The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-05-25
Louisiana Sulphur.
manufacturers Record:

Within the past six or seven year.
the sulphur trade Of the world has
been revolutionized Sulphur produc
ton, not including that derived frcns
pyrites, in the United States in 1900
amounted to BAT tons, and 167, 696
tons were imported, the greater per
ton fromSicily. In 1910 the imports
from Italy had fallen to 10,704 tons.
and the production Of the United
States had, increased to 255,534 tons.
This radical change was brought
about through the development of the
sulphur deposits Of southwest Louis
| lana. The presence OF this sulphur
| was known for many years, but be
cause Of peculiarities in its surround
| ings efforts to mine it on large
scale profitably were not successful
until the application of the device OF
Herman Frasch. This is sketched bg
the United States Geological Surye5
as follows:
'The mining Of sulphur in Louisi-
ana is an interesting process. The
sulphur deposit, situated near Lake
/ Charles, lies about $40 feet beneath
the surface and is about 100 feet
thick. Beds of quicksand overlyinS
the sulphur render the sinking O
shafts impossible, and the sulphur is
therefore pumped to the surface. a
well is driven through the numerous
strata to the sulphur-impregna
beds, in much the same manner as L
usual in sinking wells for Oil and
gas. In each well there are placed
concentrical1y four lines of pipe, hay
ing diameters ranging from ~ inches
to 1 inch. Superheated water and hoi
air are forced down the pipes and tn
spaces between them to melt the sui
phur and to bring it to the surface,
The hot water flows down between
the two outer pipes, which are respect
lively 10 inches and G. inches II dla,
meter, and passes into the sulphur
: bearing mass, melting the sulphur
The quantity Of sulphur melted and
the range of action of the water de,
tDend on the temperature of the wa
ter and ON the pressure at which Il
, L is supplied The heavy melted SUI
phur runs back into the pump ar0unc
y the bottom Of the wen pipe, Whlcf
2 it enters through holes provided 10:
q this purpose. Hot compressed air Is
i forced down through the smallest Oh
!, 1-inch pipe, and at the bottom OF tho
, well mixes with the melted sulphul
and forms an aerated mass sHIIl
GENTLY low in specific gravity TO al
low the water pressure to eleFa
the melted sulphur to the surface
where it is discharged into large zee
tangular watts, constructed CT rougf
planging. The dimensions Of the FaC&
vary somewhat, but they are mad
as large as 35Ox250X40 feet and som%
Of them are SO arranged that railroad
: trains can pass between them. ~
1 ter the sulphur has cooled and solid
flied, it is regularly mined the same
as if it were a natural deposit
The uses for sulphur in the indus
t trial arts are becoming Of create,
: and greater Importance, and have ei
I banded in the past ten years more
! rapidly probably than in any other
;; like period Therefore, it is quite
characteristic Of the south, which il
answering the calls of the world Il
SO many other particulars, that
9 should have been the great factor II
i giving this country independence O
!" other lands for its supply OF sulphur