Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-01-14
For the Standard:

$3.50 81 s. s For the Standard
/ Mr. HOLDEN The saline powder which you
gave me, and which VAS received from Salisbury or
from the vicinity weighed "a grains; Its taste is
decidedly salt It Is stated to have been obtained
from gallons Of water derived from 4 lick. On
trial found the 81 grains contained 10 of insolube
EARTH thas reducing the amount Of saline matter to
f A grains. On further examination found it to,
contain 4 large proportion of sulphate, which, OF
course, reduces the quantity Of valuable salt or Ia
Die salt still more. Now the question to be solved
is, will water which holds in solution, salt Of this
description and only to the amount indicated furn-
sh enough to make it object to boil it for its con-
tents ? Some light may be thrown on this question
by stating, that the we'll waters of Fayetteville street
contain, upon an average, more than 90 grains OF
saline matter in gallons of water. w hare OBJ
tanned salt from the waters of all the wells in town,
yet no one expects to use them for obtaining salt
1t would require at least II, 800 gallons to make
bushel of salt. -. :,
Another question may be proposed, is it not
probable that by going deep enough, stronger and
better water may be obtained? think not All
the ticks which belong to the formation Of rocks sim
liar to those of Rowan, and indeed oil the western
counties Of the State are due to superficial changes
and the deeper we 60 the farther we shall be re-
moved from the source of the salt The superficial
decomposition Of rocks and earth always furnishes
saline matter, among which We may detect chloride
other formations which appear more favorable than
the one under consideration. analysed the water
from pit about 4 feet deep on the plantation of
Mr.. Scott in the Western part Of this County. The
formation is the red sandstone which, andis known,
to be salifurous rock This water contained 45B
grains ofsane matter to the gallon. This salt con-
taned per cent in 100 grains Of it. Z; grains Of
carbonate Of lime 6.60 of magnesia in combination
with muristic acid, and some organic matter, the
remainder was mostly table salt Now this water
may be used to obtain salt at less price than that
which is demanded at the present time by specula-
tors, especially where wood is cheap. -
In conclusion, I may assure individuals, as veil
as the public, that the condition for the production
Of salt does not exist in any Of the Counties west Of
Moore, Chatham, and Orange. For the production
of SALT or may say its preservation it is necessary
that the rock formation should have been deposited
from the ocean, and that it should have preserved
itself somewhat in the form Of basin. In this
State though we have extensive beds of sediments
deposited from the sea, yet they have not been pre-
served in the most favorable condition for furnish
ing salt; and therefore, it is doubtful whether We
shall ever be able to procure salt FROM any of them.
But the whole of the State, where primary rocks
exist We may confidently affirm, will never furnish
US with salt I have spoken more fully upon this
subject for the reason, that am frequently rccev-
Ing letters Of inquiry upon the subject.
Z. EMMONS,,
State Geologist.
Raleigh JAN T. 1852