ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Volume 16, Spring 1957, p. 389     DOCUMENTS RELATING TO LEASING OF SALT SPRINGS IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS, 1832-1842   EDITED BY TED R. WORLEY     Despite the importance of the subject, but little material was, until quite recently, published on salt springs and salt works in Arkansas. F. P. Rose's "Primitive Salt Works," in Quarterly (Winter, 1952), dealt principally with salt works in the western part of Arkansas Territory. W. S. Ray in "Early Days in Sevier County," in Publications of Arkansas Historical Association, Volume IV, dealt with a single spring, that called Rolling Fork and set down in detail the process of salt extraction. Ray worked at Rolling Fork spring and was paid in salt a peck per day's labor. The volumes on Arkansas Territory, in The Territorial Papers of the United States (XIX, XX, and XXI), contain the only extensive material on the salt springs in territorial days. These three volumes included forty-three documents dated 1818-1832, which related wholly or in part of the subject. The following documents were copied from the originals in the William E. Woodruff Papers at the Arkansas History Commission. They relate to leasing of springs and lands, adjacent under an act of Congress approved April 20, 1832. The act specified that revenue arising from the leases should be used by Arkansas Territory for public roads and that no more than $1.12 1/2 cents per bushel could be charged for salt by the operators of the salt works. * * * Washington ACT. Sept. 22nd 1832 Sir   I will pay the rent of One Hundred dollars per annum for the sum of five years agreeably to the conditions prescribed in your proposals for leasing out Salt Springs under the date of 28th August 1832 for the following described lands viz "The West half of the North East Qr. of Sec. 14 in Town 10 S. and Range 29 West, containing 80 acres-- The East half of the South West quarter in Sec. 11 Town 10 S and Range 29 West, containing 80 acres. The East Half of the North West Qr. in Sec. 11 Town. 10 South and Range 2 West, containing 80 acres. The West Half of the South East quarter in Sec. 11 Town 10 S and Range 2 West containing 80 acres, and also Sections 3, 10, and 15 in Town 10 South and Range 29 West. Very Respectfully Asa Lawrence William S. Fulton Esq. and Acting Governor of Arkansas Terry, Little Rock * * *           Contents  Words  Study Questions  Related Sites Next Page