In Virginia are several valuable salines; the most important are in \Vythe county, and on the Grand Kenhawa River. The latter has a very strong brine, 95 gallons yielding a bushel of salt. The whole pro duce of this work is 30,000 bushels yearly. The rocks in the vicinity are secondary, and connected with lime, variegated sandstone, and bituminous shale. All the salt of this state is connected with gypsum.
In Pennsylvania the works on the Conemaugh Creek produce upwards of 100 bushels a day, which sells at nearly two dollars per bushel. After various attempts for 28 years, and sinking a shaft to the depth of 373 feet, the greater part of the way through solid rock, a good supply of brine has been procured in Susquehan na county, where excellent salt has been manufactur ed from it. Preparations are making to carry on the manufacture in an extensive manner.
New-York possesses inexhaustible sources of wealth in her brine springs, extending through the counties of Onondago, Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Niagara, Ge nesee, Tomkins, Wayne, and some small unwrought ones in Oneida. The most important now worked are those of Onondago, of Montezuma, (Cayuga county) and Galen, (Wayne county.) The Onondago, or Salt Lake, as it is frequently termed in its vicinity, is six miles long and two miles broad; it is supplied by the Onondago and Otisco Creeks, and emptied by the Otsego River into Lake Ontario. The lake, with its vale, is surrounded by hills of limestone containing organic remains. Abun dance of gypsum has also been found associated with the salt, in the same manner as has been observed in Europe.
The most easterly point at which salt springs have been observed in New York is about twenty-five miles west of Utica; forty miles further west are the salt springs of Onondago. The most west westerly point at which they have been as yet discovered is at Saint Katherines, in Canada.
The country or valley of. the Onondago is several feet below the level of tI—^ adjacent plains, and consists of an indurated red and green clay, with their inter mediate varieties. The springs rise to the surface on the borders of the lake, and even far up the creek sup plying it with water. On the borders of this creek,
springs of fresh and salt water rise within a few feet, and, in some instances, within a few inches of each other. The quantity of salt held in solution varies greatly in different springs, even in those that are con tiguous. The strength of the brine is influenced by the temperature of the season. During the last summer, which was there a remarkably dry season, the springs continued to discharge their usual quantity of water, but it was weaker than had been before observed. Many of them are deserted on finding others of a stronger brine. The strength of these springs is com paratively very great, as will be seen by the following list of brines, and their products: 3551bs. avoirdupois of brine to produce 561bs. of saline extracts; of which is,* lbs. oz.
Pure muriate of soda, 51 00 Carb. of lime coloured by oxide of iron, 0 6i Sulphate of lime, - 2 4 Muriate of lime, - 1 12i Muriate of magnesia, perhaps It is to be remarked, that in this statement is not mentioned sulphate of soda, which is most probably present in very considerable quantity.
The salt springs and the surrounding country be long to the state; but permission is given to any per son, under certain limitations, to erect works and extract salt, upon paying into the treasury a duty of 121 cents per bushel of 561bs. The leasing of the salt lots has been regulated by the legislature., Under the head of Onondago are usually comprised three villages, and their works, viz.
Salina, where there are 50 furnaces or blocks.
Liverpool, 30 do.
Ceddesburgh, 13 do.
Total 93 averaging each fourteen kettles, and each of them cal culated to produce forty bushels a day, amounting to 3320 bushels, or 664 barrels, at the rate of more than 1,000,000 bushels annually; which has a ready sale on the spot at from I dol. 75 cts. to 1 dol. 81 cts. per barrel; making one day's manufacture 1162 dollars.
When the western canal is opened, it is supposed the salt from these works can be afforded at Albany, at 371 cents per bushel. While the canal was only partially opened, there were cleared at Syracuse, from April 18th to September 11th, 34,793 barrels, or 173,990 bushels of salt.