BAILEY. | Salt and Salt Brines. 81 
THE VACUUM PROCKSS. 
The third process for making evaporated salt is known as 
the ‘‘vacuum process.’’ This process has not been extensively 
used, but the apparatus consists essentially of a kettle which is 
connected with a vacuum pump so that the brine may be boiled 
at a lower temperature. The salt that is formed is automatic- 
ally carried away and fresh brine is at the same time supplied 
to the pan as rapidly as evaporation takes place. 
KANSAS SALT COMPARED WITH OTHER BRANDS. 
Some examples have been given to show the purity of the 
Kansas salt. The following analyses of other salts that are on 
the market are quoted for comparison : 
PRI OUN SES eter lear eaten a teins seth al aver Sin Alea celurd Misicbata aaa Wal, 97.8 
COOMA Ra aW NM AE See UIE aL LAIN A ONS lV ea leh IU aC 97.7 
aN SH OU ROTO SS és etsy Se ah aay a RO EE LO 97.6 
1 DEVENS ITA ASG Sia es se Si I a SO a er 97.5 
Worthington iiecnscm ek eal ee SPN ure aye RE eek 2 Ae 97.4 
With abundant brine, and that of excellent quality, the only 
obstacle that can stand in the way of economical production of 
salt in large quantities is cheap fuel. By the use of coal-slack 
the cost of fuel has been considerably decreased; but still, the 
expense is large compared with that in some other salt regions 
where slabs are burned or coal-mines are near at hand. By 
the use of more economically constructed furnaces much will 
no doubt be gained, for, by the present methods, much of the 
coal goes out through the chimney in unburned carbon, under 
the name of ‘‘smoke.’’ This is all lost fuel, of course. Pos- 
sibly, by some cheap system of compression, the vast quantity 
of straw and corn-stalks that are produced in the state may yet 
be utilized as: fuel. 
In studying economy of production, it will be noted, also, that 
only a saturated brine should be used for evaporation. Every 
pound of unnecessary water evaporated adds to the expense; so 
the rate of pumping of the brine should be carefully watched. 
There has been an increasing amount of salt produced in the 
state since 1888, when the industry began to be fairly estab- 
lished. The latest available report, that for 1899, shows a pro- 
duction of 2,172,000 barrels. | 
6—Vvil 
