J. D. B. News Letter

place the slow method of hand harvesting applied in European and American salt works by suction dredges were already made at the end of last year. In the course of this year, after lengthy experiments, the method has been improved and has finally met with success. It is expected that in the coming season (1932) the greater part of the Carnallite will be harvested by this method, thus reducing the cost of production and improving the quality of the product.

POWER STATION

“The erection of a new Power House, in addition to the experimental one of last year, was started in the beginning of the year and put into operation by July. The generation of power is effected by large Diesel type motors with high tension alternators, supplied by Messrs. Ruston & Hornsby, Ltd., Lincoln. An underground transmission line of a total length of 2½ miles was laid, thus providing all the pumps and various machinery spread over the Concession area with electric current.

BROMINE PLANT

“The erection of the first Bromine Plant was completed in February, 1931, and our first consignment of Bromine for the English market was despatched by the end of the same month. The purchasers expressed full satisfaction with the quality of the product as guaranteed by us. Although some difficulties were experienced in the beginning in the summer months on account of the high temperature prevailing, these were finally overcome. In view of the high content of Bromine in the final liquor produced from the Dead Sea water, which is several times that of the brines in other parts of the world, this plant was able to produce up to one ton and over of refined Bromine daily. The whole quantity produced throughout the year was disposed of in the British market. In view of the satisfactory results of the first year’s production, the Board decided to erect a second Bromine plant of double the capacity. By the end of the year under review, the erection of an additional boiler supplied, as was the previous one, by Messrs. John Thompson (Wolverhampton) Ltd., and forming a part of the Bromine plant, was completed. At the same time, parts of the new Bromine plant were arriving.

POTASH FACTORY

“The erection of the Potash Factory for refining crude Potash Salts (Carnallite) produced in the pans by solar evaporation, was in progress from the beginning of the year, and only by the middle of November was the first test of production made, although the housing of the machinery was not completed at the time. A few hundred tons of high-grade Potash were produced by the end of the year and sold on the British market. The quality of the product proved very satisfactory and compares favorably with the Potash supplied by other producers.

COMMON SALT

“Over 1,000 tons of common salt of good quality, which is a by-product, were harvested and sold locally at a satisfactory profit.

DEEP-SEA PUMPING

“The water for feeding the evaporation pans last year was taken from the surface of the Dead Sea. Soundings previously made in the Sea over a period of several years proved that at a certain depth there is to be found brine of higher specific gravity and increased contents of Potash and Bromine. By careful soundings undertaken last year, a point on the bottom of the Dead Sea, 175 feet deep, was ascertained at which the content of Potash and Bromine reaches its maximum, namely, 50 percent, more than that from the surface. It was therefore decided to lay a permanent pipeline on the bottom of the Sea to reach this point and to pump the heavy brine through the feeder canal into the evaporation pans. A steel pipeline of 30 inches in diameter and 2,500 feet in length, manufactured by Messrs. Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd., Glasgow, was laid on the bottom of the Sea to reach the depth of 175 feet. The work on the laying of the pipeline and the erection of a new station capable of pumping 8,000 gallons of heavy brine per minute, was started early in April. The execution of this somewhat difficult engineering work met with various obstacles, such as the difficulty of a diver working in water so concentrated with salts and the welding of the pipes under the burning sun. But, finally, all these were satisfactorily overcome and by the end of November the desired and expected water brought from the depth reached the feeder canal through the distribution pipe.

TRANSPORT

“There have not been at the present stage of production any serious difficulties in transporting the goods from the Dead Sea to the ports for shipment to the world markets, nor are there likely to be any in the future. By the introduction of new large lorries run on Diesel oil for carrying the goods from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem, it was possible considerably to reduce the cost of transport, and the company is satisfied that the quanties that can be carried on this road with the new vehicles are larger than was originally anticipated. A new, very satisfactory, asphalted branch road 5½ miles long connecting the existing Jerusalem-Jericho Road with the Dead Sea at Km. 32½ was constructed and completed by the Government of Palestine in September, thus reducing the time of the journey by a quarter of an hour. Assistance was given by the Company to the Government in constructing this road by advancing £5,000 in the form of a loan, as provided by the Concession Agreement. Facilities were provided for the Company by the Palestine Railway authorities which make it possible for the goods to reach the Palestinian ports, Jaffa or Haifa, and the Egyptian port, Port Said, in the shortest time. Arrangement were also made with the Railway authorities concerning freight rates.

MARKETING

“The marketing of our products is being effected through Messrs. C. Tenant, Sons & Co., Ltd., of London, who, by virtue of an agreement, represent the company’s sales organization.

LABOR

“Three hundred and fifty to four hundred workmen, nearly all Jews and Arabs, the latter from Palestine and Trans-Jordan, were employed by the company in the year under review. Friendly relations continue to exist among all the workers, as reported last year.

HEALTH CONDITIONS

Health conditions in this period continued to be very satisfactory. No cases of malaria or other serious diseases occurred,” the report concludes.