The editor of the
Atlanta Commonwealth, it seems, availed himself of the New-Year's holidays, and the leizure afforded by the breaking of his press, for the purpose of gratifying a long cherished desire to visit that great curiosity, the
Saltpetre Cave,
in Bartow co., Ga. We make the following extract from a very interesting description of his visit which we find published in the columns of the
Commonwealth, of the 6th inst:
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The lightwood for torches being ready, we commenced the ascent to the mouth of the Cave, which we found to be some twenty-five feet wide, and as many or more high.--We now descended a rather precipitous, slippery and very roagh declivity, probably down one hundred and fifty yards to the floor of the first and principal chamber, which covers not far from a quarter of an acre, and is denominated the "Ball Room" The torches were now lighted and we commenced the explorations, guided by
Mr. Harden and accompanied by three other gentlemen.
How far we traveled, or over how much area, we are unable to state, but it must have been over several acres.
Now we would find ourselves in large chambers, with marble vaulted celling, of an inconceivable variety of fantastic convexities, and then almost on all-fours pursuing our on ward course through narrow passages beneath low arches; sometimes we would find ourselves on a pleasant, level, velvety bare floor; at other times on vast heaps, 20 or 30 feet deep, of the earth rich in saltpetre, awaiting release from its hiding place, and compounding with other ingredients to fulfill its mission of death to the enemies of our country, or to subserve and promote the interests of manufactures and commerce.
Above us and around us all the time were objects of wonder and admiration.
Overhead, high and ragged, were the succession of arches, apparently of the same marble hardness and natural whiteness of the greater part of the sides of the chambers and passages, and the forming stalactites.
All around us at intervals, near the walls, and on the chamber floors, were other stalactites forming.
In numerous cases those forming above and those below had met, needing but little aid from the imagination to invest them with the shapes of men and animals, and beautifully chiselled columns.
Here was one with full bust and gracefully falling skirt, looking like a petrified giantess; then another, reminding one of the sea-horse; yonder a third, called the elephant, and yet others, like little ebonies, (the smoke having discolored them,) and one which tradition says is a monument to an Indian lost centuries ago in its subterranean labyrinths.
After spending nearly two hours most pleasurably in the cave, we returned, in the highest degree gratified.
The deposit here has been pronounced by
Professor Pratt, of Oglethorpe University, and by
Professor Emmons, to be the richest in nitre of any they had examined; and to be inexhaustible.
There are numerous passages which have never been followed to their termini; they are believed, and some of them known, to extend to other chambers, containing immense piles of the dirt.
An analysis has demonstrated that it contains from twenty-five to thirty-three per cent. of nitre — each bushel yielding from fifteen to eighteen pounds.
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