184 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



The mineral product consists chiefly of salt, 

 great quantities of which are obtained from sea- 

 water by evaporation. California has a fine cli- 

 mate for this work during a part of the year, for 

 there is no rain in summer, and the warm and 

 dry air rapidly takes up the moisture from the 

 salt-ponds. 



Most of these ponds are located in Alameda 

 County, on the low lands adjoining San Francisco 

 Bay. The ponds are shallow basins that can be 

 easily filled from the bay with the salt water that 

 is to be evaporated by the heat of the sun. 



When most of the water has evaporated and the 

 brine has become very strong, the salt settles in 

 crystals and is raked out and thrown up into 

 great white piles shaped like tents, which can 

 be seen across the marshes for a long distance. 

 During the year 1898, Alameda County produced 

 87,800 tons of salt, valued at $155,812. 



Besides common salt, certain other chemical 

 salts are obtained from sea-water, but the amount 

 is not very great, since most of them are now 

 found in mines and springs. From common salt, 

 however, very valuable products are manufactured, 

 such as soda and chloride of lime. These are used 

 in the making of glass, soap, paper, and white 

 cloth. So everybody uses sea-products every day. 



