The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-05-19

lngly interesting. We were over the
plant a few days ago under the guild
ance of Mr.. Cronin, who kindly ex-
planned the mOdus Operandi. There are
things to note not directly pertinant
to the process of extraction. Strange to
say it is difficult to build tanks and
vats that will hold the salts impreg-
mated water without leakage. 1t will
seep out of these receptcables that
will hold boiling water without a
sign of leakage. The accepted under
standing as to the nature of the pro-
duct is it's moving qualities, and that
may account in a measure for the diff
Guilty experienced in building wooden
receptacles tight enough to prevent ooz-
ing. The big tank into which the salts
fluid is discharged from the lake is a
sight to behold. The water oozes from
the pores of the tank and solidifies as
1t slowly drips, forming enormous
stalectites. From the bottom of the
tank to the ground is a dirty looking
mass OF salts columns in the shape of
enormous icicles. The salts is not
the precipitating watts and treated with
steam. Another strange feature in the
handling of the salts is noticeable. 1t
seems to have an affinity for wood. A
piece Of wood placed in the vat will
become incrusted with salts until the
accumulation forms "a huge bulk.
Wooden vats were used at first, but the
salts gathered ON the wood in great
layers and became almost as hard as
rock. The watts are now lined with
sheet iron.
The furnace used is an oil burner.
The dryer is of Scotch manufacture,
unfortunately for the company, be-
cause when new parts are needed it
Is necessary to send all the way to
Scotland for them. Indeed, at the pres
eEt time new parts are required and
have been cabled for. When the dryer
was installed it was not known that
an American dryer could be obtain ed.
Very soon the company will replace
the one in use with an American
model, thus saving much expense, IN
convenience and waste of time secur-
ing parts when required. From the
packing room the finished product is
loaded directly on the cars. At the
present time two car loads are shipped
to the eastern market every week,
but the shipments will be greatly in
creased when the capacity of the plant
Is enlarged.
The Stewart-Calvert company are
pioneers in the work of utilizing this
one of the many mineral and chemical
natural deposits of Okanogan county.
!, is handling at flattering profit
this salts that heretofore has been Of
no value to the owners or the country.
The industry is very important one
to the town, as it supports a pay roll
by the employment steadily of 25 to 30
men. Should the European war cease
1t is doubtful if the salts could be pro-
duced and marketed at a sufficient
rofit to justify the continuance of the
industry. If the government will grant
fair protection in the way of a tariff
on EPSON salts so that this very i'm
portant local enterprise could be able
to compete with importations from
abroad there is no reason why the ex-
traction of this product should not
continue for years to come. If the
|plant can continue it's operations it
Twill be valuable adjunct to the town,
both as supplying a steady pay roll
and as local institution that will per-
Ipetually keen the name of OrOyille he
fore the public.