DISASTROUS SUBSIDENCE OF LAND.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 29, 5 February 1881, Page 4

DISASTROUS SUBSIDENCE OF LAND.

A remarkable subsidence of land recently occurred in the centra of the Cheshire salt district, and has assumed alarming proportions. For seme time land in the neighborhood of Dunkirk, Witton, has been subsiding in consequence of the immense quantity of brine abstracted from salt-making. In the immediate neighborhood of the scene of the recent subsidence there is a large basin of water, nearly two acres in extent, caused by a similar subsidence in 1828, when several deaths resulted from the sudden giving way of the earth. On 6th December symptoms of another disturbance beneath the surface were observed oloae to the bed of a brook running through Witton, and immediately over an old disused rock-salt mine. A little later a most extraordinary scene was witnessed at the neighboring pits, where, as the earth fell, the water, the brine rather I—was1 — was forced or squirted up until it resembled huge boiling cauldrons, while on the banks the Boft mud was being thrown up to a height of Beven or eight feet. During the whole of the day a gradual settlement of the earth went on, accompanied by this curious phenomenon. At 6 o'clock in the morning the surface had dropped to such an extent that the water from the "Wincham brook commenced to flow into the hollow formed by this settling ground, and the fall of the water from the whole level of the brook to the level of the submergence was so deep that the water rushed in a great volume and out for itself a new bed at least 15ft deep, while hundreds of tons of earth were poured along with the rushing water into the chasm. Later on an immense quantity of land disappeared from view, and this attracted the water from the adjoining flashes or lakes, which rushed to it from all points. During the night a tremendous eruption of mud and water occurred at the whole salt pit referred to, mud and stones being cast up with great violence to a height of 35ft., and was immediately followed by another sudden subsidence of land sft. in depth. About the same time the foundation of Ashton's salt works gave way. Luckily the manager had observed the disquietude of the earth's orust, and had speedily removed the engine and machineay. Half an hour later a chimney stack ninety feet high fell with a crash, while the Platt's Hill Book Salt Mine, fifteen acres in extent, worked by Messrs. Thomson & Sons, became flooded, and rendered absolutely useless. Before the mine was flooded it contained several hundred tons of rock Bait, which, together with waggons, tools, rails, and plant wore destroyed. The silting earth has created a chasm across the Dunkirk road, rendering it unsafe for traffio, and displacing a number of brine pipes. The water in the river Weever has fallen a foot. The river, the brook, and the flashes are still pouring water into the chasm caused by the subsidence in tons. No accidents have, fortunately, been caused, but the destruction of property is immense, and the subsidence still continues. — Home paper.