New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-06
SALT CELLAR AND SUGAR BOWL
LOUISIANA'S GREAT CURIOSITY
EXCURSION TO SALT ISLAND

EXCURSION TO SALT ISLAND
Messrs. Price, Hine & Tupper, No. &c
Carondelet street, owners of the steam boat
line from Brashear TO New Iberia, and
agents for Louisiana rock salt, conceived
the idea recently to brighten their trips up
the beautiful Teche by inaugurating cheap
trips for those who are endowed with suffi-
Gent curiosity to view one Of the create
wonders of our new world-ninety million
tons of pure, solid, compact rock salt, To-
Gated on an island about l85 feet high,
which unaccountably rises from miserable
over 100000 acres of excellent land, could
have come into existence in such locality
will always remain matter OF useless con-
lecture.
Last Thursday morning goodly COM
pany of ladies and gentlemen were on the
eight o'clock train of Morgau's railroad, and
in four hours were told to change to the
steamboat Iberia. Captain Morse was at
the landing, his pleasant face smiling salts
iedly as he saw the crowd approaching
The vessel is good one and well oficered;
everything passess off quietly and satisfac-
torily.
We were in New iberia long before day
light, and were made aware that the Fourth
of July had come by the number of flags on
the steamer. An early breakfast and the
excursionists were shown into carriages
ready to start for Avery's Salt Island. The
route over is almost monotopous, and would
be quite were it not that the distance is
only eight or nine miles. Before reaching
the island its higher points are seen and
tEen the traveller learns that distance lends
enchantment to the view. By deceptive
ness in the air objects three or four miles
off look much larger than they really are,
and far prettier.
Once on the high land, a sense of relief
settles ones nerves, and inquisitive eyes
gaze at the scene nearly bewildered. Vege-
tation is more prolific than in the rich
prairies Just left behind. and the landscape
80 varied that the unused eye is weary with
the many beauties. Among the trees may
be seen the magnolia, live oak, cypress,
maple, locust. gum, walnut, thorn. and
fruit bearing trees. All fond of investi-
eating the flora Of few acres will find
abundant amusement. The geologist would
90 into raptures, for he will see frightful
variety, not to mention the amusement he
might find when down in the salt mine
The soil is composed of sand, loan, gravel,
clay, and composites. An epitome of Lou
isiana seems raised up here for the eye and
hand, and the traveller with one CLAN ce of
his eye can see both the sugar bowl and the
salt cellar. Sugar cane thrives uncom monty
well, and several large fields at present
promise q good yield. Garden vegetables
grow and terminate surprisingly.
Cattle find abundance of subsistence the
year round, while sheep and hogs require
but little attention. A gentleman who per-
correspondent that they could be quite
independent of the world for all necessities,
being able to produce everything necessary
for food and raiment, and the statement is
undoubtedly true.
These things were observed as the party
wended its way toward the objective point
the salt mine. The excursionists were
eager, and their desires were quickly graft
fed by Mr.. John Avery and his assistants,
as steam was up all prepared to work the
elevator. Down We went as spooth as
glass, from temperature of $50 to a cooler
feeling of 700, in covered elevator, each
side, top and bottom of which is composed of
solid salt, all as dry as powder. This
absence of moisture is one Of the most
striking features in the scene. Iron and
steel implements used by the miners are
quite bright. This is accounted for by the
fact that the sulphates Of magnesia and
lime are 80 infnitisma al that moisture is not
held or attracted. There are two chambers.
made by the small amount of salt taken
out. and it is in these places that the visitor
finds the grand pbint Of attraction. Here
one can partly form a faint estimate Of the
immensity of the bed. Forty feet over his
head is solid rock salt, unbroken even by
small seam. The same on each side,
and it is impossible to even conjec-
ture what is beneath his feet. The
present mine bottom is foot below
the sea-level and as yet no effort has been
made to ascertain how far it extends. The
uniformity in the quality of the salt-nearly
pure as it is mined-one of the great fea-
lures, is truly wonderful How it got there
or what produced it is something that has
puzzled scientific men, therefore your hum
BILE servant dares not venture an express
sion on the subject. That it is we'll known
fact that more than 10000, 900 tons of solid
salt are quietly resting there is sufficient.
Our natural curiosity satisfied, we returned
to the heated surface. where Messrs. Tup-
per & Morse had a toothsome lunch pre-
pared.
The return to New Iberia was without
incident.
Once more on the boat excursionists in
dulged in a rest and talked salt until they
were quite well preserved.
Friday evening the party was ready for
return, but before leaving the captain sent
up large paper balloon, which sailed off
majestically toward the north, and, as if re-
luctant to have found a counter current
mile up, then darted off for Mexico. OF
started. the boat. the deck hands shouting
one of their peculiar songs. waking the
echoes in measured strains. All along the
route we were regaled with instrumental
and vocal music, but the deck hand songs
were really entertaining. The officers
astonished the natives with flashes of fire.
works to remind them that the fourth of