The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-12-16
HOW SALT IS MINED.
METHODS EMPLOYED At THE ExTEN-
SlVE WORKS IN MICHIGAN.

SlVE WORKS IN MICHIGAN.
The Supply of T:aw Material, Which Is
Brine. Is Practically Irc:::..sustibie-The
Industry Has Grown Enormously Since !
1860, ut Which Time It Really Began.
The existence Of salt springs in the |
lower peninsula of Michigan was known
to the Indians long prior to the advent
of the white men in the country, and
thev were resorted to by both Indians
and wild animals. So we'll known was
this fact of the presence OF salt springs
that the general government made nu-
merous reservations 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 72 sections Of salt land, or land
where the presence of saline springs III
dicated 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 1888 reported the results OF his
observations. Still these examinations
were limited to surface indications, ana
no extended experiments were made TO
probe the coast far below the surface
However, tcrinss were finally lancer
taken in several localities, resulting
generally in such good measure OF sue
cess as to stimulate still further trials,
developing such gratifying results, es-
pecially in 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 10 the wealth and reputation OF
the state and especially to the growth
of the cities ard the region III Which
the business is carried on.
The origin Of ti:ese deposits Is not
known. Whence the waters, lying SO
far beneath the surface, derive thel1 sa-
lire property there IS 20 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 Q wide extent
in the state, though thus far the great
est successes have come from the Sagl-
nav valley. Where the lowest horizon
is found in the salt group tic brine IS
found to be the strongest, greatest IN
amonnt ard best in quality. 1t IS for
this reason that sals wells in tie Sagl-
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 1000 feet below
the surface of the lake. st what depth
below the surface Of the lake this brine
is found the writer is unable to state.
OF enc thing there is an apparent GER
tainty, that the supply Of the brine IS
inexhaustibIe. The extent to which the
manufacture of salt in Michigan may
be carried on is one Of cost ard demand.
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 heat,
the latter is the method mainly resort
ed to in the Saginaw valley. Solar evap-
grafton is effected by exposing the brine
in shallow wooden vets Such vats as
are used are about IS feet square and s
inches deep. They are supported on
posts above the ground and are provided
with roof, which is readily moved on
tie yats or of from them TO cover the
brine from the rain or to expose 1t to
the srnass~ required TIE process IS be-
gun in March and the contents removed
in July, the product Of the second fill
ing is taken out the 1st Of Septemb Der,
and the third and final removal occurs
tho last Of October. The ANIMAL product
Of q single salt vat OF this size IS 80
bushels.
A kettle block contains 90 or co ket-
ties, set close together and III rows III
closed in stonework or brickwork. a
launder connects with q cistern kept
filed with brine and runs alcng be-
tween the rows of kettles, and from this
launder tlo brine is drawn ont into the
kettles by opening lateral spout
When 70 per cent Of the water has been
boiled away, the salt is dipped out into
a basket or sieve to allow the water to
run out Of it, after which it is emptied
into bin, where, after sufficient time
about two weeks-it is ready to be
put into barrels But the greatest ad-
vance in the way of cheapeniug the cost
of the salt production has been achieved
, By the use of steam to afford heat for
evaporation. For this purpose the ez-
haust steam Of the great MILLS IN the
Saginaw region is used.
Pans are also made use OF. A SO call
, ed pan block, consisting Of settler
pan, and packing room are inclosed IN the
same building. The brine is drawn
) from the settler into the pan, to the bot
!, tom Of which the fire IS directly ap'
piled, making the evaporation very rap.
, id and causing the salt to form contlnu'
ously.
The salt business in Michigan has
swollen from the manufacture N 1860
!, of 1, 600 barrels to 3,967,2S8 in 1895.
The estimated capacity Of the ia
firms now engaged in the Giarnfacture
{ of salt in this state is ., SIC, 600 barrel:
Der year.-Detroit Free Press.