REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I916 287 



In respect to .the separate items of the tables, it may be noted 

 that common fine salt includes the commercial product of fine arti- 

 ficially evaporated salt, not specially prepared for use. Common 

 coarse is the coarser product of similar quality. Table and dairy 

 salt represents the highest grade, specially sorted or otherwise pre- 

 pared for table and dairy use. Packers is the grade sold to meat 

 packers and fish salters. Solar salt is a somewhat exceptional 

 product, as it is made in no other state in the east, and it does not 

 compete in the market with other grades of evaporated salt. It 

 represents the output of solar evaporation of the natural brines that 

 occur in Syracuse and vicinity. Its uses are much the same as 

 those of rock salt. 



The returns for 1916 showed a total of 25 active concerns in the 

 business in the State, distributed among the following counties : 

 Genesee i, Livingston 3, Onondaga 15, Schuyler i, Tompkins 2, 

 Wyoming 3. Of the number, 14 were solar salt makers with a small 

 individual output. Two produced rock salt and the other 9 were 

 engaged in making various grades of evaporated salt. Livingston 

 county has the largest output, followed closely by Onondaga, with 

 Tompkins in third place. 



Following the recent exploration at Portland Point, Cayuga 

 county, announced in the report for 191 5, which resulted in the loca- 

 tion of a bed of rock salt 65 feet thick at a depth of 1484 feet from 

 the surface, shaft sinking operations were begun with a view to 

 working the salt deposit underground. Operations were held up 

 during a part of the year by trouble with natural gas, which resulted 

 in a serious explosion and incident loss of life. The flow of gas 

 came mainly from the Marcellus shale, according to accounts, and 

 there seemed to be no reason to anticipate that the difficulties from 

 this source would increase with depth so as to endanger the final 

 success of the undertaking. 



The following table of production for the 20-year period 1897- 

 1916 evidences the rapid strides that have been made in the develop- 

 ment of the local resources. The figures for the years preceding 

 1904 are taken from the volumes of the Mineral Resources, pub- 

 lished by the United States Geological Survey. 



