Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-01-23
bT Wood Ashes Wanted. - Will
some subscriber bring us one or two bar.
rels Of good, strong Hickory Ashes?
KENAHAWA SALT MONOPOLY.


KENAHAWA SALT MONOPOLY.
The salt manufactured along the bank
Of the Great Kcnahawa, had for many
years furnished the chief supply Of that
essential commodity for the almost
boundless regions Of the Mississippi
Valley. until the discovery Of Salt water
in abundance about Pomeroy in this
State. About five or six years since,
the salt manufacture was commenced at
Pomeroy many wells were sunk there,
and at Yves, Columbia, and the manu-.
facture at those points was found to be
quite as profitable as at the salines Of
Kenahawa.
The Pomoroy and West Columbia
Salt Works went into succ essful com.
petition with the Kenahawa manufac.
turers in all the best markets, and some.
what reduced the price Of salt through.
out the western county. In order to
prevent such CONF e,ition. the Kenaha.
wa Salt Company was formed under the
name OF DoSNELLEY, RuFFSER d Co.
This company, we are told. has either
purchased or rented all the Salt Works
and Furnaces Of Kenahawa and, we
are further Informed that some thirty or
forty OF their Furnaces are purposely
kept idle +; that the dead rents amount
10 sum between 10000 and $50 900;
so great a sum they are enabled to pay
merely 10 diminish the quantity Of salt
manufactured !
The demand for salt always being the
same, or rather, on the increase every.
where, the Company, by diminishing
the supply, can, as matter OF course,
increase the price in market. 1t has not
vet got entire control Of the works at
and about Pomeroy and on the Mus
kingum river, but it is said that the Ken.
ahawa Company purchases of all the
Works, and thus keep out Of the market
all venders but themselves. We under.
stand that they purchase the Pomeroy
and West Columbia salt for % cents
bushel. and sell it at IS cents pcr bush
ell. This .monopolizing combination has
raised the price Of salt everywhere in
the ives, more than one hundred per
cent. A few years ago, salt was but 25
cent, per bushel, now i. is 55 cents.
1t is said that one OF the means which
this Company has employed to per(ec.
monopoly Of the business, has been to
purchase or rent the works Of individ.
ual proprietors, and il neither the one
nor the other could be done on their own
terms, then 10 bling their overshadowing
power and influence 10 bear against such
proprietors, and crush them out.
Salt is an article Of prime necessity
for man and beast yet in this instance
it seems to be made the subject Of the
most grievous monopoly through the
power Of money, and covelousness. We
see no reason why the springs and foun'
tains Of fresh wafer, at which we slake
our thirst, might not as we'll be monop.
oIized by the avaricious capitalist, as
the salt fountains by which our food is
preserved and seasoned.
We have heard it stated that this com.
pany has threatened to prosecute any
newspaper publisher that shall question
the propriety or justice Of these trans.
actions.
II the facts in relation 10 this subject,
which we have stated on information de.
rived from others, be true. it is something
worse than monopoly.--il is conspir.
acy against the rights and interests Of
the people in all conditions Of society,
rich and poor the more odious and
oppressive because the poor use salt as
abundantly as the rich. A conspiracy
is simply an agreement by which two OF
more persons do any act which is inju.
rious TO public morals, justice, trade OF
business.
The press will not be muzzled' nor ter
rifed into silence by this band Of con-
spirators agains, the industry, trade and
interests Of the people: but If tho press
is true to its duty. it will 90 direct the
alE:poweriul engine Of on indignant pub
lie opinion against this and all similar
combinations. as to sweep them from
existence. .f
n@ GopLp K SxIrH will accept ou'
thanks for can Of delicious fresh oys