March 6, 2017
This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.
Today’s story is about some men who
had tried boring for coal near where the Union
Pacific shops once stood in Junction City in the spring of
1873. A vein of high impregnated salt
brine was found 290 feet below the ground’s surface. An analysis showed that one gallon of this
brine made three and a half pounds of salt.
A salt production operation was begun almost immediately using the
evaporation process. This business was
managed by Mr. C. R. Adams. Two engines
were at work on the site. One pumped
brine from the old well into the pans and the other ran the drilling machinery
in the new well. The new well was down
about 45 feet and was sinking at a rate of 8 to 10 feet per day. This 6 inch well was said to furnish an
immense amount of brine and was sure to make Junction City one of the saltiest
spots on earth. The newspaper observed to their readers that “Grumblers who
were eternally talking about the opportunities to be found in towns down the
line on the new railroads, or the “booming Solomon Valley” are advised to open
their eyes and look at what Junction City has to offer.” We think this is good advice even today!!!
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