The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-12-27

Salt exists in almost all countries,
either In masses OF what is called rock
salt, or, being washed by the rains or
liberated through the action of the Gle
ments, is held in solution and carried
toward the ocean or, percolating the
soil, is found III what are termed salt
springs. The sea, as many believe, de-
ponds for its sadness on the rivers and
streams which are constantly washing
the salt into it. Its supply seems mex
haustible. The stratum of solid rock
salt at the mines in Poland is SO thick
that, though it has been mined for CEN
turtles, it has not yet been bored through.
Near Abingdon, in Virginia, while bor-
ing for water, rock salt was found $50
feet below the surface, and was pene-
trated by boring l66 feet without being
passed through. Texas has a vast bed
of pure salt lying near the surface. St.
Domingo has mountain of solid rock
salt. Both these were, probably, in re-
mote times, the beds of ancient seas.
Salt spring abound in the United States,
and the manufacture of salt is carried
on extensively in various localities.
The works near Syracuse,in New York,
are the most extensive, and produce an
nually about six millions of bushels.
Next to these in Importance are the
works at Kanawha, in Virginia, which
produce nearly two millions of bushels
annually. Within a few years a salt
spring has been discovered at Grand
Rapids, Mich, $50 feet below the sur
face. The place is located on the Grand
River, about forty miles from Lake
Michigan. Seventy gallons of water
yield bushel of salt, or about twelve
ounces to the gallon. The quantity oil
salt found in the waters OF the diffoyen;
springs differs materially, and the test
of water from the same spring is found
to differ at various times, probably ow-
ing to rams and other causes. While
ordinary sea water yields less than three
ounces, and the springs at ST. Catha-
rine's, in Upper Canada, less than eight
ounces, water has been obtained at the
Onondaga Salines yielding thirty
ounces of salt to the gallon, and ut the
springs in Virginia fifty ounces, or wa
ter eighteen gallons of which will pro-
duce bushel of salt. AT Boon's Lick,
in Missouri, $50 gallons of water are re-
quired to produce one bushel of salt
Some of tie salt springs in England are
remarkable for the strength and purity
of their waters. Droitwich, in Worces-
tershire, furnished salt from its brine
springs in the time of the Roman occu-
patton of Britain. The brine contains
e-quarter of its weight in pure salt
which is now exported to all parts OF
the world.
The consumption of English salt IN
the United States is very large, and Is
constantly increasing. Nearly all of the
salt manufactured in this country con-
tains ii small quantity of lime, besides
traces of other impurities, which serious
ly impair its preserving qualities, and
renderit entirely Objectionable for certain
uses as, for instance, in butter making.
1t is well know to experienced persons
that good butter cannot be made and
preserved by the use of domestic salt,
and 1t is an undoubtcd fact that much
of the poor butter annually sold in New
York market at halt price would have
been Of the best had it been properly
made with strictly pure salt.-Philadel
phia Herald.