SALT 



745 



spouts o, o, which are secured to the upper beams ; and at both sides of these spouts 

 are the drop-spouts p, p, for discharging the brine by the spigots s, s, as shown upon 

 a larger scale in Jiff. 1749. The drop-spouts are 6 feet long, have on each side small 



1747 



1748 



notches, 5 inches apart, and are each supplied by a spigot. The space above the 

 ridge of the graduation-house is covered -with boards, supported at their ends by 

 binding-beams, q. r, r, show the tenons of the thorn-spars. Over the Soole-schiff b, 

 inclined planes of boards are laid for conducting downwards the innumerable showers. 

 The brine, which contains at first 7'692 per cent, of salt, indicates after the first 

 shower, 11-473; after the second, IG'IOS; and after the third, 22. The brine thus 

 concentrated to such a degree as to bo fit for boiling, is kept in great reservoirs, of 

 which the eight at Salza, near Schonebeck, have a capacity of 2,421,720 cubic feet, 

 and are furnished with pipes leading to the sheet-iron salt-pans. The capacity of 

 these is very different at different works. At Schonebeck there are 22, the smallest 

 having a square surface of 400 feet, the largest of 1,250, and are enclosed within 

 walls, to prevent their being affected by the cold external air. They are covered with 

 a funnel-formed or pyramidal trunk of deals, ending in a square chimney to carry off 

 the steam. 



The graduation-range should be divided lengthwise into several sections : the first, 

 to receive the water of the spring, the lake, or the sea ; the second, the water from 

 the first shower-receiver ; the third, the water from the second receiver ; and so on. 

 The pumps are usually placed in the middle of the building, and lift the brine from 

 the several receivers below into the alternate elevated cisterns. The square wooden 

 spouts of distribution may be conveniently furnished with a slide-board attached to 

 each of their sides, to serve as a general valve for opening or shutting many trickling 

 orifices at once. The rate of evaporation at Moutiers is exhibited by the following 

 table : 



From the above table it appears that no less than 10 falls of the brine have been 

 required to bring the water from specific gravity I'OIO to 1-140, or 18 Beaume. 



