upon the subject Of Sail, will add.
! that few days since received By Inc canal boat
! Merchanta Jug containing about Two gallons OF
salt water, raised from the Roaring Well, at The
| Cananda isna outlet, which is already sunk 10
| depth Of Is feet below the level OF the ocean.
The water tests by my hydrometer 81 .esrees,
which is within s degrees Of full saiuralion, OF
as strong as brine can be made with salt dissolved
in water. L. Nj"