USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 2 > Part 30
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Tbe salt water was at first dipped up by pails and carried to the places for boiling. In 1790 this method was superseded by a pump placed upon a platformu above the spring, with open troughs leading to each block. At first cach manufacturer pumped water enough for his own use; but in a few years thereafter men were eruployed to pump for all. As the works increased and were located at a distance from the springs, lines of pump logs were laid from the springs to the various works, aud a pump was used for each block, or group of blocks. A horse-power for elevating salt water was used by Asa Danforth, jr., in 1805; and a water-power was obtained from several springs in the vicinity by him soou after. In 1807 or '08. a water-power- obtained by conducting Yellow Brook from the vicinity of the present county clerk's office, iu a race, to Salina-was used by John Richardson. All the works in which machinery was used elevated the water by means of a wheel. to which buckets were attached. An experiment was made at an early period to raise salt water by means of steam. An immense tub, placed over the spring and connected with it by tubes. was filled with steam, which was suddenly condeused by the admission of cold water, a vacuum was produced, and the water would rush np with great violence and fill the tub. This experiment was found too costly for general application. In 1821-22 the Coarse Salt Company erected a large pump, worked by machinery driven by the waste water from the canal, for the purpose of supplying themselves with salt water. They also made arrange- ments to supply others, at certain prices. Up to this time, tho greater part of the water had continued to bo raised by hand- pumps. In 1826 the State bought out the pump works of the Coarse Salt Company and enlarged themu sufficiently to supply all the manufacturers with brine.
The Salina pumphouse is a fine stono building, completed in 1841, at a cost of about $30,000. The Syracuse pumphouse, also of stone, was erected in 1858, at a cost of $30,000. A largo ground reser voir has lately been constructed near the Syracuso pumpbouse, of sufficient capacity to contain water enough to manufacture 600,000 bushels of salt. . The State designs to double its capacity immediately.
The first great improvement mado in the manufacture of salt was the introduction of bittern pans, which took place withiu a few years after the commencement of the business. A great number of experiments have since been made; but tho
and Lansing.
Onondaga. Cortland. Seneca. Cayuga. Tompkins. Cayuga. Tompkins.
Cortland. Schuyler. Tompkins.
Wayne. Wayne.
Sterling ..
-
480
ONONDAGA COUNTY.
CAMILLUS-was formed from Marcellus, March 8, 1799. A part of Onondaga was an- nexed in 1834. It is an interior town, lying a little N. w. of the center of the eo. The surface is generally rolling, the ridges extending in a N. and s. direction. Nine Mile Creek flows N. E. through near the center, and along the s. line it is bordered by steep banks 100 to 200 feet high. In the N. w. corner is a swamp covering an area of several hundred aeres. The soil is a rich, elayey and
process of manufacture remains essentially the same as at first. Many experiments liave been made to completoly separate the Impurities from the water before boiling,-but so far without complete success. The addition of alum to the water is found to harden the salt and to render the process of crystallization more perfeet. The itumense consumption of fuel at the bolling works has aliuost stripped the surrounding country of wood, rendering that artiele scarce and high. Late experiments in the use of coal have been completely successful; and by the con- struction of the Binghamton R. R. an avenue is opened directly to the Pennsylvania coal mines.
In 1797 the Surveyor-General laid out a tract of 15,000 aeres, aurrounding the lake, known as the Onondaga Salt Springs Re- servation, which was set apart for the location of salt works. It was supposed that this traet was more extensive than would ever be needed; and, pursuant to acts of the Legislature, all, except ahout 550 acres, was sold in 1822 and 1827. Sinee that time, however, the State has re-purchased several tracts, and large numbers of solar works have been erected upon private property. The amount of land at preseut owned by the State is about 700 acres.
The salt wells are all located in the low lands that surround the lake. Their existence is doubtless owing to the nature and position of the rocks forming the basin of the lake. The Niagara limestone-a solid and almost seamless rock, about 100 ft. thiek-crops out 8 miles N. of the springs. In common with all the rocks iu tho vicinity, it has a dip to the s. of about 26 ft. to the mile. This would make it extend nnder the lake, form- ing a floor to the whole valley completely impervious to water. Above this formation are the red shales of the Onondaga salt group, nearly 500 feet in thickness. Observation and experi- ment havo shown that these shales have been removed, by some great force of nature. from the whole valley which extends from the N. extremity of the lake several miles up the valley of Onon- daga Creek ; and the excavation has been filled with drift depo- sits, consisting chiefly of alternate strata of sand, elny, and gravel. The salt water is found permeated through this drift in all parts of the vidley, the strongest being found where the old valley is the deepest. The salt water is probably derived from the dissolving of partieles of salt distributed through the whole inass of the green shales and plaster heds, which lie next above tho red shales and which extend perliaps mauy miles
under the hills. In evidence of the truth of this theory, it is shown that the green shales which have been exposed are full of small hopper-shaped cavities,-thie preeisc shape assumed by crystals of salt when left to form by themselves, und ouo which no other erystal ever assumes. The water collects in this great hasin, and is prevented from overflowing by the impervious floor of Niagara limestone. The waters of the lake ure probably prevented from mingling with the salt water by strata of im- pervious clay and marl. About 50 different wells have been Bunk for obtaining salt water, and a great number of experl- ments have been tried. The depth of the borings has been from 50 to 600 ft .; and in every case where the tubing has been sunk into the strata below the drift no brine has been obtained. Up to 1825 the water was obtained from square holes sunk in the marsh to the depth of ahout 30 ft. The first wells that were bored were 50 to 80 ft. deep. Subsequent experiment showed that by boring farther out on the marsh the wells could be deeper and a better quality of water could be obtained. A tube sunk to the depth of 414 ft. penetrated a clay bed or tho Niagara limestone, and destroyed the well, although at a depth of 392 to 397 ft. a bountiful supply of excellent water was ob- tained. A boring upon the hills, to the depth of 600 ft., pro- bahly penetrated through the limestone and entered the Clinton group below. This last boring was made with the hope of finding rock salt; but not a single salt erystal has ever yet been found here in a natural state.
Wells have boen sunk at 4 points, giving to the salt manufae- ture 4 distinet centers. These are situated respectively at Salina, (now First Ward of Syracuse,) Syracuse, Liverpool, and Geddes. The number of wells now in use upon tho Salt Springs Reservation is 15, of which 6-from 150 to 310 ft. deep-are at Salina, 6-from 255 to 340 ft. deep-are at Syracuse, and 3- from 80 to 100 ft. deep-are at Liverpool. The Geddes wells have been abandoned, as the water was not sufficiently stroug to make the manufacture profitable. The Geddes works are now supplied from the wells at Syracuse.
The strength of the water is tested by an instrument called a salometer, graduated so as to mark pure water 0º and water saturated with salt 100º. The water from the wells as now drawn rangos from 60° to 76°, averaging about 70°. An aualy- sis of the various springs was made in 1837, by Dr. Beck, with the following result :--
LOCALITIES.
Total amount of
solid matter in 1,000
grains of brine.
Curbonic Acid.
Oxid of Iron and
Carbonate of Lime.
Sulphate of Lime.
Chloride of Mag-
nesium.
Chloride of Cul-
Chloride of mon Salt.
Water with a trace
of Organic Matter.
Total.
Geddes.
138.55
0.06
0.10
Syracuse ...
139.53
0.07
0.14 0.17
0.04 0.02 0.04 0.03
4.93 5.69 4.72
0.79 0.46 0.51 0.77
1.72
142.85
861.39 860.40 853.41 850.39
1,000
Liverpool
149.54
0.07
0.13
4.04
An analysis from a well yielding stronger wator was after- ward made, with the following result :-
Common salt ...
173.50
Sulphate of lime, &e ..
8.50
Water.
818.00
Total
1,000.00
bittern pan, is placed in each kettle wlien first filled, to receive these bitterns as they settle. The pan is removed before the water boils, and the salt is left nearly pure. The kettles usually have a capacity of about 100 gallous, and average in weight about 900 1bs. each. The fuel is applied at one eud of the arch, the chimney being situated at the other. Within the past few years several elimineys, ranging from 75 to 150 ft. in height, have been erected, for the purpose of using coal. The blocks are all situated along the canals, or side cuts from them, for convenience in obtaining fuel and in shipping the salt. The number of blocks upon the Reservation reported in 1859 was 312, distributed as followa :-
The water at the present time does not essentially differ from that last given, a hundred pounds of brine yielding about 174 lbs. of pure salt. A bushel of salt, weighing 56 lbs., is made from 35 gallons of water. The teniperature of the water as it rises from the ground ranges from 50° to 52º Fahrenheit. An analysis of the imanufactured salt shows that 96 to 99 per cent. is pure salt, and the remainder is principally sulphate of lime and water. About four-fifths of the salt is made by boiling, No. of Blocks. No. of Kettles. and the remainder by solar evaporation. The water in the wells rises to the surface of the ground ; thence it is raised by 2,998 combined snetion and foree pumps into high reservoirs, from Syracuse 52 which it is distributed by pump logs to the various works. The Salina 152 8,042 62 machinery for pumping is propelled by water from the canals. Liverpool 46 3,304 2,586 The boiling works consist of two parallel arches, generally set Geddes with 25 to 30 kettles each. They are covered with a roof, par- tially open. to allow the egress of steam; and under the same Total. 312 16,930 covers are accommodations for storing and packing the salt. Each of these works is technically ealled a "block." A "cis- The solar works consist of shallow vats, constructed of wood, and placed upon posts 2 to 3; ft. above the ground. Each vat is 16 ft. square, or 16 hy 18, and 9 inches deep. Movable roofa are so coustructed that the vats can easily be covered in wet weather and exposed in dry. An acre of ground contains tern" is connected with each block, and from it a line of logs conducts the water along the top of the arch, between the rows of kettles, with a spout to each kettle. The greater part of the Impurities are precipitated and full to the hottom of the kettle before the water begius to boil. A shallow pan, ealled a | about 60 vats and covers, aud an evaporating surface of more
2.03 0.83
130.66 132.39
Salina ..
146.50
0.09
1.04
140.02
cium.
dium. or Pure Com-
So-
Silica.
SALT MANUFACTURE AT SYRACUSE
: Solar Evaporation of Salt Fields 1 Interior of Salt Blocks or Boiling Works.
Exterior of Salt Blocks
481
ONONDAGA COUNTY.
gravelly loam. Limestone and gypsum are bothi found in abundanec.1 A large sulphur spring is found in the N. w. corner. Camillus, (p. v.,) on Nine Mile Creek, near the center of the town, was incorp. in 1852; it contains 3 churches, 2 flouring mills, and 552 inhabitants. Amboy, in the N. E. part, contains a church and 170 inhabitants. Belle Isle, (p. v.,) on the canal,
1 mi. E. of Amboy, contains 1 church and 140 inhabitants. Fairmount is a p. o. near the E. border. The first settler was Capt. Isaae Lindsay, who located upon Lot 80 in 1790.2 The first church (Presb.) was formed in 1817. There are 6 churches in town.3
CICERO-was formed from Lysander, Feb. 20, 1807. Clay was taken off in 1827. It lies upon Oneida Lake, in the N. E. corner of the co. Its surface is level or very slightly undulating. An extensive swamp in the s. E part occupies one-third of the entire surface, and another con- siderable swamp extends along the lake shore w. of South Bay. The soil is a clayey and sandy loam. Cicero Corners, (Cicero p. o.,) near the center of the w. line, contains 2 churches and 242 inhabitants. Brewerton, (p. v.,) on the outlet of Oneida Lake, contains 2 churches and 621 inhabitants, of whom 421 are in this town. South Bay and Frenchmans Island are places of resort for pleasure seekers.5 Fort Brewerton,6 one of the line of English fortifications between Oswego and the Mohawk Valley, was situated in Oswego co., on the shore of Oneida Outlet, oppo- site the present village of Brewerton. The first settlement was made by - Dexter, a black- smith, who located on the river, opposite the fort, in 1790.7 The first church (Presb.) was formed at Cieero Corners, in 1819; Rev. James Shepard was the first preacher. The census reports 6 churches in town.8
CLAY-was formed from Cicero, April 16, 1827. It is the central town upon the N. border of the co. Its surface is very flat, and but little elevated above the level of Oneida Lake. Seneca River forms the w. and Oneida River the N. boundary. These streams are sluggish ; and along the latter is an extensive swampy region. The soil is in part clayey, and in part a light sandy loan. Fruit and onions are largely produced. Belgium, (Clay p. o.,) upon Seneca River, contains a church and 190 inhabitants ; Euclid (p. v.) 2 churches and 140 inhabitants; Cell- terville,9 (Plank Road p. o.,) on the line of Cicero, 2 churches and 111 inhabitants. Three River Point (p. v.) lies at the junction of Oncida and Seneca Rivers, in the N. w. corner.10 Pop. 90. The first settler was Patrick McGee, who located at Three River Point, in 1793.11 The first church (Evang. Luth.) was located in the N. E. part of the town. The census reports 4 churches.12
DEWITTE-was formed from Manlius, April 12, 1835. A portion of Syracuse was annexed in 1858. It is an interior town, lying N. E. of the center of the co. The N. half is level, and the s. broken and hilly. The declivities of the hills are usually stecp, and their summits are 500 to 700 ft. above the valleys. Butternut Creek, flowing N., divides the highlands into two nearly equal ridges. Upon this stream are several fine mill sites. In the s. w. corner, about 1 mi. N. w. of
than 15,000 sq. ft. The vats are usually arranged in three different | in 1809; and about the same time quarrying was commenced grades, the water being drawn down at different times, and the by a joint stock company, and a successful business was carried on for many years. salt being allowed to crystallize only in the lowest one. In this process the impurities nearly all crystallize before the brine is 2 Jaines, Win., and Elijah Lindsay, brothers of the first settler, came soon after. Among the other early settlers were Nicholas Lamberson, Moses Carpenter, Judge Wm. Stevens, Dr. J. H. Frisbie, Wm. Reed. Selden Leonard, and David Hinsdale. Daniel Veal taught the first school, in 1808; Isaac Lindsay kept the first inn, in 1793; John Tomlinson the first store, in 1808; David Munro, Wm. Wheeler, and Samuel Powers built the first saw And grist mills, in 1806. drawn into the last series of vats, leaving pure salt. It is found that, on an average, the covers can be taken off only 70 days in a scason. More than 500 acres are now covered by solar works: and the aggregate number of covers is 30.786, and the amount of evaporating surfaco 8,403,840 sq. ft. The solar salt is much coarser than that produced by boiling. Large quantities of both kinds are ground for dairy and table purposes. The aggregate amount of bushels of salt manufactured in 1858 was as 8 2 M. E., 2 Presb., 1 Bap., and R. C. follows :-
Solar.
Boiled.
Total.
Syracuse
573,236
943,037
1,516.273
Salina
469.483
2.764.383
3.233,866
Liverpool
35,128
956,807
991,935
Geddes
436,707
854.438
1,291.145
Total.
1.514,554
5,518,665
7.033.219
The State levies a duty of one cent per bushel on all salt manufactured; and from the revenue so derived the State works are kept up. The salt is usually packed in bbls. each containing 280 Ihs., 1 5 bushels. The ground salt, for table and dairy use. is packed in sacks, containing 14, 20, or 28 lbs .. and ia small boxes. The barrels are principally manufactured in the towns lying N. of the city.
1 It is said that the first gypsum in the U. S. was found in this town in 1792, by Win. Lindsay. De Witt Clinton, Samuel Young, and other distinguished individuals visited the locality ! citizen.
4 The Indian name of this swamp is Ka-nugh-wa-ka, "where the rabbits ruu."
6 Sce p. 521.
6 The Indian name of this locality is Oh-saha-u-ny-tah-se-ngh- kah, " where the water runs out of Oneida Lake."
7 Among the other early settlers were Oliver Stevens, Ryal Bingham, Elnathan Botchford, John Leach, and Patrick McGee. The first child born was John L. Stevens, in 1802. Geo. Rainsay taught the first school, in 1792; Patrick McGee kept the first inn, in 1791; Isaac Cody the first store, in 1818; and Moses and Freeman Hotchkiss built the first sawmill, in 1823.
8 2 M. E., 2 Disciples, Presh., and Union.
9 Locally known as " Podunk."
10 The junction of these two rivers forms the Oswego Rive. , and from this is derived the name of the village.
1; Among the other carly settlers were Adamn Coon, in 1798; Simeon Baker, in 1799; John Lynn, m 1800; and Joshua Kinne and Elijah Pinckney, in 1807. - Hall taught the first school, in 1808: A. L. Soule kept the first store; and Abraham Young built the first sawmill.
12 2 M. E., Bap., and Evang. Luth.
13 Named from Moses De Witt, an early settler and prominent
31
482
ONONDAGA COUNTY.
Jamesville, is a small lake, occupying a deep chasm in the rocks. It is nearly circular in form, about 80 rods in diameter, and is almost surrounded by perpendicular banks 150 to 200 ft. high.1 Another lake, of a similar character, lies 2 mi. N. E. of Jamesville.2 Messina Spring, a strong sulphur spring, N. w. of the center of the town, has considerable local notoriety for medicinal qualities. Gypsum and waterlime are both extensively quarried along the banks of Butternut Creek. The soil is a sand and clay loam in the N., and a sandy and gravelly loam in the s. Jamesville,8 in the s. part of the town, contains 3 churches and several manufactories." Pop. 270. Orville (De Witt p. o.) contains 2 churches and 158 inhabitants. Collamer,5 (p. o.,) in the N. part, is a hamlet. Messina Springs is near the w. line. The first settler was Benj. Morehouse, from Dutchess co., who came in April 26, 1789.6 The census reports 7 churches in town.™
ELBRIDGE&-was formed from Camillus, March 26, 1829. It is the ecntral town upon the w. border of the co. Its surface is level in the N. and rolling in the s. Sencea River and Cross Lake form a portion of the N. boundary. Skaneateles Outlet flows N. w. through the w. part. Upon the banks of the Outlet, near the center, are found the peculiar tunnel-shaped cavities in the earth, characteristic of regions abounding in gypsum. Several weak brine springs are found along Seneca River.º The soil is a rich, sandy and gravelly loam. Elbridge, (p. v.,) on Skaneateles Outlet, in the s. w. part of the town, was incorp. April 1, 1848; it contains the Munro Collegiate Institute,10 3 churches, a pail factory, and several mills. About I mi. down the stream is a mill for the manufacture of pearl barley. Pop. 630. Jordan, (p. v., ) upon the Outlet, 2 mi. below Elbridge, was incorp. May 2, 1835. It contains the Jordan Academy, 5 churches, 2 flouring mills, and a wheelbarrow factory. It is a station upon the direct branch of the N. Y. Central R. R., and an important canal village. A feeder from the Outlet conncets with the canal at this place. Pop. 1,331. Peru (Jacks Reefs p. o.) is a hamlet, on the canal, near the N. E. corner. Junction (Hart Lot p. o.) is a R. R. station on the Auburn Branch of the N. Y. C. R. R. Half Way is a station on the same R. R. California is a hamlet, on the canal, 2 mi. E. of Jordan. The first settler was Josiah Buck,11 who located on Lot 82, in 1793. The first church (Bap.) was formed Dee. 30, 1816; Elder Craw was the first preacher.12
FARIUSB-was formed from Pompey, March 9, 1798. Tully was taken off in 1803, and a part of Truxton (Cortland co.) in 1808. It is the s. E. corner town in the eo. It has a general elevation of 1,000 to 1,200 ft. above the Erie Canal at Syracuse. The surfuec of the s. half is broken by a series of ridges extending in a N. and s. direction and separated by narrow valleys. Their deelivities are generally steep, and the summits are 300 to 500 ft. above the valleys. South Ifill, in the s. w. corner, is the principal elevation. The central and northern parts are level or moderately hilly. The streams from the center flow s. into the Tioughnioga, and those upon the
I Called by the Indians Kai-yah-Kooh, signifying " satisfied with tobacco." Tradition says that an Indiau woman once lost her child here in a marvelous inanner, and that she was informed by a spirit that the child would be safe if she would annually cast a quantity of tobacco npon this pond. The custom con- tinued until the advent of the whites ; and lience the name. The water of the lake is pure upon the surface, but strongly im- pregnated with sulphur below. The water is about 60 ft. deep .- Clark's Onondaga.
" In the vicinity of this latter lake two caves have been dis- covered and explored for several rods under ground. The caves and sinks in which the lakes are situated are evidently formed by the dissolving of the underlying rocks by the action of water.
3 Named from James De Witt, who started a forge here at an early day.
+ The principal manufactures are waterlime and plaster. The Orville (navigable) feeder of the Erie Canal and the S. B. & N. Y. R. R. afford ample facilities for transportation.
5 Locally known as "Britton Settlement."
G Among other early settlers were Daniel Keeler, Dr. Hot- brook, Jeremiah Jackson, Stephen Angel, Stephen Hungerford. John Young, Jeremiah and James Gould, William Bends, Roger Merrill, Caleb Northrup, and Benjamin Sanford, -all of wboin located in the town between 1790 and 1800. The first child horn was Sarah Morehouse, Feb. 16. 1790; and the first death was that of Egbert De Witt, May 30, 1793. Polly Hibbard taught the first school, in 1795: Benjamin Morehouse kept the first inn. in 1790; and Asa Danforth built the first sawmill, in 1792, and tbe first grixtmill, in 1793.
7 3 M. E., 2 Presb., Prot. E., and Cong.
8 In the w. part of the town, at the time of the first settle- ment, were found the remains of three distinct fortifications : one was square, one quadrangular, and one circular. When first discovered, the embankments were 3 feet high; and upon
one of them stood an oak tree 4 ft. in diameter. These works were cach situated near a living spring of water. The remains of various articles found here seem to indicate that these forti- fications were known to the French.
" The channel of this river at Jacks Reefs has been deepened by the State, for the purpose of draining the Cayuga marshes. T'be work was commenced in 1854 and finished in 1857, under the superintendence of Ilon. George Geddes. More than 200.000 yards of rock cutting were removed, and the marshes were drained as far west as Musquito Point. The cost was $156.000. (- years previous to this work a deep channel was excavated for a distance of - mi., near Oswego River, at an expense of about $100.000.)
10 Founded in 1839. by Nathan Munro, who left it an endow- ment of $20,000. The building -- among the finest in the State -is of brick, faced with brownstone, and has accommodations for 300 pupils. The school is well sustained.
11 The old elm tree under which Mr. Buck and family took shelter before their honse was built is still standing, a little w. of the house of Col. JJohn Munro. Among the other carly settlers were Robert Fulton. James Strong, Col. Chandler, Dr. Pickard. - Potter, Jas. Wiesner, W'm. Stevens. Dr. John Fris- bie, Zenas and Aaron Wright. Martin Tickner, Reynolds Corey, Isaac Smith, Jonathan Rowley, Jonathan Babcock, Moses Car. penter. Squire Munro. Ezra and John Brackett, and Joseph and Aaron Colman. John Healy taught the first school, in 1501 ; Josiah Buck kept the first inn, in 1793; Wm. Stevens kept the first store and built the first sawmill, in 1797 ; and Isaac Strong the first gristmill, in 1798.
12 The censns reports S churches in town; 3 M. E., 2 Bap., Cong., Presb., And Prot. E.
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