CHAPTER VIII.

Early Salt Making-Gov. Coles on Titles-Gen. Lafayette's Visit to Illinois -Shawneetown in 1817.

EARLY SALT MAKING.

One of the most interesting subjects of the pioneer history of the State is salt making in Gallatin county. Tradition says that the salt springs near Equality were extensively worked by the prehistoric race of the continent, long before the Anglo-Saxon race had penetrated the wilds of Illinois. The evaporating kettles used were found at Negro Salt Springs and at Salt Lick, near Equality. The kettles were between three and four feet in diameter, made of clay and pounded shells, moulded in basket-work or cloth, which left the impression on the outside of the kettle and looked like artistic hand-work. Little or nothing is known as to the length of time the springs were worked by the Indians, but Congress gave attention to the subject in 1812. On the 12th of February of that year, an act was passed setting apart six miles square of land to support the Equality Salines. Under Congressional authority the springs were leased to parties to work. The labor was nearly all performed by slaves brought from Kentucky and Tennessee, of which reference is made in Article six, Section two, of the Constitution of 1818. Many of these negroes, by extra work, saved sufficient money to buy their freedom, and these were the negroes from whom descended