The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-11-03
Southwest
Louisiana
Mining Interests as Seen by
Government
Experts. Geological Parties
Will be
Put in the Field in This
Section.

1
Section.
The mining interests of South
west Louisiana have been famous
in the United States for many
years.
/ The salt mine on Avery's
Island was a source Of annoyance
to the armies of the United States
during the civil war, because
it furnished salt, a most necessary
article to human comfort, and this
necessary article was furnished by
this mine to the Confederate
armies and to civilians for many
miles around.
OF later years these mining
interests have become the more
important upon the discovery OF
the sulphur mine in Calcasieu
parish, and the developing of other
sat mines in Iberia and st. Mary
Parishes.
The Times Democrat special
says in the issue of Saturday
last:
"Washington, October 26.-Mr
E. w. Parker, statistician Of the
Geological Survey, has just re
turned from Louisiana, where he
went to make a preliminary study
of the general geological character
of the country in which is situated
the famous salt mines of that
State with the view later OF
putting geological parties in the
field for the purpose of making
| a more careful study of the sec
ton. In company with Mr..
Parker was Doctor C. William
Hayes, in charge of the non
metallic branch of the economic
geology division, who is expected
here daily, when the results OF
their trip of reconnaissance will be
made known. The geological Off
cials named visited the principal
mines in the State and were very
much gratified with what they
saw, as well as pleased with the
courteous treatment which was
everywhere accorded them.
Among the places inspected were
Belle Isle, on the Atchafalaya
Bay, about thirty miles below
Morgan City; the sulphur region OF
Lake Charles, the New Iberia
mines, Avery's Island, Jeffer-
sons Island and Weeks Is
land.
At Avery's Island they met
| a number of the State engineers
and from that point were driven to
Jefferson Island by General +. F.
Myles. The salt mining section OF
the State was found by these
| gentlemen to present some very
interesting features, while to use
the words of Mr.. Parker, s9There
was a wealth of salt there which
seems to be practi. ally inexhausti
ble." The salt deposits there, il
was found by them, were as clea1
as crystal and perfectly free from
impurities. Shafts had been sunk
on jefferson Island and Weeks Is
land and a fine grade of sal
had been found at varying depths
of from ninety to two hundred ant
Ififtv feet. The great problem
which has yet to be solved, how
lever. in these new mines is how Il
keen the surface water out, bu
| this is an obstacle, it is believed
which will soon be overcome. l
was the opinion Of Mr.. Parke
THAT within the next six month
there would be salt mines il
operation on both of these islands
| and that the salt mining industr,
Of the State would in the nea
! future, in view Of the vast deposit
Iof the substance known to b
there, be one of no mean pre-
portion.
It was learned from Mr.. Parke
that the department had prepare'
| and was about to publish q worl
showing the location and magnl
ltude Of all the asphalt beds in thi
country, with . description Q
their physical conditions and th
uses to which asphalt may be pu
lin arts. The publication will b
! beauti ully illustrated, and as
Ia work on asphalt and it
uses will prove a very interestin
study"
4 Geological surveys will probabl
j aid greatly in bringing capital int
this section, and We are please
that this survey win later !
alEnoted