Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-30
The Southwest Virginia Salt Works.

When Southwestern Virginia was very thinly
settled, the valley In which the saatworks are
situated, was not tenauted, or scarcely ever
visited. We we're told that the whole place
was marshy, Shiny, and often inundated. The
deer, hogs, and cattle would often be found
dead there. From it's cesspools Of filth, aud
decay and rotten animal and vegetable matter,
constantly arose fumes and vavor Of a peculiar
ODER Hence the place was Stunned by the
people, and looked upon by the superstitlous
as fit place for the appearance OF evil spirits
How long these hob-goblin fears and ghost
stories kept dwellers away, we did not learn
At last hunter by the name OF Crabtree, dis
regarding the current report and behet that
this valley was the habltation OF demons and
foul spirits, claimed the land as bis own: lie
did not till or improve it 10 any way. lie was
fond of hunting, and as deer were abundant IN
this locality, he spent much of his time in
chasing them, ignorant that ne had IN his pos
session an immense fortune.
William King observing the strange phe-
nomenon of the vapor that continually rose
from the place, suspected that salt might be
discovered. So he bought the whole place
from its first owner for rifle and poney.
He at once set to work to drain the place, and
clear it of the bones of the dead animals that
Law strcwn on every side, and soon caused it to
wear different aspect from what it hitherto
had, Then those who had predicted all the evils
imaginable to the place, began to see their mis-
take, aud wish for an interest in the soil.
From that time, the works have been con-
stantly increasing in value, as new wells We're
opened, and the facilities were improved.
The works have passed into and out ofmany
hands since they were first discovered. They
are now owned and managed by a stock com
pany Of which Geo. W. Palmer, W. II. Stuart,
and Wyndham Robertson are principal Many
others own small stocks.
During the lac war, these works furnished
oil the Southern States, within the Confeder-
ate lines, with all the salt they used. II it had
not been for them, it would have been difficult,
if not impossible, for the South to have been
furnished with supply of salt sufficient to meet
the demand. The small number OF works that
we're used before the war proved insufficient,
so each State sent agents to manage sufficient
number Of furnaces to supply their State with
salt In all they numbered seveDty-hve.
The railroad was Of little service then, so the
salt was conveyed for hundreds of miles by
means Of covered wagons Often there would
be upwards of Thousand wagons waiting their
turn to come, when they could get their salt
and be away to their homes. /
The Federal forces seeing the advantage &C
cruing to the Confederate States from the use
of these works. were very anxious to get pos
session of them. They made several pts
to take them, before they were successful an
demolishing the works, and never did hold
them during any length of time.
Although but a few years have past since
that time, by the use of hammer and saw the
place has grown into new and thriving place
from the ashes of the old.
Six furnaces have been rebuilt. They are
much larger and better than the old ones. The
Company make, on an average, each day about
2,4O0 bushels of salt. This is thrown in large
sh. ds where it becomes very compact, so hard
that it is necessary to dig it out with pick anc
shovel As fast as it is packed, it is shipped
to market During our stay three -fourths o.
day. three trains freighted with salt, left the
works
There are about 300 work. hands employed
at the works -Lynchbu9 Neaos.