APPENDIX. 415 



allowing it to settle, and to have a supply in case of the pump 

 breaking down. From thence it is run into iron evaporating pans, 

 perhaps twenty by twenty-five feet and eighteen inches high ; under 

 these runs a furnace flue, and in about three hours the brine begins 

 to boil ; in twelve hours much salt has precipitated, and about 

 five tons is usually taken out of each pan. This is done with a 

 " sieve spade " (a shovel with a perforated bottom). The wet salt is 

 thrown into conical moulds, left to drain one hour, and then 

 taken to the drying room, where it remains five or six days in a 

 temperature of 180° to 190° ; thence to the breaking room, where 

 it is broken up fine, and packed for shipment. 



In witnessing this apparently simple process, I was tempted to 

 say, "Well, anybody can do that," but on closer examination I 

 found that some of the processes required as much care, skill, and 

 experience as almost any other branch of business, and that 

 quality of production depended, first, on the quality of the brine ; 

 second, on improved appliances and utensils ; and, third, on the 

 experience, skill, and care devoted to the business. For instance, 

 the Ashton and Higgin Works are the only ones using iron 

 floors for drying rooms, which, although more expensive than 

 brick, dry more quickly, uniformly, and cleanly. They also use a 

 different form of mould from the others, and Higgin's Works 

 stand pre-eminent in one important feature, namely, having a set 

 of pans for giving the brine a preliminary heating and treatment 

 which precipitates all sediment and impurities before running it 

 into the evaporating pans. Indeed, every part of the Higgin 

 Works bears evidence of the care and cleanliness bestowed upon 

 their product ; every mould of salt is carefully scraped before 

 breaking, to remove any soot or dirt which may have settled upon 

 it ; the sacks are the best that can be procured, and many similar 

 items, small and unimportant in themselves, are carefully looked 

 after, and doubtless in the aggregate have something to do with 

 the popularity of this brand. The Higgin Works are owned 

 by Thomas Higgin & Co., and the Ashton by a Mr. McDowell. 

 The largest manufacturers in the Cheshire salt districts are the 

 Messrs. Verdin, and, probably, Deakins' Works come next. The 

 district has cheap transportation to Liverpool by canal and river 

 (the Mersey), and without this the salt deposits of Cheshke 



