Well in right background. Foreground is storage tank for brine, the salt water cistern. Brine from all wells is piped into this cistern which serves merely as a reserve supply should the wells be shut off for a short time. The bottom logs were place ca. 1870.
These pictures made before 1898 'probably at same time as Thompson made picture of entire plant'--also shown in this collection. Picture in upper left corner shows salt piled on drain boards after being lifted by hand from the crystalizing vats. Right upper picture shows salt being packed in barrels for shipment. Middle scene is in cooper shop. 'All salt at that time was shipped in barrels.' Lower left scene shows barrels of salt on platform ready to lower down incline to load on barges. Until the New York Central Railroad 'formerly the K&M' was built, all salt was shipped by barge or taken across Kanawha River and loaded on C&O Railroad at South Malden.
Brine Storage Tanks. The brine went from wells to storage tanks, the container in center of picture contains brine. The boiler furnishes heat, a pre-heating process for brine grainer. The brine came in from the left. Coal in foreground.
