In a medium bowl. Combine the salt and cornmeal. Whisk in 1 cup of the water, until smooth.
In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil.
Stir the cornmeal mixture into the boiling water, stirring constantly, until it thickens.
Pour the mixture into a greased loaf pan. Cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
Remove from the fridge, score the outer edges and dump onto a cutting board. Slice into ½- inch thick pieces.
Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cornmeal slices to the skillet and fry each side until golden brown. If cooking in batches, you may need to melt more butter, for frying.
Serve warm with syrup, butter or sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.