The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-23
BIOLOGIST
WILL COME
And Examine Formation of
Land Around Wichita.
WILL PROSPECT FOR SALT
Erasmus Haworth viii Make
an Address to Chamber
of Commerce.


Secretary Levy of the Chamber Of Com
meree yesterday received a letter from
Erasmus Haworth, state geologist OF
Kansas. saying that he would be here
and make an address before the Cham
Der of Commerce at the first meeting in
August. which fails on August 9Th. Mr..
Haworth VIII come here several days
before this time and make an exhaustive
examination Of the geological formations
of the country in and around Wichita,
and his address viii be regarding the
formations and the possibility OF finding
salt. coal, oil or gas in this vicinity.
whether either can be found in paying
quantities and at a depth that would
make the working OF the mines practi-
cable
Mr.. Haworth is not unknown TO many
Wichtans. He has been in the State
University for ten years and has been
professor of physical geography and min
eralolOgy in that school. He was in
strumental in having the regents estab-
1ish a state school Of mines which turned
out its first graduates this spring. H.,
is one of the prominent members Of the
American Geological society and is the
author of several works on geology that
are considered authorities. He has pros
pected in all parts Of the state and there
IS no one within the borders Of Kansas
that has had better opportunity TO
know about the formations that Underlie
this city and this state than Erasmus
Haworth. He has lately prepared an ex.
haustive and elaborate geological sur
vey of Kansas and this is now accepted
as the best work on the subject ever
prepared.
Ir. Haworth viii come here and make
q study Of Sedgwiclz county and do con-
siderable prospecting around this city
before he makes his report to the Cham
Der Of Commerce. and viii be prepared
70 state just what likelihood there is
of finding any mineral or gas under this
city, and at what depth
About two weeks ago a committee was
appointed by the Chamber Of Commerce
TO investigate the salt prospects Of this
city. and it was through their efforts
that Mr.. Haworth was secured. The
members Of this committee feel that a
salt well will be established in this city
at an early date. Salt brine has been
found in wells dug in this city and out
side Of it and at a depth that can be
worked to advantage but when those
wells were dug no one had any intention
OF mining salt
Several years ago $4,000 were voted in
bonds for digging for oil or gas or coal
and s., 600 Of that sum is now in the hands
OF the city treasurer awaiting the call
OF some one TO dig another hole. This
money can be used in prospecting for
salt When the well was dug near the
crossing OF the Missouri Pacific tracks
and Lawrence avenue water strongly i'm
pregnated with salt was found at depth
of 500 feet. If the brine was strong
enough a plant could be worked success
fully at this depth and the per cent OF
salt would not necessarily have to be
so very large.
About thirteen years ago a company
was organized and a well sunk northeast
OF the city. near the cemeteries. At no
great depth brine was found. but no
one knows what per cent Of salt was in
that brine or at what depth it was found
Not so very long age there was salt
plant southeast of the city, on what is
known the Campbell farm Mr.. Camp
bell was a spiritualist and the spirits
told him that coal was to be found below
his farm. He did not stop to prospect.
but began digging shaft six by ten
feet. Coal was not very deep when he
started and he did not so very far until
his cash ran out and he was forced to
borrow money TO so on with the work
The spirits kept telling him he would
ind coal soon. until the shaft reached
a depth Of go feet. when the land was
turned over TO Mr. Campben's creditors.
\. n. McClees and some other parties
got hold Of the land and they estab-
Iished salt factory on the property
Salt was found at a depth of ESQ feet
and the water rose u within 100 feet Of
the surface. The pans and dryers were
Installed and some salt was placed on
the ma r6et but ii was found that the
cost Of coal hauled n The plant and the
product hauled TO Wichita made the cost
so great thar the project did not pay
The Chamber o. Commerce now be-
iieves that if salt can be found in guam
Titles that viii keep a large plant busy,
they can induce a railroad 70 build a
spur track 10 the plant and thus a mar
ket viii be afforded the salt and another +
industry be established in Wichita.