S88 WYNNE : GEOLOGY OF THE SALT RANGE IN THE PUNJAB. 



gross amount of salt removed at 300 lakhs of maunds ; but notwith- 

 standing' the length of time these mines have been extensively worked^ and 

 though each season adds a concentric belt to the excavated area^ they 

 show as yet no signs of becoming exhausted."^ 



In order to facilitate the cariage of the salt from the mines. Dr. 

 Warth^s tramway has been extended to the mouth of the gorge, and 

 thence a wire-rope tramway has been constructed (under the superintend- 

 ence of Lieutenant DeWolski, E,.E.) to the villageof Chak Nizam, on the 

 southern bank of the Jhelum, above Pind-Dadan-Khan, and ten miles from 

 the Khewra gorge. This has been for a few months completed and is 

 occasionally in working order, but diflSculties have had to be contended 

 with in the unusual length of the line, and the effect of the water of the 

 country upon the boilers of the engines that supply the motive power. 

 When fairly at work, this tramway will be an important aid in the rapid 

 distribution of the salt by means of the Northern State Railway. 



The Sardi mines to the west (ten miles or so north-westward from 

 Pind-Dadan-Khan) are smaller and less favourably situated for working, 

 being sunk below the bottom of the glen instead of in a hill side like 

 those of Khewra. They were more recently opened than the latter, and 

 were originally constructed on a better plan, flights of steps being cut out 

 of the salt, and the roofs supported. Owing to their low situation they 

 have been at times stopped by access of water, and I believe they are 

 now altogether closed. 



The Varcha (or Wurcha) mine is in the hill on the right-hand side 

 of the Varcha gorge, about thirty miles west-north-west from Shahpur. 

 The mme is at a considerable elevation and is large, though only about 

 20 feet of salt are excavated out of a bed of much greater thickness,t 

 the remainder of which is not sufficiently good for commercial purposes 



* For very full descriptions of the mines, modes of working, outturn, etc.. Dr. Warth's 

 papers, noticed in Chapter I, may be referred to. 



t Dr. Warth remarks that the salt mines of Cheshire are being excavated in the same 

 thickness as the Varcha bed, — 20 feet. 



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