| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, April 18th, 1863 |
| |
| Capt. L. P. Grant |
| Corps of Engineers |
| Atlanta, Georgia |
| |
| Captain, |
| The production of salt in quantity is
considered so important that the Secretary of War is averse to the
abandonment or suspension of the work undertaken at the Salines in the
State of Alabama. I will ask you therefore to renew your efforts to
procure labor and materials to go on with the construction of basins and
other works for producing salt by solar evaporation. |
| It is believed that some labor may be
obtained as soon as the negro forces now employed on the defenses of
Mobile, shall have been relieved and returned to the Planters. This, it
is thought, will be at an early day. |
| The cost of the proposed work will be
high, probably, but the importance of a supply of salt to the country
will justify the outlay. |
| Should the whole summer be consumed in
preparation, there may be a period in the fall, say between 20th Sept.
and the 1st of December, when the weather will favor evaporation. |
| If it be possible to devise a covering
(moveable) over the basins used during the last part of the process, it
is advisable to construct it, as a protection against the fall rains.
Moveable covers would involve the necessity of dividing the first basins
into many compartments; but I see no objection to doing this. If the
evaporating basin cannot be provided with covers, I suggest for your
consideration the use of two large tanks in connection with the basin,
into which the water may be drawn, the surface of fresh water into one,
the more concentrated into the other. Such tanks could be provided with
shelters from the heavy rains. |
| The funds required will be supplied on
your application. |
| I am Sir |
| Your obt Servt |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col. of Engrs & Chief of Bureau |
|