The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-07-30

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TIE SALT VALLEY OF SAYTH AND
WASHINGTON.
some notes Of the topography and mineral
resources Of South western Virginia, have
recently appeared in the Dispatch. which =
was understood were written BY one OF MS
editors. One of the numbers into which
those notes were divided. was devoted 20 =
description of that wonder, the Salt Valley
of Smyth and Washington counties. The
county line passing through the Salt works'
throws part in one and part in the other
county. We refer to that description now
not for the purpose of extending it; but TO
correct some errors certainly into which It
fell, and to make some explanations OF the
general views given of the Salt deposit OF
the locality, which it is thought may nave
done Injustice to some of the proprietary In
terests thereabouts.
First, then it was stated that the Lessee OF
the Works, WYNDHAM RoBERTsoK, Esq
paid e25,oo per annum for them. This was
mach below the actual rent, which Is about
$4,000. OF course this is an important er'
TOT. - It bears upon the estimated value Of
the Salt works.
Secondly, it was stated that Mr.. ROBERT
SON, had commenced boring for salt upon his
own land, which is Immediately adjoining the
Preston and King Salt Tract,-that he had
bored 900 feet without finding salt and would
continue the work until be had bored 600 feet
deeper, or 1900 in all before he would aoan'
don the enterprise. This statement we no"
understand, is calculated to mislead the pup
lie with regard to Mr.. ROBERTSON impres
sions a. to the probability of obtaining SAT-
by artesian wells at other places, than those
on the Preston and King lands which have
already yielded workable brine. MIR. II. Will
not despond even at 1900 feet, but may 90
1900 feet before he gives up that we'll ana
even then he will not abandon the enteiprize
since he is firmly convinced that the fossil
salt and the brine is not confined to the
limits in the salt basin defined by the Pres'
ton and King lines. We understand the
borings in MIR. RS artesian well are quite
salt, and bis hopes are strong that he Will
yet tap the true basin of brine Of the valley
The true shape and extent of the deposite
Of fossil salt in this rare valley, is matter
about which there is no such thing as Ger
tainty. Many attempts have been made tc
discover salt in the neighborhood of the
wells now worked; but it has never been
found in abundance sufficient for commercial
purposes. This fact is referred to by both
the Messrs. Rogers, as going to show that
the discovery of workable quantity Of
brine in the neighborhood of the present
wells, is thing probably hopeless. The
writer of the notes in the Dispatch alluded
to the fact and the opinions of these geolo
gists. But the writer Of the aforesaid note,
is NO geologist, knowing mighty little about
what is on the top of the earth, and of course
less about the rivers and other things be
meath lis surface, and meant not himself to
~ NAA~OAosoVN 90 APi oocAb8 0A oPAAAA'AA "ooS
. matter. with regard to which even the
aforementioned distinguished geologists
might be in error.
We now understand that though the at
tempts which have been made at intervals
for many years, have proved unsuccessful
yet more or less salt has been developed by
every boring known to our informant, save
one; while it should be understood that ex-
cept one or two behring's all heretofore made
have been in one and the same general d.
rection from the present wells and over a
very limited space. Confessing still our own
ignorance on the subject, the arguments
which have been presented TO US, are at least
plausible against the conclusion, that salt is
not to be found in the neighborhood of the
present wells and since the question is i'm
p ortantto contiguous proprietary interests it
should not in justice be lightly disposed CT.
The facts known are certainly not conclusive
against them, whilst those interested look
with strong hopes for the success of some
future experiment.
THE VFII,ED MIIRnEPESS