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Show 1836- 1837I Jagg's Far West 69 laid off by authority of Congress, and the lots sold as other public lands. Since then it has been gradually becoming the commercial emporium of southern Illinois. The buildings, among which are a very conspicuous bank, courthouse, and a land- office for the southern district of Illinois, are scattered along upon a gently elevated bottom, swelling up from the river to the bluffs in the rear, but sometimes submerged. From this latter cause it has formerly been subject to disease; it is now considered healthy; is the chief commercial port in this section of the state, and is the principal point of debarkation for emigrants for the distant West. Twelve miles in its rear are situated the Gallatin Salines, from which the United States obtains some hundred thousands of bushels of salt annually. 0 It is manufactured by [ 39] the evaporation of salt water. This is said to abound over the whole extent of this region, yielding from one eighth to one twelfth of its weight in pure muriate of soda. In many places it bursts forth in perennial springs; but most frequently is obtained by penetrating with the augur a depth of from three to six hundred feet through the solid limestone substratum, when a copper tube is introduced, and the strongly- impregnated fluid gushes violently to the surface. In the vicinity of these salines huge fragments of earthenware, apparently of vessels used in obtaining salt, and bearing the impress of wickerwork, have been thrown up from a considerable depth below the surface. Appearances of the same character exist near Portsmouth, in the State of Ohio, and other places. Their origin is a mystery I the race which formed them is departed! n Ohio River. n For a brief statement on the salines, see James's Long's Expedition, in our volume jriv, p. 58, note iz.- ED. " An excellent account of the Mound Builders is given by Lucien Carr in Smithsonian Institution Report, 1891 ( Washington, 1893), pp. 503- 599; see also Cyrus Thomas, " Report on Mound Explorations " in United States Bureau of Ethnology Report ( 1800- 91).- ED. |
