Economics of the Salt Industry in Louisiana. John Wright Chisholm Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1952 Economics of the Salt Industry in Louisiana. John Wright Chisholm Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Part of the Economics Commons Recommended Citation Chisholm, John Wright, "Economics of the Salt Industry in Louisiana." (1952). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 8021. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/8021 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ECONOMICS OP THE SALT INDUSTRY IN LOUISIANA A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Economics John Wright Chisholm A. B*, Baylor University, 1936 M. A.# Louisiana State University, 1938 June, 1952 UMI Number: DP69399 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation Publishing UMI DP69399 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProOuestQue ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 JfiVNtJSCRIfT THESES theses submitted for the master's and doctor's and deposited in the Louisiana State University Library sere available for inspection. Use of any thesis is limited by the rights of the author* Bibliographical references may be noted, but passages may not be copied unless the author has given permission* Credit must be given in subsequent 'written or published work* A library which borrows this thesis for use by its clientele is expected to make sure that the borrower is aware of the above restrictions • LOUISIANA. STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AGKHOWLBDGIiBHT Grateful aoknowledgment is extended to Dr* Stephen A* C&ldvell for many criticism s, suggestions* and valuable words of guldaaee In the preparation of this dissertation. Dr. Stanley Pres ten* Dr. Karl D. Beyer* and Dr* Adolph S. Sandberg read the original nanueeript and gave helpful criticisms and suggestions* Other valuable suggestions have been made by Dr. T. N. Farris and Dean James B. Trent. Slnoere appreciation is extended to all of these persons* 3 7 S - 7 6 LS2>0<L 19 5Z TABLE o r CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE AOWOffLSDOMBHT...................................................................... i i LIST OP TABLES...................................................................... v i i i ABSTRACT......................................... ix FAMOUS "SALT* QUOTATIONS................., ..................................... x il I . IMTRODUCTION............................................. 2 Sources of salt........................ • . 2 The problem................................................. 3 Method of approach ....... ................................. 3 I I . THE MATURE AMD DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES................ 7 Re source s defined......................................................... 7 Resources in the objective sense ................................. 8 Resources in the subjective sense........................ 10 Economic forces affecting resource development . 11 Governments and resource development....... 15 Institutions and resource development....... 16 Limitations to increases in production..................... 18 I I I . TYPES, PRODUCTION, AND USES OF SALT........................ 28 Salt produced as brine............................................. 28 Artificial brine.................... 29 Trump method for securing b rin........................ e .... 30 Solvay Process method for securing brine. 31 Evaporation of the brine..................................... 32 Salt produced from mines ........................ 34 i i i Salt produced by solar evaporation. ........ 36 Production in California............ 3? Production in Utah .................................. 3? P la n t s a l t............................. 33 Importance of salt to health and welfare of man . 36 Uses of salt ............................................................................... 41 See in the chemical industries................................. 42 Use for livestock ............................................................... 49 Gee as a refrigerant and for ioe control.... 51 Development of new uses for s a lt............................ 52 Grades of salt..................................... 56 IT. HISTORY AID PRODUCTION OF SALT IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 69 Production in Italy and Sloily........................................... 61 Production in England . ................................................. 64 Prodnotlon in France............................................................. 67 Production in A ustria......................................................... 71 Production in Honania......................................................... 75 Production in Germany......................................................... 74 Production in Spain 30 Production in Russia. ............................................. 60 Production in South America............................................. 64 Production in Australia and Hew Zealand...................... 86 Production in India ......................................... 67 Production in China.............................................................. 89 Production in Japan.................................... 90 iv Essential nature of salt in Industrial development 94 Position of the United States as a salt producer , 97 V. SALT PR0WJGTI08 IS THE UNITED STATES ................... 100 Survey of early production methods.............................. 100 Production In principal producing states................. 104 Michigan. •......................... 104 Sew Y o rk , ........................................................................... 10S Ohio....................................................................................... I l l L o u is ia n a................................................................. 114 T e x a s ................................................................................... 117 California. ..................................................... 121 Kansas................................................................................... 124 West V irginia.................................................................. 126 Utah....................................................................................... 127 Minor producing states* ................................. 126 Exports and imports of salt.................................... 131 Tariffs and salt trade • .................... 135 Price and oost of salt .......................................... 137 Transportation and production of salt. ................. 148 VI. EARLY SALT PRODUCTION IE LOUISIANA...................................... 154 Location of salt domes ................................................. 154 Theories of formation of salt domes............................ 156 Produetion in North Louisiana........................ 161 Drake's Salt Works .......................................................... 162 Rayburn's S a lt Works...................................................... 165 v X ing's S a lt Works , * * . ............................ 167 Price's Salt Works. ...................................... 169 S a lt Works on Lake B istineau...................................... 170 Production in Southwestern Louisiana......................... 174 A vary Islan d ......................... 175 Jefferson Island. .................................. 184 Weeks I s l a n d ................................................................... 186 Bella Isle . ....................................................................... 189 Cote Blanohe. ............ ................. 192 Summary of early production............................. 195 V II. MODERN DEVELOPMENT OP SALT PRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA. 196 Production in Southeastern Louisiana......................... 197 Avery Island...................................................................... 198 Weeks Islan d...................................................................... 201 Jefferson Island. ............................................. 205 Anse La B u t te........................ 207 Production in North Louisiana. • ............................. 210 Production of Salt by Chemical Companies................. 215 Old Hackberry Dome (Uathieson A lkali Works, Inc.) 215 Bayou Choctaw Dome (Solvay Process Company) • • 215 Calcasieu Parish (Southern Alkali Corporation). 217 Possible areas for future development......................... 216 Cote Blanche. ..... ..................... ...... 218 Pine Prairie Salt Dome................................ 219 Fausse Point© Dome.......................................................... 220 vi