The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-29
Mr.. Stanley and Chester l.
Long With Lanterns
Go Into the Bowels of the Earth
at Lyons.
TO SEE THE VOTERS.
An Interesting Experience In
the Rock Salt Beds.
A Big Meeting Is Addressed at
Lyons.

Tvons. Oct. 2e-W. z. Stanley yester
~ descended LOO feet beneath the
.-,7-eaoa of the earth and conducted
-,.-,,oie7, in the cavernous gloom OF the
largest rock salt mines IN the
In 1887 while prospecting for OIL q 81
tractor discovered a vein OF rock ssAle
30 feet thick Three years later san
mining was commenced and the pIOuuC'
,-ao,,re7 all first awards at the World IS
fair Seventy-fve men are en-
an the mines. which are laid out as
ci+v Through the center runs mann
street. from which side streets branch
off and terminate abruptly against huSe
-.-sl1s of salt A conception OF the eA-
tent of these mines is dlfnculI WAeLoJI Iii
seeing them. The men work viii Sii1IH 60
JanDs attached to their caps, anu III
sjybt Of the lights fitting grotesquely
through the darkness gives one a pecUA-
The drills are propelled by compressed
air and one machine does the WOth u
en- men The drill penetrates the walls
and as quickly as it is WlthuTaWIl' H. q
man carving a small box arrives on
the spot. Shaping ms nhSeL SeIL...7fI1I 1fI1 e
small SCOOP. he picks up a hanoLuI o5
the white substance in the poX any any
ssshoots'' it cleverly into the hole IeAI
by the drill c,+o,1o,,
ssDvnamite," replied the workman
sryVha-a-a-t!" exclaimed the visitors,
falling back reverently to respectful
distance. .,, ,,,v,,s
Following the dynamite man came
a bov with a coil of wire which ne at
tached to the blast. This IS nred py an
electric current, bringing down -tohS
upon tons of the salt
This is then sent to the cage, over q
miniature railroad, and holsted 1,1VU
feet to the mills. Here the huge chuhhS
of salt pass through crushers ana
emerge to be sacked, the machinery
preparing nine sizes Of salt. These men
make good wages, and are the healIh-
lest individuals to be found IN the state
The saline qualities OF the mine alIllOs- a1f
phere are a sure cure for pulmonary
complaints. .,-
through these mines, he folded his arms
and watched the men thought1u1y AOr
a moment, then said;
yet. they tell us that this world
was made in 5000 years"
Mr.. Stanley and Mr.. Long eacn car
rying a lantern, trudged through the
mines shaking hands with the men,
The party was shown about by super
intendent Jesse AinSwOrth, and was ac-
companied by the following cltlzenS- h
n McElwain, Republican candidate for
probate judge; Sheldon StOddard, Lee
Stanford and Harry Taylor.
Mr.. Stanley and Mr.. Long reached
LYONS before noon and were taken TO
separate hotels. There they received
dozens of visitors, and later attended
brief meeting of the county central COM
mltTee,
local political candidates were present
ed The poll of the county shows that
the local contest is close, but the COM
nittee believes that the Republican
ticket will be elected, with perhaps one
exception.
one of the strongest Populists in the
county said to the Journal correspond
ent: ''Mr. Stanley will carry Rice
county by a majority of 100, at least"
The Republicans say they will give
Stanley 25O majority. Some of the Pop
ulist workers dispute these figures but
admit that some of Governor Leedy'S
supporters two years ago are now di-
vided upon the subject of his reelection
to such an extent that he is likely to
lose the county.
The Republican meeting held Friday
afternoon, H. c. Taylor, presiding, was
largely attended.
Mr. Long made the principal speech,
and Mr.. Stanley closed the meeting with
a short address and the usual hand
shaking. The candidate for congress
discussed national issues. Mr.. Stanley
devoted his time to Kansas affairs,
showing how the dema agogues, as he
chara cterizes them. came when times
were hard, and taking advantage of the
depressed conditions following drOuths
and grasshOppers, organized the party
now represented by Jerry Simpson, and
other POpulists.
The speaker did not indulge in dis
cusSiOn of the political issues but elab-
GRATED upon the glOries of the state,
past. present and future. He said:
There is a new era coming to Kan
saS- An era IN which every ism except
patriotism viii disappear; and Kansas
will take ner place among the states of
this grand union. The time is coming
too, when viii disappear the stencil and
stigma bestowed upon the state by the
POpulist leaders. The rank and file of
the party is not responsible. because
honest and conscientious men were by
these leaders mislead, that they might
gain office and profit"
rnnrc mRrD nw