Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-03-27
THE OLD SALT WELL.

THE OLD SALT WELL.
About 1882 he commenced the drilling
of " ell for salt water, on south side of
the creek, below Plank-road bridge, on
now property of his daughter, Mrs. Mary
B. Muntz. In those days salt wells were
drilled by hand, or foot power rather, a
lever being used, upon the end of which
two men tramped and worked the rods up
and down. These rods were of hickory
and similar to those now used at our oil
wells for pumping purposes. They required
frequent repairing. The hole drilled was
only about two and half inches in
diameter. The depth of the well, it was
supposed, would have to be about the
same as that at which salt water was then
obtained at the salt wells on the river
about Freeport, to-wit, about 800 feet
That distance was drilled, after much
labor and expense, and some salt water
was obtained, but not in sufficient amount
to justify operating. This distance would
be at about where present oil producers
which it appears some sal. water is
generally found. The present theories and
knowledge of 'second sand" "third sand"
"fourth sand" ''huDdred-foot sand," and
"gas sand" were unknown to the drillers
for salt water fifty years ago. And all
recent experience derived from the oil
business shows very clearly that had this
salt well been drilled but a little deeper
abundance of salt water would have been
obtained, as witness the great flows of it
found at from l, 100 to 200 feet, in the
''hundred. foot field" and in fact at all oil
wells hereabouts. The immediate and
pressing question just now is, how to "shut
Off or 'shead off, the salt water, and the
oil producers would now rather know how
or where not to find it than how or where
to find it. The flow of it is so great in the
hundred foot" field that legislation is just
now being sought for to prevent our
streams being ''salted down." The old
salt we'll enterprise of Mr.. Negley had thus
to be abandoned for want of obtaining
sufficient water TO make salt 'in paying
quantity" and after his expending about
$S, 900 in the effort to find it.
SALE OF THE MILL.
In 1882 the mill and some three acres of
the ground surrounding it were sold to the
late General Robert McNair and brothers.
These brothers were the late Thomas,
James, William and Alexander McNair.
These men were quite prominent here for
a time, particularly in political affairs. A
daughter of Thomas, widow of the late Mr..
Peterson Pearce, is living on the farm
Immediately west Of town. Mr.. Thomas
S. McNair, living here, is a son of James.
who was Justice of the Peace in the town
about 80 years ago. William, single
man. went We believe south. Alexander
was quite cripple, but Notwithstanding
his greatly crippled condition he studied
law and was admitted to the Bar here.
Robert, the elder and leading one, died
recently near Petersville. this county.
They carried on the mills fer some II or 10
years During this time they were entire
iv destroyed by fire, 1S42. They rebuilt
the Touring part, which is partly the present
structure there. About lS4S 1t became the
property of the late Hon. William Beatty,
who in turn sold it to the late Mr.. John
McCarnes, who carried it on between 1850
and 1856, and in 1857, the interest of Mr..
McCarnes and the interest of Mr. Beatty,
through his executors, were conveyed to
the late Jacob W alter and present John c.
Grohman, who carried it on until the death
of Mr.. Walter in 1865. Mr.. Walter was
succeeded by his son, present Ex-SheriH
George Walter, and the firm became Groh
man & George Walter, until MIR. Grohman
sold his interest, about 1872, to present
Mr. Jacob Boos IL has since been carried
on by Messrs Walter and Boos, either
Jointly or separately, until last year, when
Mr. Boos sold his interest to Mr.. Walter,
who is entire owner at present and is now
carrying on this old and noted mill. His
father, the late Mr.. Jacob Walter, was in
his day one of the best and most influential
citizens of our town. He was blacksmith
by trade, and for many years, in connec
tion with present Mr.. George Reiber, had
a shop where the present residence of Lev
McQuistion, Esq, now stands Their shop
was, about 80 years ago, the principal one
of the kind in town, having the custom of
the Beatty stables, which then included
the custom arising from the stage coach
company and its horses Mr.. Jacob Wal
ter died, as stated, in the year 1865, at the
age of 80 years.
In further reference to the late Mr.. John
Negley it may be stated that he was the
first Treasurer of the county; its third Pro-
thonotary, 1817-1S20; one of its earliest
Representatives in the General Assembly
of the State, 1909, and twice afterwards
in the same, 1921 and 1922, all matters of
record His charitable and benevolent
nature, especially to the poor or needy, are
matters also well known and spoken of
often. He died August IL, 1870, in the 93d
year of his age.
March &C. 1891. J. II. N.