The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-02-28
Salt Manufacturing.

In our issue of Saturday, we promised to
say something additional in regard to the
encouragement which should be given to the
manufacturing of salt IN our State. The
more consideration we have given to the
subject, the more satisfied we are that our
State Legislature would act wisely by grant
ing 6OnuS to those parties who will under
take to develop our salt springs. In con-
nectiOn with this subject, we have collected
few facts, and lay them before our readers
this morning, asking a careful perusal.
Salt is the only mineral substance univer-
sally required by man, and the higher order
of animals, as an article of food; and so
highly important are its uses, both in the
animal and vegetable world, that neither
plant nor animal will thrive when totally
deprived of it. The all-wise Creator has,
accordingly, distributed it in all countries,
and it is accessible everywhere, with more
or less labor and capital, and as man advan-
ces in civilization and the arts, its uses be-
come more and more important. 1t is esti-
mated the consumption Of salt in the United
States equals sixty pounds to each individual
annually. From the census returns of 1860,
we learn that the domestic product was
1888, 447 bushels, and the same year we
227 bushels.
Encouragement has been given by all gov
ernments in the world at one time or other,
10 the manufacturing of salt, and always
with good results. Previous TO the year
IoUU tne amount of salt II.eaa IN ENGLAND
was very limited, not being equal to the home
demand. At that time Mr.. Loundes OBJ
tanned from the British Parliament some
encouragement to invest his capital in that
branch of industry. So highly beneficial
were the results, that it now is one Of the
principal articles of export. and the amount
annually produced from her mines and salt
springs equal sixty millions of bushels.
The salt springs in New York State sup
ply about one half the domestic product in
the United States. and they, in l79O, pro-
duced only SIX hundred bushels: in 1880,
500 900 bushels, and in 1861 the product
was estimated at seven millions. The
wealth and influence of that great State is
much indebted to the fostering care bestow-
ed by her early Legislators on the develop
ment Of her salt springs.
The State of Michigan is now a valuable
salt producing country. All attempts to
work or develop her springs previous to the
year 1859, were unsuccessful. Than the
Legislature offered bonus of ten cents per
bushel for all salt made in the State. Sew
eral companies Immediately organized and so
successful have been their operations that
last year the product exceeded 10000 of
bushels, aud the town of Saginaw now con-
tainS 10000 inhabitants, all directly aud in
directly concerned in the manufacture of
salt. This city, four years ago, was a viii
a gre of five hundred inhabitants.
Very little, if any salt, is manufactured
west of the States of Ohio and Michigan
hence the high price of that article, when
brought to our State. We consume annually
in Kansas 25 900 barrels, and the amount
daily shipped through our borders to Colo
RADIO and the regions beyond, can scarcely
be estimated
Can this amount, or any portion of it, be
made 10 our State (? We knowingly answer
it can. and sufficient to supply the whole
Missouri valley for years and years to come
Salt springs are found in many portions of
our State, and they will compare favorably
in strength and quantity with those of the
States Of New York, Ohio, Virginia or Mich
/ igan, and we are confident in saying if our
State is liberal in giving bonus they will
/ be developed in few years and add millions
| of wealth and influence to our young State.
/ Again, we ask a careful consideration OF
the subject, and hope our legislators may act
/ for the BEST Conservative
/ The MESSAGE from San Francisco anuoun-