The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-18
How Salt Is Made at Syracuse.

and stored in large reservoirs, from
which it is drawn off and conveyed to
the several blocks where it passes
through duct made of elm logs. Upon
each side Of this duct are cast iron hem
spherical kettles, thirty-six inches in
diameter These vessels extend the
whole length of the building and are
filled with the brine. The huge fur
naces are then started up and the wo k
of evaporation goes on. The heat is
driven under the kettles by means of
powerful blowers. The evaporation of
kettle of water takes from five to thirty
hours, according to its proximity to the
fire. The salt is dipped out OF the ket-
ties in oval shovels and placed in bas-
kets where it is allowed to drip for a
few hours. 1t is then thrown into a
huge bin to be removed to another
building. The refuse from the evapo-
ration is called "bittern," and is of a
chalky, pasty substance. 1t is dis
charged into waste drain. The salt
is carried into large four-story build
ing, where it first passes through a so
luton of acids for the purpose Of decom
posing the chlorides. This is called the
washing process. About $500 bushels
are washed per day. The salt is then
sifted to drain off the pickle and falls
into the cellar where it remains fol-
some time. 1t is shoveled into large
bin, from which it is carried in cups on
a belt to a boiler twenty-six feet long.
The interior of this boiler contains sew
eral spiral partitions running length.
ways and upon which the salt works its
way until it is deposited in bin at the
other end. 1t becomes thoroughly dry
by this process. Cups again take it
and carry it to an upper floor in the
building, where it goes through sift-
ening and grinding process. The salt
intended for dairy purposes is ground
upon granite rollers, while that
for table use passes through an ordi-
nary Touring mill. The article is now
ready for use, and all that remains is
to properly prepare it for shipping. In
the front of the building is q railroad
track, while in the rear is the Erie
Canal. The article is put up in bags,
boxes and barrels. An even barrel con-
tains $50 pounds. The bags contain
from one to 336 pounds. In the pack
ing room large number of girls are
employed. In putting up the salt, they
usually work in pairs. One girl fills a
bag and then passes it to her compan-
ion, who, with a few quick stitches,
closes the end. They are paid from
eight to twenty cents per hundred bags,
according to the size, and smart girl
can earn on an average about Sl.25 a
day at this work. The article is then
ready to be sent to all parts of the COM
try. 1t must first be inspected and a
penny duty collected for every bushel
manufactured.
The salt springs are all worked by
private individuals who lease the prop
erty for tie m of ninety-nine years. At
present about 5000 men are employed
on the reservation. The business is not
so prosperous in Syracuse as it was a
few years ago. Blocks which would
have sold some time ago for S55, 900 can
now be purchased for 5000, SO great
has been the depreciation in the value
of this property. That the business has
been profitable to the State is not to be
questioned Before the taxes were re-
duced to the present rate the wells
yielded over $4,000, 900 to the State. and
since that time have reimbursed it for
all expenses, and up to within few
years have paid $4,000 annually into
the treasury, beside $4,000 yearly in
canal tolls, Those who delight in
figures will take interest in the follow
ing list of articles that are used at these
manufactures every year: 500, 900 tons
of coal, 23,00O,0OO barrel slaves. H.
OCO,O barrel heads, 100000 barrel
hoops, 100000 yards of cloth, and
100000 feet of Misunderstanding
Eaqle.