The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-22
THE SALT HINES OF LOUISIANA.
THEIR LOCATION AND HOW THEY WERE DIS
COVERED. -

situated at the head OF yermilion Bay, in the
southwestern portion Of the State, between the
Texas line and the Mississippi river.
Petite A1se Island-if island il may be called;
for it is only separated from the main land by
narrow creek, not more than twenty-five feet In
width-comprises all the high lands to be found
for great Fmany miles in all directions. 1t was
inhabited at early period in the history Of Lous
ana and when Teach Tor Black Beard. as he was
caIled) the celebrated pirate, traded up Bayou
Teche (which was named after him. it was well |
known and inhabited by quite number Of per-
sons-balf fishermen, .smuggers and pirates
Even at this period it was known that there was |
upon the island salt spring of unusual value. |
and that it was made available for the manufac' |
ture of salt by the early settlers, their rough con-
tivances which are found in the immediate
locality, abundaDtly prove.
After the acquisition of Louisiana by the United
States, and when after the smuggling, shaving and
pirstical gangs gave up the business as too IN
profitable, and when the low price of all sorts OF
supplies rendered the manufacture of salt by the
old process anything but remunerative, the use OF
these springs was discontinued, and excepting
small stream of water which, issnsd from the
GROUND almost hidden by underground and BRAN
bles. little remained of the old Salt Springs.
As remarked above, this island is the only
high land for many miles in any direction, and It
is, beyond doubt, one of the most picturesque
spots to be found ia the South. Standing upon
its highest ground one can overlook the Hat,
though interesting, prairie lands on all sides, ex
cept the south, where Vermilion Bay washes its
grassy shores.
Its highlands are almost mountains, considering
their surroundings, and the character of the YER
dure upon them is SO entirely different from all
that which borders upon it, that person suddenly
transported 10 the center of one OF its glades
would never imagine that he was within quarter
of mile of a fat wet prairie, entirely devoid OF
other vegetation than grass and reeds.
at the base Of these hills the noble oak spreads
il broad branches and oversh ldows nearly half an
acre on every side. Higher up you meet the
sweet gum, then the silverleaved poplar, then the
bay and magnolia. The wild rose, the violet and
the yellow jasmine perfume the cir IN the spring,
and thousands of sweet singing birds add the
music of their voices to make the locality truly
enchanting.
From the summit Of thsee hills views can be had
of the entire country TO the north, east and vest
where countless herds Craze upon the rich grasses
of the prairie, while the white sails Of the craft
which navigate the bay assist in Identifying
picture already sufficiently lovely and romantic
No one can visit the island without concluding
that it is indeed paradise on earth, unless he
was one of those whose soul is incapable OF noble
sentiments. 1t is place where saint could
wish to live and die-one of those spots most
calculated TO wean a man from heaven-for there
life should be eternal.
But to return to the salt mines. As remarked
above, the old spring had been almost forgotten.
The island knew no more the adventurous SLAYER
and SNUG ger, e.booter, filibustero and pirate
Int had become the home of several refined and
cultivated gentlemen, who pursued the peaceful
occupation of cultivating the sugar cane, which
amply repaid the labor of their numerous slaves ;
for the land wac of the very best description.
However when In the summer Of 1852, in conse-
uuence of the blockade enforced upon the COM
merce of Louisiana by the federal government
the price Of SALT which had been one dollar and
a quarter per sack, went up to thirty and forty
dollars, and was hardly to be had throughout the
South at that price, it occurred to Mr.. JOIN
Avery, a son OF the owner of the land upon which
the Old salt spring was situated, to open and WORE
IL. He did so, and soon found that the demanc
for his product largely exceeded his capacity e
meet il. And then bethinking himself of the ad
visibility of dggingit out as to open its source
for a more free exit Of the water, be set seVera
superannuated negroes to work to accomplish 1t
These old negroes did not work very industriously
| so. on the third morning afterwards. when Mr.
Avery went round to see how they were getting
along, he only found them fourteen feet below tn
surrounding surface, when the following converse
ton ensued:
al can't dig furder down, Mars John, Gaze Nv
A. oh fho rhnfa hnf
tom."
Nonsense said Mr.. Avery, 81 never hear
of there being rock within fifty miles of here
you have struck an old sunken log"
"No it's sure huff rock, fore God, Mars join
it is"
"weI then, break of piece with your pick
axe and send it up to me-"
The old dsrkey broke of piece as ordere
and sent it up in the bucket. 1t was all covere'
with black mud and ooze, but when washed prove
to be a solid crystal Of pure rock salt. And thi
: was the way these mines were discovered.
! 1t cannot be supposed that Mr.. Avery lost an
time in investigating this wonderful discovery
and he found that at about fourteen feet belo'
the surface of the soil salt was to be found in
i'd mass all the ay TO the edge of the bay. The vel
seemed to lie ia the valley between two ridges
but how far it extended, or what was its lim
has never yet been determined. That there wa
salt enough there to supply the world, was appa
ent; and the best Of it was, that it would cos
little or nothing to get it to market, both Bayo
, | Teche and VermiIion Bayou were within shoI
distance. Upon being analysed, it was found ths
it was as pure in its natural state as any of til
best brought TO market, and as it could be gotte
out in bulk, required no preparation for shipmen
Judge Avery, the father of the gentleman VIII
!, made this valuable discovery, at that date had
large sugar crop planted and in forward state {
cultivation; but he ceased all agricultural operi
> iions, and fully comprehendng the importance
the country of this wonderful deposit of one {
= the great wants of the Southern people. at ono
= put all his available force at work on the mice
}. and in a few weeks salt was being shipped to a
9 parts Of the CoDfederacy-even to Virginia.
a hundreds of thousands of pounds, and the euga
u crop rotted where it grew.
1t was shipped just as it came out-bein
n blasted in solid blocks weighing hundreds