Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-10-09
BRIGHT SALT CRYSTALS.
A PALACE CARVED FROM
SOLID SALT.
1 Subterranean Palace, EazZliny and Beau iful -
Men Who are Born, Live and Die Under
Ground-PrOces, of EyapOra.
tiOn and Capitalization.

There is u populous village, far a.
way. lying deep in the bosom Of the
earth. upon foundation of shining |
crystal, and encircled by walls OF crys-
tai rock. No grass and flowers grow in
that secluded spot nor trees with their
luXuriant foliage, for no CLEAN of sun
shine ever penetrates the masses OF
earth and rock that separate that sub
terranean world from the beautiful
world above. That village. with its
quantity built homes; is but tiny part
Of Il wonderful and very famous mine
in Wieliezka, in Poland.
Let us, in fancy, visit this wonder.
We shall find ourselves in chamber.
SO dazzling bright and beautiful, that,
Involuntary, We shield our eyes till
they become accustomed to the artiti-
cial light
We are very fortunate in having
been spared the descent into this room
through dark narrow we'll more than
700 feet in depth, as we realize that
safety in such a peri!ous position is
wholly dependent upon the strength OF
the rope which lowers its human
freight into the mine.
But had we been obliged to undergo
the annoyances and difficulties which
beset one in the tedious journey
through winding passages, so dark and
intricate that one could easily lose his
way, we should have been amply re-
paid in the scene, bewitchingly lovely
and altogether novel, which bursts up
on our astonished gaze.
The chamber in which we stand is
only one among many in this crystal
palace which it has taken more than
600 years to carve out of solid rock
salt. Its roof is vaulted dome sup
ported on massive columns beautiful
ly ornamented by the miners. who take
| pride in their achievements.
The glittering Wilderness is relieved
by the presence in the salt of miner
ais, which dissolving, have tinted the
masses OF crystal till they CLEAN and
glisten like precious stones.
AS we stroll along the street that
runs through the mine familiar
sight gceets us-a chapel dedicated to
St. Anthony.
This chapel, with its furniture and
decorations. was cut out Of rocll-salt,
rs where the homes o: miner. hun
dreds OF whom are born in the mines
and live contented lives with little in.
tercourse with the beautiful world
above their heads. and consequently
having no share in the blessed gifts o.
sunlight and pure fresh air.
Still the air in the mine is dry and
agreeable to be breathed. and clear
cold water flows from the crevices il
the walls, so that life is we'll sup
ported.
Though the treasures Of salt in the
mines Of Wieliezka seem to be mex.
haustible. yet so essential is this arti-
Gle to our very life and comfort that
, bountiful supplies are deposited in
many other localities the world over.
Were we to journey through Europe
| we should find mines, and often sal
springs, in Cheshire. England, in the
mountains OF the Tyrol. in parts O
, Austria and OF Russia and in Spain. il
which country there is a hill OF rock
!, salt higher than the Cathedral o
ST. Paul, near Cordova
In the southern parts OF Asia Mino,
salt is so plentiful and hard that it i
employed in the construction OF dwell
ing houses. 1t is possible to max
this use Of it. owing to the dry stat
, of the atmosphere. caused by the lon
intervals between rains-often severa
. years intervene-so that no perceptibl
} waste takes place.
l Many mines in Mexico and Peru ar
: rich in salt deposits and the natives {
r Central Africa are credited with cu
ting salt into fiat cakes. stamping
I and circulating it rs money.
, England. Astounding in mines an
: springs that are unfailing. produce
( more salt than any other country.
h Our own land is we'll supplied wit
Y the needful article. but not to such a
n extent that we are relieved from tn
4 necessity OF importing immense quar-
" titles that all demands may. be satisfied
i SO we get annually hundreds OF tho'
o sands OF barrels of the finest and pure
!. evaporated salt from the Dutch island
of the coast of Vene zuela, and fro
Portugal a coarser quality-St. Ub'
salt, which is valued for pa cking pr
a. visions.