allatin County is situated in the southeastern part of the state
...Flour spar and Galena are abundant near Shawneetown. (BECK 67)
This county contains a great proportion of timbered land, which is particularly valuable on account of its contiguity to the salt springs, which must be an inexhaustible source of wealth. The valued saline, commonly known by the name of the Ohio Saline, is situated on Saline creek, about 10 or 11 miles above its junction with Ohio. The Indians, who formerly possessed it, valued it highly, and called it the Great Salt Spring; and it appears probably, from a variety of circumstances, that they have long been acquainted with the method of making salt. Large fragments of earthenware are continually found near the works, both on and under the surface of the earth. They have the impression of basket or wicker work, similar to those found on the Merrimack and Missouri rivers. From this circumstance, Mr. Bradbury infers, that the Indians practiced the art of evaporating the brine to make salt, long before the discovery of America. In a treaty between the United States, and the Delaware, Shawnanoe, Potawatomie, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, and Piankasaw tribes, at Fort Wayne, on the 7th of June, 1803, this saline was ceded to the United States, with a quantity of land, not exceeding four miles, surrounding it: In consideration of which, the United States engaged to deliver yearly and every year to the said Indians, a quantity of salt, not exceeding 150 bushels, to be divided among the several tribes in such manner as the general council of chiefs may determine.
For a number of years it was possessed by the United States, with a reservation of 161 sections of land in the vicinity, the whole of which were ceded in 1818 to the state of Illinois, by whom it was leased to different individuals for about $10,000 per annum. The works are situated on Section 20, township South Range 8, East of the 3rd p.m. Saline creek is navigable to the works, and the surplus salt is thus shipped to southern marks.
In order to guard again the improper conduct of the lessees and to prevent the injury or destruction of the works, the legislature at their last session passed an act authorizing the appointment of a superintendent. The act provides that he shall be elected by the general assembly, and shall receive a salary of $800 per annum. That he shall reside on the premises, and shall give bonds to the governor and his successors in office, in the sum of $8,000, with security, approved by him, for the faithful performance of his duty. The superintendent shall continue in office till the expiration of the present leases. It is made his duty to take possession of any establishment at the said saline, where the lessee or lessees thereof have violated his or their lease, or leases by failing to comply with any of its covenants or condition. And when any lease of any establishment at said saline, now made, or that may hereafter be made, shall be violated by the lessee or lessees, it shall be the duty of the said superintendent to enter upon and take possession of the premises; which, after due notice thereof being given, shall be leased to the highest bidder. the superintendent is also invested with the power of suing and distraining for rents.
Gallatin County contains 3155 inhabitants. It is attached to the 4th judicial circuit; sends two members to the house of representatives and one to the senate. Its seat of justice is Shawneetown. (BECK 68)
Battery rocks
A ledge of perpendicular rocks on the right bank of the Ohio, 24 miles below the mouth of the Wabash, and 8 above Cave in Rock. (BECK 89)
Cave Creek
Rises in the southern part of Gallatin County, and empties into the Ohio, 12 miles below Saline Creek. It is a very inconsiderable stream. (BECK 98)
Little Wabash River
Rises near the headwaters of the Kaskaskia, and running a southern course through the counties of Clark, Fayette, Crawford, Lawrence, Wayne, Edwards, White and Gallatin, empties into the big Wabash, a short distance above its junction with the Ohio. it is about 15mils in length, and receives .....
...a company has been incorporated by the legislature of the state, called the Little Wabash navigation company, for the purpose of erecting a toll bridge across it at the town of Carmi. (BECK 125)
Saline Creek
A small stream of Gallatin County, rises by two heads, the one in Franklin and the other in White County, and running a southeast course, empties into the Ohio a few miles below Shawneetown. It is navigable for boats to the Saline, which is 11 miles from its mouth. (BECK 153)
Salines
Are so numerous in this state, that it would be impossible to give a detailed enumeration of them. they exist in almost every county, and promise to become sources of wealth to the inhabitants, and of revenue to the state. The one near Shawneetown, called the Ohio saline, is at present most valuable.
Shawneetown
A post town, and the seat of justice of Gallatin county, situated on the Ohio River, nine miles below the mouth of the Wabash, in Section 6, of Township 10 south, in Range 1o, east of the 3rd p.m. the bank of the Ohio at this place has a gradual ascent, but is annually subject to inundation. On account of the peculiar situation of this town, it commands a fine view of the river for several miles above and below. It contains a bank, a printing office, from which a weekly paper is issued, a land office of the district, and about 100 dwelling houses a great proportion of which are built of wood. The two town extends along the river about half a mile, but has rather the appearance of decline. This may be owing to the inundations of the river, and the unhealthiness which they occasion. Mr. Birkbeck, in this noes on a journey in America, remarks; "This place I account as a phenomenon, evincing the pertinacious adhesion of the human animal to the spot where it once has fixed itself. As the lava of mount Etna cannot dislodge this strange being from the cities which have been repeatedly ravaged by its eruptions, so the Ohio, by its annual overflowings, is unable to wash away the inhabitants of Shawneetown. Once a year for a series of successive sprints, it has carried away the fences from the cleared, lands, till at length they have surrendered and ceased to cultivate them. Once a year, the inhabitants make their escape to higher lands, or take refuge in their upper stories, until the waters subside, when they recover their position on this desolate sand bank."
Shawneetown is in latitude 37° 40', 110 miles southeast of Vandalia (BECK 155)
Source: Lewis Caleb Beck (1798-1853). 1823, 1975 Reprint. A Gazetteer of the States of Illinois and Missouri. New York: Arno Press.
