Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-17
Gunpowder for tns soath.

!
We we're yesterday on board the steamboat New
i Noon and seeing large lot Of kettles, between
twenty and thirty, some Of great size, and the
| st work getting a steam engine on board, we IN
quired what these articles for, and were IN
formed BY the captain Of the boat they we're intend
ed for the manufacture Of saltpeter at spot in the
mountains some sixty seventy miles distant from
Jacksonport, Ark, to which tewa tie boat would
convey them. We learned that Mr.. Brinkley of this
/ city, ard Mr.. Jones, who resides down the river
| opposite the town Of Commerce have bought from
| Capt. James Smith, who lives on Black river, the
sapetre cave about to be worked it is said at the
price Of 81, ,000 The purchasers, in tie present
contingency, have determined, patriOticRllv to
spare no pains expense to supply the South with
article she much requires as sarpeter for the
manufacture Of gunpOwder. As soon as thirty or
forty hands can be obtained, they win be set TO
work, and it is believed that large amcuEt of
salpetre will be procured. Jaeksonport is situated
at the junction Of Black with White river
Black river divides the eastern border Of Tnde-
pendence county from the neighboring county Of
Jackson, IN which Jacksonpors IS asosted. In Inde-
pendenee county Col. jain Miller owns saltpeter
cave situated two hundred and 6fty or three hun
dred feet up in ridge Of sub carboniferous lime
limestone. II has passages ia It extending from two
hundred to three hundred yards in length and eeht
or ten IN width We are not aware Of the per
centage Of saltpeter the earth Of this carbon cen
tars. Newton county also contains saltpeter caves
II is one of the most mountainous counties in tn.
State Of Arkansas the Buffalo fork of White river
"a Ee9 lrS rise IN Tn lave creek. this
several saltpeter caves; the principal one ia the
property Of ]. ). ThompsOIi, Esq. TIE dark brown
inter earth which forms the floor Of the cave is rich
in satpeter owing no doubt 20 the large quantities Of
orgaaic matter whichs Incorporated with the earth
This nitre earth has been traced ftY or rsIt wards
back into the cave, to the depth Of seven er eight
feet; it is mixed with broken rock. With very
rough mode Of manufacture, five pounds of salt
peter 70 the bushel Of earth have been OBJ
tanned IN hopper of two hundred bushels
attn ~ - - IL
mains have been found in this cavern the entire
skeleton Of an infant was exhumed on one occasion
What Is perhaps more curious, broken sea shell
was once dug up here. For hundred and fifty feet
back from the mouth, this cave probably contains
larger proportion Of saitpetre than almost any in
the State. Il has several branches which may pro
badly also contain satpeter. The earth Of them has
not been examined.
In Washington county. which borders on the In
dian territory north Of Van Buren, there satpe-
ter cave, near the Benton county line Immediately
on the West bank of White river, in Marion county
which borders the Missouri line, among the cliffs
and overhangng lodges Of limestone, is . little
known as "Beans cave It is said that a man Of
that once made saItpeter there along with an
other man, who he killed quarrel. The en-
trance Is thirty feet wide it runs back over hun
Grea feet. The sides of the cave are formed Of
tough earth clay this is dug down and left for
some time to dry at the bottom Of the cave, where
it loses its mOstare and erumbles into powder; it
has then acquired sufficient saltpeter 70 be worked
with profit. The earth itself makes good brown
paint, especially after being burned, which deepens
the color. The amount of saltpeter extracted from
the Bean cave is from three to six per cent
The artificial inter plantations of France afford on
average four per cent Of saltpeter. The dry
earths OF Beams Cave ought therefore, to be prof
liable to work. as they are abundant In quantity.
even IN times of peace. On the same bluff Beams
Gave, hundred yards of is smother hundred
and sixty i've feet wide at the mouth. and nearly
many feet deep; here the earth yielding sapetre Is
from four to seven feet thick, and probably CON
meets with that in Beans Several other inter
caves OF smaller extent found in the same
These caves belong to Smith x Co,
of Egin, in Jackson county, who have made salt
peter there. This point is deserving Of special
tention from its accessibility; JaeksOnpOrt can be
resched at all times and Beans Cave By small steam
bOsts during great part of the year. The cave is
the river thai by a shate it could be thrown
on Its banks where water for the manufacture
could be obtained; fuel is abundant These partic-
lars of special Interest at the present moment.