ae) ge 
3 ‘ ts 
224° * Salt Springs of Moutiers. 
due-water. of the first boiling, by repeatedly passing over the cords, 
deposited all its salt in about forty-five days, and the cords were ‘in- 
crusted with a cylinder o f pure salt, which was broken off by a par- 
ticular instrument for the purpose.* ‘This process is at present 
abandoned for crystallizing ; but the cords are still used for evapora- 
ting, and are found to answer better for the higher concentration of 
the . oe the faggots. This method did not answer for the 
first evaporation, because the water rotted the cords; but it was dis- 
covered that the cords were not soon injured by it, when it had ac- 
quired five degrees of strength. Thevcords, we were informed, had 
many of them remained thirty years in use, without being changed: 
indeed, they were so thickly encased with depositions of selenite, that 
they were defended from the action of the water. is mode of 
evaporating is found to be more expeditious than that of the faggots. 
A sketch of the evaporating house, No. 1., is‘annexed; No. 2. 
is similar‘to it in every respect. oe ia APEE, 
In the covered house, No. 3., there are twenty-four pumps, twelve 
on each side, to distribute the water more equally over the whole. 
_ This system of pumps is worked by joined bars of wood, which 
move backwards and forwards, and are connected by crank wheels 
with each piston, to raise and depress it. As I have before mention- 
ed, they take care to evaporate on the windward side of the build- 
ing. When I was onthe top of No. 3., though the air was vey 
+ “warm, I felt an intense degree of cold, the consequence of speedy 
evaporation. . 7 ied 
~ In the Maison de Cordes, it is found that the evaporation goes 08 
more speedily in windy weather: than in the Maisons d’Epines, % 
might be expected from the more ready access of air to the surface 
of the water. The cords are double, passing over’ horizontal: rots 
of wood at the top and the bottom, to keep them firm in their pos! 
tions, and at regular distances from each other. I did not. see the 
cords without: their envelope of selenite; but I was informed that 
they were not thicker than the finger.! “With the incrastations they 
‘were become as thick as the wrist. are ; 
Near the salt-springs there are the remains of a large reservol's 
into which the water was formerly made to fall froma considerable 
a 
— 
* This process might be used. for sea-water with particular advantage in warm al 
mates, and the necessity for boiling altogether avoided. 
* 
