Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-31

EQUAL to an investment ct per cent, OF $4,000 So4
The evidence before the Joint Committee Of the SEN
ate and House of Delegates according to the minority
report established beyond doubt, several important
facts Ole vss the existence Of deposit Of fossil salt
of great depth, lying beneath the point at which salt
water is struck in sinking the wells Another was, that
saltwater is found at the points of the valley or
basn Indicating that this fossil salt underles it every
where Another of lees practical importance is, that
the supply of water mex ausab and that the largest
use yet made Of 1t caused dminution in lie strength
Another b that the purest and strongest saltwater
known 1. takes only twenty gallons TO make fifty
pounds CT salt At Syracuse New York, It takes from
thirty to thirty.fve gallons to make fifty six pcunds-at
Kauawha, rs gnllons-and Of sea water, $50 gallons
The wells at the Virginia salnes about 20 feet deep
at Syracuse, from 500 to 70O-at Kanawha from 500
to 1900.
Before hosities commenced, the lessses Of the salt
works contracted to have salt manulic aud packed
in barrels or sacks and delivered in the for
per bushel Since the great advance in the price Of
every article Of consumption they have allowed the con.
tractors thirteen ceats. An additional advance may yet
be given, if prices of provisions, H. continue TO rise
It may be stated however, that fifteen cents will be the
and hold 800 lbs or siI bushels Of sA-the Virginia
bushe being so lbs. This adds six cents per bushe to
the price of salt The Jacks cost twenty-five cents aud
hold $50 lbs or three bushels-adding St cents to the
ccst per bushe When put in sacks therefore, the salt
costs 243 cents allowing fifteen cents TO the manufact
urers. The cs,uiatons however, are based upon the
assn pon that all the Salts saoked and the cost twenty
Eve cents This done 70 give ample margin for con-
tugonoies of every kind and estop all cavil Much OF
the salt is sold In barrels and nearly all of that taken by
wagons is from the sahouses the purchaser furnishing
his own sacks or barrels.
After presenting tho worst aspect It nay not he I'M
interesting to glance at other views and indulge in some
speculatons based upon probabilities, adherng always
to established and admitted data The State Of New
York the fee Of the ondsgo Salt Spring Reserve as
it is called and has in her organic law provision pro
hibtng the Legislature from dsposng of or alternating
it. The condition Of things there precisely that urg
ed upon Virginia By wise p'cy, persstently adher-
ed to- the value OF that has been DEVELOPED I'M
til it is now one of the principal sources of wealth TO
large district OF country aud its benefits felt from
Albany to Buffalo.
In 1885, there was produced at these Sanes S27 sos
bushells in 1887 they yieeed moro than 100000 In
thirty years previous TO s4s they paid into the treasu'
~ a 600 900 Of taxes, an average SlSi 900 ycaT-
One half the cost Of the Erie Canal paid by these
taxes aud the tolls collected for the transportation OF
salt aud produce &c. for those engaged In the manu-
ficure 1t built up city Of about 100 600 inhabitants,
employed in ls4s 900 lsborers and has saved to the
State untold amounts by retaining at home what would
otherwise have been sent abroad II made parts Of the
States of Michigan, Ohio Indiana Illinois, Pennsylvania
and some Others tributary for ths necessary Of life Such
grand results may be attAnable in Virginia, but sim.
liar consequences would follow like causes and the at
tainable upon the so Of the Old Dominion Is tempting
enough to Justify the Legislature in trying the expert
Ioent Let a comparison Of the two places be made
Our brine Is fifty per cent better than that ofNew York
our salt season fifty per tlongerour labor nearly
fifty per cent cheaper.-0ur fuel more than fifty
per cent cheaper. We possess ali thase advantages
for production. Our Disadvantages are, difficulty Of
transportation, and settled prejudice among people
against every domestic article and fixed apathy to-
wards every Southern enterprise apart from politics.
planning and farming.
At Syracuse the salt season about the fret
of May, and ends for the baling early in November
and for solar salt In October. In Virginia we continue
bail the entire year, and We could make solar salt
from March till November and till Decsm
ber The range of the Thermometer Is about the same
and the barome;rcal condition OF the atmospheric not
materially different at each place daring the salt season.
Our March and November, for evaporating water
pare favoraby with their May and October. In New
Yok sere1 Of three required to make solar salt
in Virginia only Ons Is necessary. The New York
brine contains biisrn which Is acid poison and must
be separated from before toe capitalization Of salt CON-
mences In Virginia there is no trace Of this substance
Wood he fuel used at both plsces costs in Syracuse
from ~ so 10 - a cord; 10 Virginia from S2.5O to
IS So The cheapest labor in syracuse Is 81 day-n
Virginia 1t 10 not over So cents This estimate Is based
on the hire Of neg.o at $780, and allowing $50 for
feeding and clothing.
The price now paid for negro men is not over
rage Of $685. and this allows $50 for feeding a.,
In Syracuse the price Of salt bareed inspected, and
tie State tax paid has been average for years
about 80 cents The barrel contains $50 pounds, and
costs usually, so cents These various charges reduce
the price to nearly 22 At this price very large
fortunes have been realized those engaged in the
lar salt manufacture.
The systen Of administration adopted by the New
York Legislature is srikngy simple. The only appoint
meut it makes is that Of Superintendent whose duties
are defined, and be appoints many depGtss may
be necessary with salaries fixed by law His principal
duties and supply the brine to the manufacturers free Of
elage inspect the salt and brand it. collect the State
and assign lots to applicants who desire to engage In
the business. The tax is REed by the Legislature. In
1926 it was I2i csntsn 1876, it reduced to one
cent All improvements are put up at the cost Of the
manufacturer. The leases for twenty years. with the
privilege OF renewal aud forfeited for non payment
Of taxes and some other specified by tct Of Le
gsAture This il an outline Of the simple and effective
system which has wrought such wonderful results.
Cannot Virginia approximate it, with 80 many adyAn-
tages in her favor If she could supply, at all tmet'
and under all circumstances onehA Of Ler own popu-
lAtiOu it would save more than $780, 900 annually,