Edward C. Cooper Tried to Resurrect His Solar Salt Works on City Island in 1852 and 1853

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One of the earliest commercial manufacturing enterprises constructed in the Town of Pelham was a small solar salt works built on City Island by Dr. Edward C. Cooper of 22nd Street in New York City during the early 1830's.  A print in the collection of the New York Historical Society entitled "E.C. Cooper's Plan of Salt Works at City Island (1835)" shows a remarkable facility with a windmill built atop a platform in Long Island Sound that pumped water via a pipe to a tank above four "inclined planes" down which salt water was dripped onto a bed of gravel covering the inclined plane surfaces at precisely the correct rate so that water would coat the gravel and the heavier salt-laden brine would flow downward into "rooms" (also known as "pans") at the bottom of the inclined planes.  There, a small and movable roof could be rolled over the pans during rain (and at night) and rolled away from the pans during sunlight.  Evaporation of the liquid in the thick brine would leave salt crystals that could be harvested for profit.

"E. C. Cooper's Plan of Salt Works at City Island (1835) From an old print

in the New York Historical Society" Source: Jenkins, Stephen, The Story of

The Bronx From The Purchase Made by the Dutch from the Indians in 1639

to the Present Day, Opposite p. 626 (G. P. Putnam's Sons New York and

London, The Knickerbocker Press, 1912).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

I have written before about Cooper's solar salt works on City Island during the early 1830s.  See Mon., Sep. 01, 2014:  Solar Salt Manufacturing Plant Built on City Island in the Town of Pelham in the 1830's.  In that article I wrote that "Diligent effort has uncovered no primary sources that address when, how or why Cooper's salt works on City Island failed (if the works actually 'failed')."  I also wrote that "no record has yet been located to determine whether Edward C. Cooper ever sold stock to raise money for his plan to build a larger solar salt works.  At present, however, it does not appear that any such sale of stock took place."  It turns out, however, that additional research has revealed more to the story of Edward C. Cooper and his solar salt works on City Island in the Town of Pelham.

More than twenty years after his first effort to operate a solar salt manufacturing plant on City Island failed apparently due to lack of funds, Edward C. Cooper tried a second time.  In late 1852 he reportedly began construction of a new solar salt manufacturing plant, once again, on City Island.  From short descriptions of the second facility, it apparently was quite similar to the technology he patented and used to construct his first facility on City Island in the 1830s.  

According to one account, Cooper began construction of his second facility so late in the season in 1852 that it was "too late in the season to form salt."  Thus, according to the same account, he had to abandon the effort "for want of funds."  

It seems that, for a second time, Cooper had an idea and the desire to make it a reality, but lacked the necessary funds to succeed.  He did not give up, however.  Instead, he made a written appeal to the New York Chamber of Commerce in New York City asking for funds (its "patronage") to permit him to continue construction.  Cooper submitted with his written request for aid a "plan" of the salt works he had begun construction on City Island.  He estimated that $5,000 would enable him to construct ten acres, or more, of salt works, yielding upwards of 10,000 bushels of salt annually. 

The New York Chamber of Commerce considered Cooper's request at its regular monthly meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 1, 1853.  After reviewing the communication, the organization ordered that it be placed "on file," effectively rejecting the request perfunctorily.

Once again, Cooper's grand plan to manufacture and operate a solar salt works on City Island in the Town of Pelham failed for lack of funds.  Cooper does not appear to have tried again.

Page 1, United States Patent X8,821 Issued to E.C. Cooper for an

"Evaporator" by the United States Patent Trademark Office on

May 16, 1835.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"SALT FROM OCEAN WATER. -- At a meeting of the New York Chamber of Commerce, on Tuesday, a communication was received from Edward C. Cooper in relation to the manufacture of salt from ocean water.  The Journal of Commerce says: -- 

Accompanying it was a plan of salt works constructed last season on City Island, East River, but too late in the season to form salt, and abandoned for want of funds.  They are formed of inclined planes, made on the earth, of hydraulic cement, taking four barrels to every thousand feet of surface.  It is estimated that $5,000 would construct ten acres, or more, of works, yielding upwards of 10,000 bushels of salt annually.  The patronage of the Chamber is requested.  The communication was ordered to be placed on file."

Source:  SALT FROM OCEAN WATER, Daily Albany Argus [Albany, NY], Mar. 5, 1853, Vol. XXVIII, No. 8339, p. 2, col. 5.  

"CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
-----

The New York Chamber of Commerce held its regular monthly meeting yesterday afternoon, at the Merchants' Bank. . . .

A communication was received from EDWARD C. COOPER, in relation to manufacturing salt from ocean water.  Accompanying it was a plan of salt works constructed last season to form salt, and abandoned for want of funds.  They are formed of inclined planes, made on the earth, of hydraulic cement, taking four barrels to every thousand feet of surface.  It is estimated that $5,000 would construct ten acres, or more, of works, yielding upwards of 10,000 bushels of salt annually.  The patronage of the Chamber is requested.  The communication was ordered to be placed on file."

Source:  CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Morning Courier And New-York Enquirer [NY, NY], Mar. 2, 1853, Vol. XLVII, No. 8019, p. 3, col. 2.  

"SALT FROM SEA WATER. -- Edward C. Cooper has memorialized the New York Chamber of Commerce to aid him in the construction of works, already commenced by him, on City Island, East River, for the manufacture of salt from ocean water.  It is estimated that $5,000 would construct ten acres or more of works, yielding upwards of 10,000 bushels of salt annually."

Source:  SALT FROM SEA WATER, The Baltimore Sun, Mar. 4, 1853, Vol. XXXII, No. 92, p. 1, col. 3.

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