| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| May 6, 1864 |
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| Report of the Committee on the salt supply |
| Some important and interesting facts are educed from an
examination of the report of the committee appointed by the House at
its last session to inquire and report as to the best mode to be
adopted in procuring a supply of salt. This committee, after
collecting information and examining the evidence educed by analytical
investigation and actual experimental results, recommend the mining of
salt as a means of supply to be for preferable and as possessing many
advantages over the ordinary mode at present adopted. From the result
of an analysis of a sample of salt taken from what is known as the
Findlay
well, in
Washington
county, it was ascertained that 82 per cent. was pure salt. The other
qualities consisted of sulphate of lime, sulpha, soda, chloride
magnesium, and earthy matter 18 per cent. It will thus be seen that
the salt rock in its original state is very well adapted for curing
meats, or can be used in salting stock without the trouble and expense
of purifying it. Many of the reasons assigned are on the score of
economy of labor, transportation, &c., all of which, it would
seem, makes the mining process far preferable to the mode of boiling
the brine. One of the greatest obstacles which presents itself in the
present mode of manufacture is the scarcity of wood and difficulty of
transportation over the Saltville Branch Railroad
{part of the Virginia & Tennessee RR}.
Nearly all of the difficulties will be obviated by a resort to mining.
A mine, if opened, could not be destroyed by the enemy, and damages
could be repaired in as little time as it would take to do the injury.
The only difficulty which presents itself to the mining operation is
that the property in which the mines are situated in Washington or
Smythe counties belong to individuals who have leased it for the term
of ten years; but this lease does not confer any right to the lessees
to take salt by mining, while it excludes the owners from any right of
entry to work the mines themselves, thus presenting a complete barrier
to any private parties without the concurrence of the owners and
lessees. The committee concur in the opinion that if the Government
should find it necessary, that power already exists under the
impressment act to take temporary possession of and use the mines for
the benefit of the army; but, to avoid all difficulty, they think it
well, and recommend some legislative act which will amplify the powers
in this particular case, and thus remove all obstacles in the way of a
speedy and plentiful supply of salt. |
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