These extensive salt beds about eighteen miles from Salt Lake City are
part of the deposit left when Lake Bonneville dwindled to Great Salt
Lake.]
The general way of obtaining salt from the earth is by means of salt
wells. These wells are drilled in the same way that wells are bored for
oil and gas. A pipe about six inches in diameter is lowered to the
surface of the salt rock and then an inside pipe is put down, water is
forced down between the two pipes and the pressure exerted brings up the
dissolved rock or salt brine through the inside pipe.
As the salt brine reaches the surface the salt is extracted from it in
various ways. At present the crude open-pan system, where the brine was
poured into open pans and fires were built below the pans, is almost
obsolete. The most practical methods of refining salt today are known as
the Grainer, Vacuum Pan and Alberger systems.
[Illustration: BOLTERS FOR SIFTING SALT]
The Grainer system is similar in its operation to the old open-pan
system. The brine is run through long, shallow tanks and the heat is
applied through steam pipes inside of the pan. The salt settles to the
bottom of the pan and large rakes operated either by hand or machinery
collect the salt.
In the Vacuum Pan process tiny cubes of salt are formed and settle to
the bottom of the pan in which a vacuum has been created. The salt is
then drained out and is ready for drying.
Variations of the two above processes make possible the production of
certain grades of table salt. Oftentimes the brine is relieved of
impurities through the action of certain chemicals. In some instances a
chemical known as “barium chloride” is used, but the wisdom of this
process has been much questioned, owing to the fact that barium chloride
is a deadly poison.
[Illustration: FILLING SALT PACKAGES]
[Illustration: FILLING SALT BAGS]
The Alberger system of salt manufacture is a mechanical process which
subjects the salt brine to a much higher temperature and removes the
impurities by means of mechanical filters. This process is known to make
a very pure salt and has been used for some time as a practical method
for manufacturing high-grade dairy and table salt. Unlike the other two
common methods of making salt, it forms tiny salt flakes instead of the
usual cubes or lumps.
After manufacturers obtain the salt from the brine they usually put it
through drying processes. After drying, the salt is sifted and the fine
table salt is separated from the coarser products. When salt is sifted
it is ready for packing in bags or packages suitable for shipment to the
consumer.
According to recent government reports, it is estimated that the average
consumption of salt per capita for all purposes is about 100 pounds per
year. The salt industry is now said to have reached a very stable basis
and the demand for salt in the United States is practically all supplied
by American manufacturers. Salt can be put to a great many uses in
addition to the usual requirements for table and cooking. It is used by
food manufacturers and performs highly important functions in certain
commercial fields.
* * * * *
Why do We Call it “Denatured Alcohol”?
Under a law passed by the United States Congress in 1907, on alcohol
intended for use as fuel or for illuminating purposes, or other
mechanical employment, the internal tax need not be paid. But to avoid
taxation it must be rendered unfit for drinking by the addition of such
unpalatable substances as wood alcohol, pyridin, benzola, sulphuric
ether or animal oil. Thus treated, it is spoken of as denatured.
What is the Difference Between a Cruiser and a Battleship?
A cruiser is a vessel built to secure speed and fuel capacity at the
expense of armor and battery strength.
The modern cruiser may be regarded as the offspring of the frigate of
the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The later construction has been
designed for a minimum speed of twenty-five knots an hour, with a
possible attainment of thirty knots or over, under favorable conditions.
The battleship and one form of cruiser were evolved from the conflicting
opinions of two opposite schools of design. The battleship is the
expression of the thoughts of those who stood for extremely developed
battery power, great thickness of armor plate, and moderate speed. The
cruiser is the result of the triumph of those who contended for high
speed at the sacrifice of heavy armor protection and excessive battery
strength.
The armored cruiser was the particular development of the antagonistic
views prevailing among naval architects. The type of this class in the
United States navy was the “Brooklyn,” which figured prominently in the
war with Spain in 1898.
Recently the armored cruiser has been superseded by the battle cruiser.
The armor protection in this type of ship is much lower than that of the
battleship, while the ordnance, on the other hand, is practically the
same. High speed, wide radius of action and great battery strength are
the characteristics of this type; and to meet these requirements the
battle cruiser is planned of a size considerably larger than the
battleship.
The protected cruiser is a later development of naval construction. Its
distinguishing features are certain modifications in the distribution of
the mass of protective armor of the ship.
Light cruisers are vessels of from 1,500 to 7,500 tons, used in
scouting, as commerce destroyers, etc. They are outside the armored
class.
[Illustration: SINKING OF THE GERMAN CRUISER “BLUECHER”
This most dramatic photograph of the Great North Sea Battle, in which
the British fleet was victor, January 24, 1915, shows the death agony of
the German cruiser “Bluecher” just as she turned turtle and sank. The
ship is shown lying on her side with her machinery and armament shot
into masses of twisted iron and steel, great fires raging forward,
amidship and aft.
_Copyright by the International News Service._]
[Illustration: _Photo by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y._