  We present a new method for the simultaneous calculation of the cosmic ray
ionization rate, zeta(H2), and the ionization fraction, chi(e), in dense
molecular clouds. A simple network of chemical reactions dominant in the
creation and destruction of HCNH+ and HCO+ is used in conjunction with observed
pairs of rotational transitions of several molecular species in order to
determine the electron abundance and the H3+ abundance. The cosmic ray
ionization rate is then calculated by taking advantage of the fact that, in
dark clouds, it governs the rate of creation of H3+. We apply this technique to
the case of the star-forming region DR21(OH), where we successfully detected
the (J=3-2) and (J=4-3) rotational transitions of HCNH+. We also determine the
C and O isotopic ratios in this source to be 12C/13C=63+-4 and 16O/18O=318+-64,
which are in good agreement with previous measurements in other clouds. The
significance of our method lies in the ability to determine N(H3+) and chi(e)
directly from observations, and estimate zeta(H2) accordingly. Our results,
zeta(H2)=3.1x10^(-18) 1/s and chi(e)=3.2x10^(-8), are consistent with recent
determinations in other objects.
