Page:All Over Oregon and Washington.djvu/344

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338
OREGON AND WASHINGTON.

ment of making the latter article from bowlders found in this locality, containing a considerable proportion of the necessary ingredients. The enterprise resulted ill the production of a fair article so long as the supply of bowlders lasted; but since the failure of this material the works have to depend upon a quarry of similar rock in the hills adjoining, and it is not yet determined whether or not the new cement will equal that produced from the bowlders. The capacity of the works is thirty-five barrels daily. Mr. Knapp, the energetic proprietor, has erected a most complete establishment, and intends to carry on his experiments to an anticipated success. Quite recently a silver lode of great richness is said to have been discovered in the vicinity of Astoria; but the working of silver being so expensive, these rumors excite but little attention from that class of people who would have means to develop a mine of this kind; yet the discovery may lead to the future development of mineral wealth in this vicinity.

There are in Oregon and Washington several factories for the manufacture of common pottery; one at Vancouver, on the Columbia, and another at Buena Vista, on the Wallamet. There exist, in favorable localities, the best materials for the manufacture of fine earthenware; clays of great smoothness and fineness; and beds of volcanic substances, which, when fused, would evidently make a beautiful enamel.

The manufacture of salt was attempted, in 1867, in the northern end of Multnomah County, about half a mile from the Lower Wallamet River. The experiment proved highly satisfactory, so far as the quality of the salt produced was concerned; but the capital required to make it a paying, business has prevented