Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-06-08

IeEeaseQ ply resort 70 new wells. nv hen
filled, its water surface will present an
area Of more than three acres. md it will
contain from l2 to 4, 600, 090 gallons 81
brine.
| There is much more Of interest which
Knight be added, had we the room, The
Equality Of the salt made at Syracuse
Especially that produced by solar eyapo-
ration, is nowhere excelled. And, as the
Superintendent remarks in his lastIrepott,
|" its exclusion from the markets Of New
York city and New England can only be
accounted for upon the strange principle
that secures a preference fer foreign pro-
duets Of all descriptions over domestic
articles of equal orRsuperior value. Is.
II It is perhaps worthy Of mention al a
EsBgular fact, that Notwithstanding the
waste Of heat with boiling establishments
has always been very great, 4 every at
tempt at Improvement has proved delu-
siive, and the manufacture Of fve8orisix
millions Of bushelssoi salt is still depend
ent upon the potash kettle, and the simple
plan adopted half 4 century ago.
Iii closing, We extract the following
paragraphs from Mr.. SMITH's intefestihg
and able Report for 1856, already refer
red to
III iii reducing The duty on saltIto one
cent per bushel, the Legislature abandon
id the policy ofiraising a revenue from
this source. AL that time it was doubted
whether one cent per bushel would cover
the expenses, but the event has proved
these fears groundless, as the salt duty
since 1916 has paid a surplus Of $3.50
622. 89 into the General Fund. =
4 AT present the fine salt works
number 3o4, containing 1886 Kettles,
ofthe capacity Of HOO gallons each. ~
These blocks may Bal estimated At the
value of i|$3, $50 each, together 81, fA0,-
600! The solar works may be placed in
the aggregate at S92o,o00. The whole
amount of Fixed capital employed lin the
salt manufacture isaherefore SO ,06p, 600.
The fuel consumed by the fine works the
past year, cost $3.50, 900, and the barrels
used for packing both descriptions pf salt
costalso $32o,Oo0. The value of the
salt sold at the works may be stated al
$1,700, 900. About $50 persons Are in.
terestedin salt property as proprietors,
and /. 400 laborers are employed bY them
iii Die works foF eightor nine Tmopthssin
| hid year. 1t is impossible to estimate
thy numberof persons Of all descriptions,
Who are engaged in operations conRected
with. or growing ont of the manufacture
Of salt, but they comprise some thous-
ands. When tho works are generally
running, they require Is. DOT, 900 gallons
| of brine daily. and thefsuppfy sis npt less
| than Z, D0o. 000gallpns per day fora be-
Rod .oflsix months. Ell
"The consumers of 0nondaga SILT are
spread over the country. from the banks
pf TIE Hudson toHthe plains beyond the
mississippi, and scarcely boat traYerses
| our canals, or a schooner ploughs our in.
Iland seas, that is not freighted All some
thine with the products Of our State. ga
Hines. Tie Ononadaga salt springs are
Indeed great natural wonder, al they
ARE d benefcent diff of Providence, and
hayelbeen and must continue to be the
source Of large benefits to the peoplesol
Ethis State. and the people Of the most in-
terssting section of our country. / The
Legislature should exercise Its trust over
this great fountain ii 4 spirit Of compile
Ihensive liberality and justice" /