Over the last three millennia, salt has been a driving force behind towns, cities, and entire civilizations. In America it has been a vital resource and export since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.

Contents

1 Use in fishing 2 Solar Evaporation 3 Effects on wars 4 Morton Salt

Use in fishing

Cod fishing, a major food source in the New England colonies relied heavily on the use of salt. The colonists used the “dry” method of salting. To use this method cod are caught and shipped to land before they are salted, removing them from the water of the fish barrels. This method permitted cod to stay preserved for a long time. The French used the “wet” method of salting cod. They used salt-filled barrels on the boats to store the cod in as soon as they were caught. This method allowed for fresher fish, but they didn’t stay preserved for long.

Solar Evaporation

John Sears was the first person in the American colonies to use solar evaporation to create salt. He used wind-powered pumps to pump water from the sea into huge wooden vats where it sat until the water evaporated and only salt was left. There were then no advances in solar evaporation until 1833 when the purification pan was invented. This device purified salt water to remove grit or sand. This method for producing salt was the most popular and successful until rock salt was discovered in 1869.

Effects on wars

During many wars in American history, salt has been a major factor in the outcome. In the Revolutionary War, the British used Tories to intercept the rebels’ salt supply and destroy their ability to preserve food. During the War of 1812, salt brine was used to pay soldiers in the field, as the government was too poor to pay them with money. In the American Civil War, the Union capture of Saltville, Virginia ruined the Confederates by destroying their long marches and not allowing them to march for more than a day. The Confederates needed salt to preserve food. After the fall of Saltville, they had to hunt for fresh food daily. During the time of the War of 1812, Lewis and Clark were looking for brine springs on their expedition, in addition to attempting to expand the union.

Morton Salt

During modern times, one salt corporation stands out as the most successful. Morton Salt was incorporated in 1848 as a small salt producer. In 1910, the spouts on top of their salt dispensers were invented and patented. These spouts would become their most lucrative idea. In 1911, The Morton Salt Corporation began to use the little girl with the umbrella to represent them. She brought worldwide fame to the company as an advertising symbol which people could associate with the company and product. Around 1918, the company began to sell lower grade livestock salt to farmers. In 1924, Morton Salt was the first to use iodine in their salt to prevent goiters. During the highway boom of the 1950s, they solely supplied the government with roadway salt. In the health-conscious 1970s Morton Salt began to produce salt substitute to help control high blood pressure. This product tasted like salt but was not the real thing.