The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-06-07
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS
By J. L. POWER.
saSaSa.S6alAOASA.SAA
. Salty Letter-1he Price of Salt In War
Times.

. Salty Letter-1he Price of Salt In War
Times.
The following is from the archives in
the State capitol:
MACON, MISS, Nov. l. 1868.
Col. 4. VI West General Salt Agent State oil
MISSISSIPPI
Sir-On the I'D of October last, in ac-
cordance with your directions, i pro-
ceeded in company with Capt. W. {.
Turner. salt agent to the salt works on
the Tombigbcc river in the State OF
Alabama owned by the State OF Mis-
sissippi and under the directions and
supervision of Capt. Turner, to examine
the same. ascertain its present yield OF
salt. extent Of its capacity, the improve
ments necessary, and the price requisite
10 manage efficiently said works; also
to examine the various works now in
operation at the same place, to ascer-
tain their relative cost and present daily
Weld and the facilities for establishing
by the State of Mississippi salt works
Of enlarged capacity upon the most APP
proved plan, and to investigate the
comparative advantages ofsaid locality,
and the coast near Mobile, and the pres
ent prices of salt at the various works.
| beg to report the Mississippi State
Works are very crude and imperfect,
yielding when worked only twelve
bushels of salt per day, but owing to
scarcity of hands and imperfect ma
chinery, had only worked two days in
the last two weeks. Only onc-half of
the well from which the State draws its
water is owned by the State; by pur-
chasing the other half and adding ad-
ditiona! machinery and boiling power,
it can he made to yield fifty bushels
per day, at Il cost even at the present
fabulous prices paid for supplies), of
not exceeding ST per bushel. BY an APP
plca'lou Of steam power its production
can be grcaIy facilitated and it's cost
much reduced; as by boiling the water
IN pots in the open air, as at present,
You get up only PIP degrees, whereas
by the application of steam at pres
sure of 80 pounds on the square inch of
the boiler, YOU can apply heat of l,1s0
degrees. and in that proportion save
fuel and labor, and thus reduce the cost
OF production, which | would most re-
SpectIully recommend as the true policy
OF the STATE; to accomplish which would
involve large expenditure of money,
but the increased production would I'M
douotedly amply repay the State for its
investment
would here state that the locality is
very unhealthy, having but one very
imperfect house at the works, and wood
having to be hauled from two to two
ana half miles over a bad road and
nearly impossible in the winter, hence
the importancc of procuring fuel before
the winter rains set in.
examined the various salt works in
operations the two most important are
The works of the State of Alabama, and
those of Major w. +. Hunt of Selma,
ana Inc former cost, | am informed,
s'Vo'oOo, and yields per day from so to 30
T'''' tAlN tdNlcI dL ii COSI Vi
MOI over $4,000, yielding not less than
y" bushels per day. and the only works
wat nave seen that have any preten-
SohS 10 skill. Neither suitable ma
ehlncry or boiling power can be pur-
V"aSea at the said works, but pans can
W obtained at Selma and Demopolis,
'ion which latter place | learn you
"''' ordered some. The necessary
s,eSm apparatus can be procured from
rhe runs Of the late State penitentiary
ioearry this work forward successfully
WI require much manual labor and a
'"S'oeraole number of wagons and
"aihS' would suggest that the neces-
buildings be erected for the health
90" comfort of the operatives. The
Pa'a'l'e advantages of the bay,
''er' over this locality for the man
'ure OF salt are very great; for in
II only requires GO to so gallons
"''tF at the bay to a bushel of salt,
""''s' III the Tombigbee the water be-
e % much weaker, it takes from $50
70 V gallons. Again, the coast is much
m healthy and fuel more convenient.
,r ue privilege to manufacture salt at
o gay can be obtained for per cent
'He Yield with the additional privi-
- VI cutting wood from the forest.
T ,IoonerS ply daily between the city of
-, ~ ana the salt works here. l
80, ,u recommend that salt works be
'aolished here also, but upon a
e1per scale, as there would be some
go go oil their being destroyed by the
10y certainly more than at the
'orner locality.
ind the pric, of salt at the various
Of - 1s ranging from SIS to scr per bushel
1. A. p, Asst Salt Agent.