The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21

dwellings, with wide space near tho Gov
eminent wharf, consisting Of several acres.
IN tnls space are assigned plots for the use
OF those holding the lease OF the salt ponds,
and here they pile the salt az Il b brought
from them. Back Of the library N the jail,
surrounded by q high stone wall, the top OF
which 70 covered with yillainous looking
broken bottles, which would deter all but the
most horny handed felon from attempting
to escape.
1t appears as though Grand Turk was at
one time the dumping ground for obsolete
cannon. You find them all along the water
front, and two large ones are daily washed
up by the sea on the beach. In front Of the
post Office seven t~wenty-four Founders point
toward the anchorage.
They are mounte on wooden carriages,
which under the cravings Of the tooth OF
time have succumbed, leaving the muxzles
OF the seven gun pointing in seven direo-
tons, II they were all fred at noe they
would rake . feet lying in the bay.
The large guns were used at the siege Of
Sebastopol, and In the breooh Of one is cut
the date 1877. They shoot q six inch ball
and probably would carry a mile. There is
Joke on the British Admiralty In connection
with these guns. When they were sent to
Turk Island the order was to stake them TO
Nassau by ship and forward them thence
by rail-
Salt by solar evaporation Is the only
| production Of Grand Turk and Salt Cay.
Years ago there was quite an industry in
bpOukos ChTT1ou on Dy OToohs on the CA1COS
group, but this has greatly fallen of, so
that during the past year there was less
than $4,000 worth exported.
I Along the west beach Of Grand Turk AZ
the edge Of the bay there 10 a ridge about
ten feet above the surface Of the water.
This slopes back some twenty rods. where
there is 2 vide plain somewhat lower than
sea level.
There is a canal ten feet wide, which leads
from the sea to a public reservoir OF eight
4 ~ unAAo -. tnk4 a. NkA aAA yuaNar In
let as need requires 1t. East, north and
south Of the main reservoir are numerous
small ponds and pans.
Here IL should be stated that all the salt
ponds are owned by the Government and
are leased to the salt makers on a royalty
OF 70 cents for each hundred bushels OF
salt shipped. This goes into the general
revenue; a further royalty OF 10 per cent.
OF the royalty is charged for the upkeep
Of the ponds and roads leading to them.
On Grand Turk there are ten public reser-
voirs, each Of which supplies numerous
private ponds, A description OF one practi-
cally tells the story OF all.
The water as it comes from the sea into
the public reservoir marks, according to the
salinometer, II degrees. After remaining
in the reservoir until the WING and sun
have caused evaporation and a certain
quantity OF lime IA precipitated, 1t reaches
a density OF from 30 to 40 degrees. II Ia
then turned into the private ponds to the
depth of twelve to eighteen inches, and Is
termed pickle.
After remaining in the picking ponds
until it shows from 80 to 90 degrees it Is
run into the making ponds or pans, SIX TO
ten inches deep. The salt then makes
quite rapidly, say In two weeks or less, and
falls to the bottom, forming oblong crystals
TO the depth OF from two to six inches,
according to the quantity Of pickle.
When the salt Is all precipitated, or the
pickle is dead, . as much OF II as is possible
is drawn on. Then negroes go into the
pans n break up the crust OF salt into
small pieces, while five or six rakers pull or
push the salt into windows eight or ten
feet long.
Heavy carts drawn by mules are driven
into the ponds and backed up to the piles,
and the dripping salt is loaded in, each cart
holding twelve or fifteen bushels. There
are usually five to eight carts working
together. All the raking and hauling is
done by negroes. II would be hardly
possible for a " hite man to stand up under
the sur and labor.
The salt is put into salt houses, by those
who have them, or piled up in the open. In
one pile near the beach, there Is now be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 bushels. From the
red saline, so termed, on account OF the
earth that forms the bottom, the salt IL
quite red, but soon bleaohes to Q snowy
Most of the salt is shipped just as it comes
from the making pans, and Is known as
coarse salt, W lille a smaller portion is ground
| A0U IL LGIUHCu HI bdlk1 Lu0 w - W
Nova Scotia and Maine. The greater part
of the salt is shipped in bulk in vessels carry
ing from 5000 to Il 1000 bushels. That from
santo Domingo and Hayti is shippedin bar
rels or sacks.
At the ports Of Grand Turk, Salt Caya
and Cookbum Harbor tesaicos IslandsI~
vessels cannot come TO the wharf, but they
have to lie on haf a mile, and are loaded by
lighters carrying from six to eight tons.
These are hauled up to within fifteen or
tugont, faat ~ ahora Thu nroooas If Ioad-
10 each lighter there are ten men. Two
remain on board to arrange the bags OF
salt and two on shore to load the ak men
who carry the bags to the lighter.
The two leaders take up a bag Inc place
II on the carriers head, then lay two across
it and again two more across them, max
ing FIVE bags Of about thirty-ive pounds
each. He then walks IN the water, some
times breast deep, and dumps the five bags
into the lighter. Il seems incredible that
men can carry such a weight on their heads
but they will do even more and will carry
six or seven bags, If in haste or in a spirit
OF bravado.
A customs officer tallies the bags as they
are emptied into the hold Of the vessel,
and by this method the maker pays royalty
only on the salt sold. and II he is subjected
to loss by rain washing and dissolving his
product in the piles odt Of doors he is not
a loser Of the royalty also.
The output Of salt for the colony for an
average year is about 800 900 bushels.
The years Of 1904 and 1905 were disastrous
ones to the makers. The expense OF pre-
pairing the ponds, keeping the animals
and other outlays IL about the same for a
poor year as a good one. The production
Of the colony for the last three years was
as follows, in bushels:
1908. 1904. 1905. Totals.
Grand Turk. oe4 800 SOS il047S 9s $50
Fast Harbor.. 6o3, 60S oOt,tT 4sg, 4l2 l1et.49l
| Salt cAy.... 4ls.4s0 zl0.J66 9oo.+i2 0e5. 45S
- - - -
Totals...... 1906. os5 1905. ,s 0s. 20 2.77s. 2S2
East Harbor, or as IL is known officially
In the State Department in America, Cock
burn Harbor, Caicos Islands, and Salt Cay
will each probably come up to their average
production for the season OF 1905, while
Grand Turk will reach fully half. II not a two
thirds crop for the season. The million mark
for the colony was passed by September 1.
An American is struck with the q~uaintness
OF many things pertaining to the islands,
one of which is the entire absence OF Chin
nava IN the houAas. and alaO the Rh0enOe of