The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-11
A GREAT SODA LAKE.

We are wont to boast that we possess
in this country of ours great deposits
of asphaltum, Of Soda Of borax, of
mineral wax, and Of various other use
full products. And truth to say
we have enormous deposits of these
substances, enough to excite the admi-
ration Of the world and the cupidity of
evidently other nations have like,
il not even greater, extent of some of
these deposits, Thus the American Con
sui. Perry C. Hays, at Zanzibar, on
the east coast of Africa, reports the ex-
istence Of a vast extent Of soda depos-
it's in British East Africa, known as
Lake Lagadi, The supply of soda in
this lake is so great as to offer can
almost inexhaustibe source Of
wealth The area Of this lake is over
thirty square miles. and the phenome
nal part of the soda deposits is that
just as in the Trinidad asphaltum de-
posits, when the substance is removed
new deposits are made which create an
ever-replenishing supply that leaves the
| original deposits in sight as great as
ever. Throughout that lake Of thirty
square miles extent there are springs
| from which crystals Of soda are con
stantly forming.
In 1910 a British corporation was
organized to exploit this great field of
wealth. This company built connec-
tlon by rail with the Uganda railway
to the lake, This branch was COM
peted last May. Tt provides an out
let for the soda product to tidewater
at Kilindini Harbor, where Il pier is
under construction for the exclusive
sea-borne traffic. The estimate is that
| 10000 tons of the worked product of
the lake will pass annually over this
railroad. To prepare the soda prod
ucts for shipment a factory will soon
| be built at the lake terminal OF this
factory, the East African Standard of
a recent issue says:
1t is understood that the factory on the
lake will contain machinery made by the
| German firm Of krupps. The power house
| Will be equipped with four Diesel engines.
acb having n capacity of $50 horse
power, The details as To the method Of
winning the soda are not yet available
| but the soda company is fully convinced
that there will be no trouble in working
| the deposits all the year round, even In
the rainy season. Much interest Is given
to the fact that when soda is shoveled
out fresh crystals form from the liquid
| that remains IN the hole. and these re-
plenlsh the supply, But this need not be
| depended upon. for the soda in sight is
enough 10 work upon for many years to
| come, and there may be deposits beneath
| what IL upon tho surface. IT. is hoped to
get daily 1000 tons OF soda away TO Ma
| sadi Junction after year or two and
operations will probably begin In April
| next
| The soda lake covers thirty square
| miles. and the concession area is eighty
| square miles. the lease extending over
ninety nine years. The plant and ma
| chinery now on their way out weigh 1000
tons, and altogether the Krupp consign-
ments will total 10000 tons. This gives
an Idea OF the operations In view. IT is
| believed that while about one-half OF the
| soda will be used in refining oil for pro-
lducing petrol (gasoline). the rest will be
used in making soap and In various other
directions. There are indicatl that the
bulk OF the carbonate Will be shipped
across to India and the Far East
Those are certainly extensive opera
tions, worthy Of the enterprise of those
who nut them into activity, and un-
doubtedly it is n proposition that will
pay from the first, and that increas
ingly year by year will pay better and
| better