The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-19
From the Jacksonville (Ia.) Journal.
southern Illinois.

In an article some weeks since we alluded 10 sew
eral Oh the more valuable mineral products of South
ern Illinois; but we did not speak Of its salines-ts
salt springs and wells. Wehave never seen those
at kanawha, in Virginia; but from what we know
OF both, we are satisfied that Galatn county is
equally as rich in salt as the Virginia salnes For
great number of years salt has been manufactured
in Galatin county, and great portion of the time
was chief source OF supply for hundreds Of miles
of surrounding country. OF so great importance
were these salt works considered by the State, to
whom they belonged, that when slavery was abro-
gated on the adoption Of the State constitution,
these works, and a small district around them,
were made an exception ths rcto because, as was
then thought slave labor necessary for the pro-
fitable manufacture of salt there There are still
| few slaves there to this day.
The "Illinos Saline" is located at precisely the
same member of the geological column that at
Kanawha--immediately below the coal The low
est workable vein of coal crops out Immediately adj
joining the salt wells. Most, or perhaps all, Of
these wells are within small district called the
"Haf Moon;' but brine of more less richness
breaks outon the banks of the Saline creek for
miles below this. When say that not one well
has ever been sunk, one bushel of salt made
there, by any body who had ever seen one ray Of
the light OF science, IL will be deemed marvellous
that so many millions of bushels Of salt should have
ever been made there.
The control Of these works has generally been in
the hands of men Of great enterprise and much
good sense This has enabled them to compete
with the capital and science of Kanawha, while
they were too ignorant to be able to prevent the
muriate Of lime from breaking thousands Of dollars
This substance is deposited in solid form ON the
bottoms of the kettles, interceptng the effects Of
the lire upon the brine. and thereby burning out
the bottoms of the kettles This deposie also made
it necessary to put out the fires frequently while it
was being Clipped out with cold chisel. A little
chemical knowledge would remedy all this. but,
as the present proprietor neither read write,
he is not very likely to call chemistry to his aid
We have been thus particular for the purpose of
showing that II, under all these drawbacks, these
works could be profitable, they must be possessed
OF great native value.
Not salt well in the whole region was ever so
arranged TO exclude the fresh water and this of
course had to be all boiled out. Notwithstanding
this, the yield Of salt to the gallon has always been
more than an average one. We have Just seen a
statement that ii had recently been made to yield
a bushel Of salt to one hundred gallons Of brine
This is extremely rich, and would indicate that
mind had begun to triumph over muscle.
The cid wells are now private property; but we
think that there would be no difficulty in purchas
ing other spots in the neighborhood equally eligi
bic for salt, wells.though you may hear different
account OF things there, from parties interested.
rather amusing account is given Of the manner
in which an old salt maker, some years SINCE made
up in rogguery what he lacked in scientific know
ledge. Two different companies making
salt, at different locations, the logs through which
the salt conveyed from the wells to their
furnaces crossing each other at right angles some
hall mile or so from either. For many months,
one company could not succeed, with the power and
skill they possessed in forcing sufficient water from
the wells through the logs, keep the furnace sup
Piled But the other party with one fourth the
dant supply of water through their logs. At last,
tturned out that the of the lower logs at the
place Of their crossing, had bored a hole in the
upper side of his and the under side of the other
log, and thus got the benefit of both This was
rather salty joke.
These salines have an advantage of nearly
thousand miles Of transportation over the Kanawha
Sanes, in supplying large proportion of the Mis-
sissippi valley and we are satisfied that it only
needs knowledge and capital to enable Illinois salt
to take the market