New Britain herald., 1926-12-10
SALT SHAKER HAS
 UNIQUE HISTORY
Here's How It Got on the Dining Table

Washington, D. C.. Dec. 1o-Mil- lions of years will elapse before the United States will suffer shortage of salt such as that reported re- gently at Cuenca, Ecuador.
 It is estimated that thirty thou sand billion tons of salt, which would last for two million years at the present rate of consumption, are contained in single deposit under lying an area $50 miles long and about 200 miles wide, in portions Of Kansas, Oklahoma, northwestern Texas and New Mexico. This Is by far the largest known deposit in the world, and has scarcely been touched except In Kansas, where an eXten- sive industry has been developed.
 The disturbance at Cuenca recalls the importance Of salt in ancient times. The Germans believed the presence of salt in the soil gave 1t q peculiarly sacred character, and for salty streams they would wage war.
 For centuries before the Christian era blocks of salt were used by dis tricts of China bordering the ocean to pay revenue to the Chinese rul- CTS. In China and Tibet the min- eral vied with gold as medium Of exchange.
 Salt is a luxury to some of the native tribes of Central Africa, par .icularly among the Pygmies. Gifts of salt have made it possible for the white man to approach and study these jungle dwellers. Even tho tusks of elephants Pygmies kill, which are their prized possessions, are buried in the ground until they are traded for salt and tobacco.
 While some salt is produced by evaporation of sea water In local ities along the seaboard and in the vicinity ot salt streams and lakes, most of our supply is extracted from deposits In the earth. This is done either by forcing water down holes reaching to the salt beds, and evap- orating the brine which is forced up and withdrawn, or by the system atic mining of the deposit.
 The most famous mines are the wieliczka mines in Galacia. They virtually constitute an underground city with their 5 miles of galleries, traversed by more than 30 miles Of railroads and their monuments. houses, churches, restaurants and railroad stations-all carved out Of solid salt rock. Even the massive, artistically patterned chandeliers In numerous chapels and bathrooms, are salt. There are subterranean rivers and lakes One of the sixteen lakes is navigable anl a boat Is provided which visitors may hire. The mines have been in operation since the thirteenth century and a depth of 12,000 feet has been reached. They Justify their classification among the lesser wonders of the world.
 Michigan Our Largest Producer
 Of more than seven million tons of salt produced annually in the United States, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Kansas and Louisiana rank foremost. Michigan is slightly in the lead, with New York close on her heels. All of .hese states have depos- its which show no indication of ex- haustion. The New York deposit alone will supply the demand of this country for thousands of years al- though extensive operations have been carried on for a century. The deposit underlies an area of 2,00o square miles in the central part of the State and is from 3 to SIS feet thick.
 Although salt Is used principally for cooking and seasoning, 1t plays an important part in the great world industries. Large quantities are con- stunned in meat packing, fish curing, dairying. baking, refrigerating, pot tery glazing, In the enamel and pipe works. in the silk and textile indus tries, in salting cattle, curing and tanning hides, making pickles, and in many other industries. In the form of brine. 1t Is used in all chemicals containing sodium base. These in clude many of the "ides," ''ites," and "ates."
 Every living thing would perish without salt, and sufficient quanti- ty Is necessary to good health Every tissue of the body has small con- tent of iodine, which may be supplied or renewed by the consumption of salt. The body requires from 1s to 1S pounds annually.
 Before the invention Of the cook pot and the establishment of the kitchen, our primitive ancestors ate raw meat in which was ample salt. The animals consumed salt, and their instinct directed them to salt water areas and out-cropping salt deposits. But the cooking process destroyed large percentage of the salt in meat and 1t became necessary for human consumers to make up the deficiency. Thus the salt chaker found It's way to the dining table"