The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-31


work to avoid disaster. In the interior
a salt nchadelier of 800 lights giems bril-
liantly on the rugged sides OF this impos-
ing room. When musicians play here the
volume of sound rolls and reverberates
with deafening effect against the solid con-
fines Of the chambers. and, rushing up
ward. bursts with mighty power against
the far-off dome.
A turn in the passage brings one TO a
little bridge in front Of which loom Up
two massive pyramids Of salt erected in
1872 to the memory of Franz I, and Caro-
lima, Emperor and Empress of Austria
Appropriate inscriptions have been cary
ed on the face. and rows Of electric lights
one the four edges of each shaft, cast re-
Election on the written words. Near the
little bridge also stands another monu-
ment, erected in memory of visit paid
to the mine in 1887 by the Crown Prince
Rudolf and the Princes Stephanie. Even in
this far-off place, the memory of an IN
happy heir 20 imperial robes is honored by
the laborer's hand.
The third floor Of this marvellous mine
contains the railway station and restsur-
ant, attracting the visitor by its long vista
of latticed galleries and ponderous pillars,
and its promise of refreshment after a
long and weary tramp on unyielding floors.
For here at this railway station, where
the twenty-five miles of railways from all
parts of the mine join, a tempting buffet
exists the summer through, and is well
patronized by the thousands who come
from Austria, Russia and Germany to
view the wondrous works of sat.
MANY UNDERGROUND LAKES.
The mine is, indeed, full lof many mar
vels; but the most marvellous of all-at
| least. the one which makes the most i'm
preston on the VISITORS the subterranean
| lake, lying 700 feet below the surface of
! the earth The waters Of the lake are
! dark, thick and heavy, and as the boat
/ glides over its face the spreading waters
] roll up against the sides of the grotto
| with ghost-like swish. A ponderous SOL
! itude overweighs all. The Styx alone, Of
all the death-like streams in legend could
rival this in stiffness. The boat is guided
through the Stephanie and Rudolf grottos
by ropes running on pulleys along the
sides Of the boat. and the boatman. with
his hands resting on the stern Of the Gu
rious craft pushes 1t with his feet braced
; against the rope. There are sixteen of
these lakes in different parts of the mine
but this is the only one upon which visitors
are allowed to go. The trip across and
back takes fifteen or twenty minutes, as
the boat moves slowly through the slug
gish brine. A gunshot off in the middle of
the lake makes a long and lingering echo,
and the voice of the boatman, as he calls
out that al is ready. seems like the voice
OF giant from the depthsof chaos.
The fetes which take place during the
presence of royalties are indeed events of
no small Importance. Music and illumina-
ton arranged in advance set the echoes
of the old halls flying and the crystals of
salt simmer with light. When the en-
peror comes the doorways. statues and
columns are covered with flowers and ever
greens. Handouts of mu,ti-coIored salt
are sprinkled over the floors, and the gall
leries are hidden in lavishness of flags.
Operatives and their families are invited
to festival in the Letow ball room. at
which 200 musicians have been known to
play. The emperor sits upon his salt throne
surrounded by his courtiers and soldiers
Gayety reigl-5 supreme. and the strings of
the musicians accompany the patter of
footsteps in wild Slavonic dance.
THOUSANDS OF MINERS.
The lower stories of the mines are oc-
cupied by over a thousand miners, who,
working eight hours a day each, manage
IN the course of a year to produce 5000
tons of salt. They toll patiently. cutting
their way through the solid salt. leaving
beautiful passages heavily covered with a
crust Of sparkling white.
All the work is done by the piece and
many miners make a respectable income
on account Of their skill in cutting out the
largest Jumps. They work lying down or
standing up, as the case may be. and often
may be noticed at the tops Of tail ladders
in positions Of startling insecurity. AM
overseer stands by and a horse with a
truck goes to and fro with the Jumps OF
salt delivered to the trucks from small and
roughly built wheelbarrows OF wood. The
air of the mines Is dry and pure, ard little
Illness among these laborers is known. J
The horses live their natural lives in SUI
psrb health and vigor, and the colts born
in this neither region of darkness frisk !
about with the irresponsible activity Of
their brothers above who scamper about {
in he light OF the sun.
The end Of the day at these wonderful /
mines IS picturesque and busy. The visi- 4
tors. travel-stained and tired. emerge from 4
the lift. don their clothes sign their names 4
in an enormous book and disappear The /
Vorkmen ascend in the long. straight I
shaft, and pass from the Hft with little
Tin lamps in their grimy hands. The gate
OF the lift clicks behind them and down .
gees the Ifrt again for another Dad oF 10 4
t5re-s. Each man as he comes out Of the +
mine is examined carefully Tor traces Of /
concealed salt In early years 50 much
salt was stolen 81 The miners that investi- (
cation became necessary. but owing to the .
moral Improvement OF the age Tie regu-
'atioHs OF the mines no longer authorize
Such examination. The men themselves. /
however, demand IT, An o1fic.aI stands BE- 4
and perfunctorily siars each leg OF the
miner as he hts It up for examination. !
Then comes G few pats OF the sleeves
pockets and back. and the examination is
over.
HOLIDAY RATES VIA ROCK ISLAND /
on December "a . p and 81. ISIS. and
January ! and = 1893. The Great Rock
Island vii sell tickets 10 any poin, within
q distance o. - miles. At rate OK one fare
Ter the roa1G typ. cood returning I'D 10
and including January :
e DRAKE. D P. a. RAP
L Is. THOMPSON. A G. 2. &TA. I
Topeka, Kan.
THE BEST WAY
To Colorado Is ever the sana. Pc Route.
The fast train. which leaves wIchits. q,