The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-12-05
HOW SALT Is MINED.
METHOES E:hPlCYEDAT THE ExTEN.
SiVE WORKS IN MICHIGAN.

An' supply NV --atcfials hfch II
Brine. Is Practically MISUNDERSTANDING
Irs:ustry Isas Grown Enormously Since
1sEs. a. Which Time It Really Began.
Il existence Of salt springs in the
low i peninsula Of iiichigan was known
to TIC Iadians long prior to the advent
of nc white men in the country, and
they were rcso-ted to by both Indians
and Wild animals. So well known was
this fsc5 Ct the presence CT salt springs
the tie general gcEernnlenl made nn-
meious reser .ations Of lands which were
supposed to contain salt deposits. By
the act OF admission Of Michigan into
the Union the state was authorized to
select "a sections of salt land, or land
where the presence of saline springs in
dictated the occurrence Of salt deposits.
On the organization Of the geological
survey the state %geologist, DR.. Douglas
Houghton, made an examination, with
the view to the selection Of these lands.
and in 1855 reported the results of his
observations. Still these examinations
were limited to surface indications, and
no extended experiments were made to
probe the coast far below the surface.
However, borings were finally UNDER
taken III several localities, resulting
generally in such a good measure of sue
cess as to stimulate still further trials,
developing such gratifying results, es-
pec1ally il the Saginaw valley, that in
1859 the first company was organized
for the manufacture OF salt, since which
period this industry has reached its
present stupendous proportions adding
greatly to the wealth and reputation of
the state and especially to the growth
of the cities and the region in ,saich
the business is carried on.
The origin of these deposits is not
known. Whence the waters, lying SO
far beneath the surface, derive their sa-
line property there is no apparent means
OF determining, nor is the BOUNDARY of
the surface known beneath which these
deposits of brine may be found. The
Michigan salt group has g wide extent
III tic state, though thus far the great
est successes have come from the Sagi-
na'7 valley. Where the lowest horizon
is found in the salt group the brine is
found to be the strongest, greatest in
amount and best in qualify. It is for
this reason that salt wells in the Sagi-
nav valley have proved to be more val
liable than elsewhere. 1t is the region
In which the greatest depression occurs.
The salt group here lies at a depth
reaching to more than !, LOCO feet below
the surface Of the lake. At what depth |
below the surface Of the lake this brine
Is found the writer is unable to state.
OF one thing there is an apparent GER
talnty, that the supply Of the brine is |
lnexhaustible. The extent to which the
manufacture Of salt iii Michigan may
be carried Oh is one of cost and der.and.
The brine may be assumed as existing
IN quantity far in excess Of our ability
to diminish it.. =
OF the two modes of securing the
evaporation Of the water, either BY the
application OF solar or artificial beat
the latter is the method mainly resort
ed to iii the Saginaw valley. Solarevap-
grafton is effected " exposing the brine
In shallow wooden watts. Such a as
are used are about Is feet square and 6
Inches deep. They are supported on
posts above the ground and are providedt
Witha aoof, which is readily moved on |
the yats or off from item TO cover the
brine from the rain or to ezrcse Il to
the sun, as required. The process Is be-
gun IN March and the eonteHts removed
IN July, the pscduct of the secerd fill
ing IS L out the 1st of September,
the third anu final removal occurs
the last Of October Tie annual product
OF a single salt yS OF this size is so
bushels.
A kettle block coEtans 90 or GO ket-
ties, set close together nd ID rows in
in stonework or hrietNork. A
launder connects with aAristern kent
filled with brine~a and rum along he-t
tween the rows OF kettles, anafra,n this
launder the brine is drawn o~ltinto the l
kettles by opening a laterafsspout.
When 10 per cen Of the water haSbeen
boiled away. the salt is dipped outNato
basket or sieve to allow the water+o
run out of it, after which it is empties
into a bin, where, after q sufficient time
about two weeks-it is ready to be
put into barrels. But the greatest ad-
vance in the way of cheapening the cost
Of the salt production has been achieved