The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-02-08
THE TUTHILL SALT MARSH.

We have long desired full .descrip
ton of this famous Salt Marsh, on the
Republican. in this State, from one who
knows, and We are therefore pleased to
extract the following frcm the Geological
report of Professor Nudge:
The great supply Of salt which is to
meet the demand for Kansas and the
neighboriDg States, lies at various points
IN tract of country about thirty-fVe
miles wide and eighty long, crossing the
Republican, Solomon and Saline valleys.
The signs of the deposit are seen in .nu-
merous springs, but more frequently in
extensive salt marshes. ceL
a description of one of these marshes
will be good for a large number of them,
as they are very similar in their forma
ton and appearance. Take that in town
4, range 2, west of the sixth principal
meridian, in the Republican valley, about
seventy FIVE miles northwest of Junction
City. Tits sometimes called the Tuthili
marsh. The valley here is wide, grad
ually rising to the high prairies, so COM
mon In that part of the State. The marsh
covers nearly one thousand acres, more
or less impregnatsd with saline water
About one-third is entirely void of Vege-
tation, which the brine will not allow to
grow. It is perfectly level, and at the
time of our first visit was as white as a
wintry snow field, with a crust Of crys-
talized salt. The marsh is of recent allu-
vial formation, composed of sand and
loan, from twenty to thirty feet in thick
ness, brought down by the wash from
the high prairies, which rise gradually on
three sides. In this alluVium, at various
depths, are found the bones of buffalo,
deer and antelope, who have probably
made this resort for salt for long ages
past, as they are seen to do at the present
time. Underlying this is the triassic
rock, which in Europe furnishes so much
salt that it ia termed the saliferous system
The incruslation of salt is frequently
three-eighths of an inch in thickness.
This is scraped up and used, in it's natu
raj state, for sailing cattle, &C.; but, for
domestic purposes, it is melted by being
mixed with about twenty gallons Of water
to bushel of salt. when the mechanical
impurities, sand, &c, readily settle. The
salt is again returned to solid state by
evaporation. The marsh, after scrsping,
produces a second crop of salt in from
i've to seven days of dry weather, and
after repeated scrapings during the past
three years, yields as full supply as at
first. The brine exists in nearly equal
quantities and strength in all parts of the
marsh, and can be obtained by boring
few feet or digging pits. No definite salt
spring shows itself at the surface, but
the supply must come from numerous
points below, though coming from one
great reservoir or salt bed. According
to the observations of Mr.. ]. G. TuthiIl,
who lives near, and has made borings in
over one hundred different places to a
depth of twenty or thirty feet, there is
very UNIFORM supply and strength OF
brine. The water preserved for analysis
was obtained by me by boring made al
random. 1t was found at four feet from
the surface. The density by the salome.
ter was "a degEf6.l6 Banme, or specific
gravity OF / 049l with the thermome-
ter at 60 deg. This should give bush.
81 of salt for $50 gallons OF the water,
mot counting the impurities, which is
three times the strength of the ocean. Il
was taken at cur second visit, immedi
Gtely after heavy rain, which must have
diluted the brine.
''The marsh esiyes the drainage from
the valley slops Abosis two miles In width
and i've miles Eola che north, and con
ssquently the bfihs az it comes from the
source below, must be constantly weak
ened by so large body of surface wafer.
That from the north comes down stream
tenor fifteen feet wide, and about A foot
In depth, in a sluggish current, and when
near aclump of trees at the north end Of
the marsh, suddenly disappears, and Is
not seen again till il reappears below the
opposite part of the valley, toward the
Republican river. A part of this stream,
in its subteFranean course, may pass I'M
mingled with the salt water, but large
portion must percolats into the soil &C.
oupied by the brine, and help to dilute
what would otherwise be & very strong
solution. Every indication tends 10 the
conclusion that by an arLesian boring,
brine can be obtained equal 70 the strong
est now used in the United States. Scarce
ly any other spring east Of the Mississip.
pi gives so strong brine At the surface.
The extentof the marsh also shows that
the main source Of the salt cannot lie far
below. 1t is fair inference that the
strength of the brine is in proportion to |
ire extent Of ground affected.
ths soil Of this and the adjoining val
isys Affords excellent farming land, and
good fresh water is obtained as soon as
'ns OoFosFS Of the marsh are passed.