54. THE WEALTH OF THE SEA 



small dump-cars running on movable rails and 

 hauled by small gasoline or electric locomotives. 



Recently some of the larger salines have employed 

 the mechanical salt-lifter for harvesting the salt. 

 This machine consists of a horizontal scraper 

 mounted on a large caterpillar automobile truck. As 

 the truck moves slowly along, the scraper takes up 

 the salt and throws it on a conveyer, which empties 

 it into dumping-cars on movable tracks. Such a ma- 

 chine eliminates a great amount of hand labor. Its 

 invention has done much to aid the California salt- 

 making industry to keep pace with the times. 

 Usually the salt deposit is first harvested to within 

 two inches of the mud floor. Then the remaining salt 

 is lifted and sold as a lower grade for use as ice- 

 cream or stock salt. 



The salt is harvested more rapidly than it can be 

 refined. On this account it is dumped in piles near 

 the mill. Some plants have a number of small piles, 

 while others stack all the salt in one huge pile. A 

 large stack is considered to be more economical of 

 salt, as there is less surface exposed to the weather, 

 and less salt has to be broken in the subsequent 

 refining operation. The latter consideration is rather 

 important, for the surface of a salt pile soon hardens 

 so firmly that it can be broken only with great 

 difficulty. 



Crude sea-salt as it is removed from the crystal- 

 lizing ponds contains considerable adhering pickle 

 and is usually somewhat pink in color. Therefore it 

 is carefully washed before it is shipped. This is 

 accomplished by spraying it with brine as it is 



