The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-08-29
WEST VIRGINIA SALT !
BEDS FAMOUS FOR YEARS
bHiNV WELLS HAVE BEEN
WORKED FOR $50 YEARS.
Three Towns Along the Ohio River
on the West Virginia Side That
Arc Famous

'hree Towns Along the Ohio River
on the West Virginia Side That
Arc Famous
Passengers on the trains OF the OhIo
RIVER division OF the Baltimore a.
OHIO railroad are always Interested I'm
the towns OF Hartford. New Haven
and Mason City on the West Vir.
GINA side. end Syracuse and Pom
eroy on the ohio side OF the river.
because OF the unusual industry that
Is carried on.
a strange odor comes through the
open winocws OF the coach during
the warm summer days as the train
passes along through the yards on
the outskirts of the town For more
than $50 years this bend on the Ohio
river. known to steamboat men IS
salt Bend" or Great Salt Bend
mas been the center OF a large salt
industry.
The several salt works are near
the wells and generally at the mouth
OF a coal mine which runs into the
nils just hack of the towns on both
sides OF the river. The ability TO Sc
cure cheap fuel from coal mines so
near has escrved the industry
against foreign and domestic compe-
tition.
The tall piles of faggots OF hoop
poles used in making hoops for bar
refs are every where in evidence anG
one wonders why they do not use
iron hoops on the barrels until Won
notice the havoc the salt water plays
with meta! Of any kind. The pipes
used TO iconvey the liquid are in
some cases made OF hollow logs of
poplar and other woods.
The strata containing the salt So
luton lies about 1900 feet under the
surface. and the water rises to with
IN 500 feet Of the surface after the
well is drilled in. The well as gem
orally drilled is termed a six-inch
well, and IL cased with iron casing
TO about 500 feet below the surface.
where the surface water IS packed
or with packer such as is used in
oil wells.
The salt water is pumped from the
well into Cistcrn, which is generally
elevated on the side Of "A hill near
the plant, and is carried in copper or
wooden pipes by gravity to the salt
furnace. Where wood log pipes ara
used the sight is "A very unusual one.
as they are laid on top OF the ground
and run in every direction from plant
to wells.
The salt furnace is one Of the most
interesting sights around the works.
and consists OF a series Of iron pans.
N'fNN ~ AiA IlUiptf. fafH pan being
about three feet wide and ten feet
long. These pans rest on "A stone
wall over fire pit and are covered
over with wooden box chamber
about 100 feet long and thret and a
half feet high. This covering is
called a steam chest. and. like the I'D
on kettle. helps raise the tempcra-
turc OF Il solution To- "A higher point
than could be obtained in an open
vessel
Ai'er the proper boiling has been
given to n quantity Of the salt soIu-
ton IL is drawn or into wood vat
called mud settler. and although
the solution seemed perfectly clear
while entering the heating pans over
the furnace. a considerable residue. -
found AT the bottom Of the mud set
tier. This residue contains a large
proportion 90 oxide of iron.
From the mud settler the hot solu-
ton passes To two watts called draw n
settlers. where the solution is stu
further clarified and treated. The
solution then passes To the first grain
ing vat. which is a long wooden box
lined with tile. where the salt begins
To form in flakes on the surface ana
;alls 10 the bottom Of the vat. where
II Is picked UP by power scrapers or
shovcls.
The best salt IS formed in this
first Erainor. although different
grades Of salt are extracted from the
solution In i've other grainers and
they are used FOR the feeding Of cat