Post by Sharon Faulkner on Dec 4, 2005 22:31:42 GMT -5
Howdy,
I am working on updating the United States Saltpeter Cave Survey. This is primarily a cave research, "spelean genealogy" tool that lists all the known/suspected/lost/underwater saltpeter caves in the entire United States. I published in American Spelean History Association (ASHA)[ftp]http://www.caves.org/section/asha/[/ftp] in 1995 and will be submitting a revised article either in ASHA or somewhere similar after the first of the year.
I found there are saltpeter caves in nearly every state in the eastern US, to date in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Virginias, Kentucky, TAG (all one caver state as we all know), Arkansas, Texas, and North Carolina.
I am specifically looking to CLARIFY information from the 1995 list, such as the saltpeter caves of Maryland, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. There are many caves simply labeled "saltpeter cave" but I suspect that more than a few of them may be repeats. Since 10 years have passed, it is possible that inquiring minds may have solved a few of these mysteries.
Please send me the names and county location of any caves that you know were mined for saltpeter, and any other information that may be useful. Even if the cave has been trashed beyond belief by the locals, the entrance covered over by the owner, whatever, I can use it. Don't worry if you are repeating something, unless you have already sent it to me.
I have very little information concerning Maryland except the four or five caves listed in the 1981 NSS Bulletin. I would truly love to know more about these caves.
The saltpeter caves I listed from Ohio may well not be true saltpeter caves...if you Ohioans are listening, please clarify if you can!
I would love to have more specific information concerning Missouri as well.
There was one very small cave found in Pennsylvania with historic references to nitrates having been removed from it, as well as another small cave from North Carolina where a narrow band of dolomite managed to squeeze out a cave which was later found to be mined for saltpeter (thanks Dr. Holler). Any more of these oddities?
I decided to include the "bat guano mine" caves of Texas simply because their product was also used for nitrates for gunpowder. This goes for any other state out West whose guano was similarly used. I wouldn't object to adding another state or two. Oklahoma? New Mexico? Those states probably had their own means of obtaining gunpowder but...you never know.
The collated information will be presented in a much simpler, easier to understand format.
As with the last USSCS, and per my standard ethics, ALL WHO SEND INFORMATION WILL BE CREDITED.
Thanks in advance,
Douglas
ijmusicman@yahoo.com
Doug Plemons
Fairlight Knoll
Sevierville, TN
NSS 22889
Indiana Joan Music, Ltd.
(Permission given to circulate this message)
I am working on updating the United States Saltpeter Cave Survey. This is primarily a cave research, "spelean genealogy" tool that lists all the known/suspected/lost/underwater saltpeter caves in the entire United States. I published in American Spelean History Association (ASHA)[ftp]http://www.caves.org/section/asha/[/ftp] in 1995 and will be submitting a revised article either in ASHA or somewhere similar after the first of the year.
I found there are saltpeter caves in nearly every state in the eastern US, to date in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Virginias, Kentucky, TAG (all one caver state as we all know), Arkansas, Texas, and North Carolina.
I am specifically looking to CLARIFY information from the 1995 list, such as the saltpeter caves of Maryland, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. There are many caves simply labeled "saltpeter cave" but I suspect that more than a few of them may be repeats. Since 10 years have passed, it is possible that inquiring minds may have solved a few of these mysteries.
Please send me the names and county location of any caves that you know were mined for saltpeter, and any other information that may be useful. Even if the cave has been trashed beyond belief by the locals, the entrance covered over by the owner, whatever, I can use it. Don't worry if you are repeating something, unless you have already sent it to me.
I have very little information concerning Maryland except the four or five caves listed in the 1981 NSS Bulletin. I would truly love to know more about these caves.
The saltpeter caves I listed from Ohio may well not be true saltpeter caves...if you Ohioans are listening, please clarify if you can!
I would love to have more specific information concerning Missouri as well.
There was one very small cave found in Pennsylvania with historic references to nitrates having been removed from it, as well as another small cave from North Carolina where a narrow band of dolomite managed to squeeze out a cave which was later found to be mined for saltpeter (thanks Dr. Holler). Any more of these oddities?
I decided to include the "bat guano mine" caves of Texas simply because their product was also used for nitrates for gunpowder. This goes for any other state out West whose guano was similarly used. I wouldn't object to adding another state or two. Oklahoma? New Mexico? Those states probably had their own means of obtaining gunpowder but...you never know.
The collated information will be presented in a much simpler, easier to understand format.
As with the last USSCS, and per my standard ethics, ALL WHO SEND INFORMATION WILL BE CREDITED.
Thanks in advance,
Douglas
ijmusicman@yahoo.com
Doug Plemons
Fairlight Knoll
Sevierville, TN
NSS 22889
Indiana Joan Music, Ltd.
(Permission given to circulate this message)
