The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-16
s. DOlman Thinks Salt Indus
try Could Be Developed.
Tells of Strongly Impregnated
Water Being Found.
THE PROSPECT is GOOD
Has More Salt by Four Per
Cent Than Hutchinson.
Sufficient Artesian Force to
Bring Water to Top.

S. DoIman suggests as an improve
ment for North Topeka a plan for de-
geloping the salt packing industry. His
Idea was suggested to him by his con-
nection with the North Topeka De-
velopment company which sank two
wells 1900 feet on the Joseph farm be-
tween the reform school and East
Indianola while prospecting for oil and
gas in the fall of 1902 and the winter of
1903 Neither oil nor gas in paying
Quantities was found so the wells were
plugged up and the proposition aban-
doned. However, according to Mr.. DOL
man. water which was 10 per cent SAT-
was found with sufficient artesian
force to send it some distance above
the top of the we'll mouth. He thinks
that another well could be drilled down
to sixteen hundred feet for about $500
and the salt water which would
probably be found at that depth could
be evaporated and the proposed salt
industry could be put on a paying
basis.
81 was one of the directors Of the
company which sank the prospect
wells" said Mr. Dolman this morning
I'VE struck salt water and that put a
stop to the thing as far as gas or oil
was concerned, but 1 think if it had
been handled right salt industry
could have been developed and put on
a paying basis. The water which came
out of the top of the we'll was 10 per
cent salt. From eight ounces of the
water 1 obtained nearly an ounce of
salt by evaporating it in pan over a
stove. I understand that the salt wa
ter at Hutchinson is only from four to
six per cent salt and yet think of the
wonderful salt industry that town has
built up.
LAS to Topeka I would suggest that
another well be drilled on the same
place to the depth of sixteen hundred
feet in order to get the right per cent
of salt in the water. / think that there
would be sufficient artesian force to
bring it up to the top OF the ground
without pumping, and if this could be
done, believe that a number of business
men could be interested in the matter
and a company formed to push the
project. 1 think also that the Com
mercial club might find it to their in
terest to look into the matter and see
what they thought they would like to
do about it.
81 believe that the plant could be
maintained with comparatively little
expense"
The new barn on the AL Sturgeon
place about ten miles northwest of To-
peka burned down a little after mid
night last night at loss of over $1,000.
Several work horses and many bales of
hay are reported to have been burned.
The colts were all saved. The cause of
the fire is unknown.
A horse driven by r. G. Lyons of
north of the city was frightened at a
speeding automobile on st. John ave-
nue. about 8 o'clock this morning and
ran away. The animal ran down the
alley west between Kansas avenue and
Jackson street until it was stopped by
Charles Berry back of his store at
COS Kansas avenue. Mr.. Lyons jumped
out at Park street. He was not hurt.
The buggy tongue was broken and the
vehicle was otherwise slightly dam
aged.
S. r. Kutz, secretary of the North
Topeka drainage board, is another one
who is favor of planting sorghum cane
on the bikes as protection for the en-
bankments from the wash of the cur
rents and the wear of the elements.
THE matter of planting cane on the
bikes will be brought up before the
next meeting of the board" said Mr..
Kutz this morning. ."Cane will grow
quickly and form a vegetable mould
This will greatly facilitate the growing
of willows or other vegetation next
year. This season, a great many things
will not grow on the dixie, as much of
the surface has not been exposed to
sunshine and the rain long enough.
However, cane will grow any way and
tbs board ought to take steps to sow