Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-07-12
The Salt Well.

| Deen taken IN the Salt well, located
about I "a miles south of Meade, by
the people of the county and strang
ers who visit our city. Different
ideas prevail as to the depth of the
well, also as to its origin. We pub
lish below a few extracts from the
Pearlette Call, paper published in
Meade county about the time the
well was discovered, which was on
the 26th of March, 1879. 1t will be
noticed the exact date of its caving
in is not known, but was between
the 3rd and 26th of March, 1879.
The reader will also observe that
the depth at that time was from 80
to IS feet. 1t has been filling up
until at present it is only about S
feet deep on the average. The
probabilities are that in a few years
the well will be no more, as there is
no inlet or outlet. Prof. Johnson,
of the U. S. Geological Department,
pronounced it sink hole which had
penetrated bed of salt, and filled
up with water, probably from the
sheet water. From some of the fol-
lowing extracts you will notice that
salt making was also attempted.
Part of the old boiler. referred to is
still to be seen on the south side of
the we'll. We do not know how long
the enterprise kept up, but presume
that salt making in Meade county
was not success, regardless of the
opinion of the pioneer editor of the
Call.
FROM THE "CALL" OF MAY I5,. 1879.
Considerable excitement has been
created in this section of late over
the discovery of a salt well, about
IL miles southwest of Pearlette.
Since the 3rd of March a piece of
ground some IT'S feet in diameter
has sunk, and the hole is now filled
with salt water to point ii feet
below the surface. Soundings have
shown the water to be from 80 to IS
feet in depth. On the 3rd of March
wagon passed over the spot where
the well now is, and the ground,
which is high, was then hard and
firm. The track made by the wagon
at that time is plainly visible on
each side of the well. On the 10th
of March it was found in its present
shape. The water is very salt-in
fact a gallon of it boiled down pro-
duced two quarts of salt.
FROM THE "CALL" OF JUNE IS, 1879.
Prof. Nudge, the State Geologist,
has examined the salt well, of which
we recently made mention, and has
tested the quality and strength of
the brine. He pronounces it almost
free from all impurities, and finds
that 43 gallons of the native brine
will produce one bushel of pure salt.
Salt being worth about So 90 per
bbl. in Dodge City, fortune is GER
tainly awaiting the man who has the
nerve to go into the manufacture of
that article in Meade county.
FROM THE "cALL" OF JULY I, 1879
The salt well continues to attract
a large number of visitors, all of
whom pronounce it one of natures
great wonders. All sorts of stories
and rumors are current about its
great depth (some saying it is 900
feet deep and also about its caving
in, or enlarging, at the rate of several
acres per day. The fact of the mat
ter is that its depth does not vary
much from IS feet; and it is not
caving in to an alarming extent-at
least it will not likely absorb more
than three or four counties!
FROM THE 'CALL" OF JAN. II, 1880.
We often receive letters from par
ties residing at distance asking for
information about the Meade County
Salt Well. In general answer we
can say that five gallons of this wa
will produce about two gallons OF
pure salt, as white as snow. We
will be pleased to send samples Of
the water to any one who will pay
the express charges from Dodge,
where we will deliver it free of charge.
, We will also send sample of salt
by mail on receipt 'ofa 3-cent stamp
to pay postage.
Common salt is worth, at Dodge,
about So. 90 per barrel, and we think
all that moderate sized furnace
could make would sell at that figure.
Considering the brine inexhaustible,
and we think it is, any person car
see that fine opening awaits the
party who has the nerve and capital
, to take this well and go to making
salt.
: FROM THE 'ECALL" OF FEB. 7, 1880,
We were informed yesterday that
a gentleman passed down the Jones
& Plummer trail the evening before,
on his way to examine the salt well
with view of taking it and going
: speedily to manufacturing salt; pro-