REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 1902 1*59 



SALT 



While nearly all other mineral industries have been in a 

 flourishing condition, that of salt-making has suffered a marked 

 depression. The present state of affairs is not due to any sud- 

 den change in supply or demand, but is rather the culmination 

 of disasters the causes of which have existed for many years. 



Salt was first discovered in the Oatka valley in 1878. In 

 1883 it had been demonstrated that the rock salt bed extended 

 beneath the whole of the Oatka and the greater part of the 

 Genesee valleys, and in a few years both were dotted with 

 salt factories and mines. Active competition soon lowered the 

 price of the product to a point which gave very little margin 

 to the manufacturer. Investigation showed that the total 

 capacity of the factories and mines was more than double the 

 amount required by the market which they would legitimately 

 supply. To remedy this, the National Salt Co. obtained con- 

 trol of nearly all the evaporating plants, and by closing un- 

 necessary factories reduced both the cost of making and the 

 amount of the product. About the same time, and for similar 

 reasons, the Retsof Mining Co. acquired title to the four salt 

 mines at Retsof, Greigsville, Leroy and Livonia, and working 

 only one or two at a time controlled the price and the output 

 of rock salt. 



For a time the price of salt improved, and salt-making again 

 became profitable. But with better prices came renewed com- 

 petition from new factories, till the past year has witnessed a 

 repetition of overproduction and consequent stagnation of trade. 

 In the summer of 1902, the National Salt Co. passed into the 

 hands of a receiver. It is now expected that early in 1903 the 

 stock of the National Salt Co. and that of the Retsof Mining Co. 

 will be merged into that of the International Salt Co., which 

 will take the place of the first two organizations. 



In February 1903 only one factory, the Yorkshire, was being 

 worked by the National Salt Co. in the whole Warsaw-Genesee 

 field, though the Warsaw and Hawley works were expected to 

 resume in the spring. Of the four mines, only the Retsof was 

 in operation. 



