Rock Salt supply in Northeast at critical low

I misread the thread. Yes, there is a shortage, but not due to production. Here certain towns do not have enough and are under budget.

We can be more efficient in salting the roads, but there is also a safety issue.

In past years, for northern states, this would have been just an above average winter.

We still have a few weeks to go...
 
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Been out around here for weeks. Home depot has nothing left to sell except water softener pellets.
 
The guys that do the plowing at my condo where throwing the salt onto our driveway by hand the other day . He was standing the back of the truck and was using a measuring cup to throw the salt out . I live on a dead end street and my street had no salt put on it the last snow storm and we just had more snow tonight . We will have to use table salt pretty soon.
 
Know what? I passed the salt mine several times in the past years. Normally, I see them at full capacity, the pile is very high and huge, ready to be dumped on railroad hopper cars. Recently, I passed that same salt mine, almost empty! That is not normal and triple the normal number of railroad hopper cars lined up! They are working around the clock right now.
 
diehardbiker said:
Know what? I passed the salt mine several times in the past years. Normally, I see them at full capacity, the pile is very high and huge recently I passed that same salt mine, almost empty! That is not normal.
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what's not normal is it being at full capacity all the time
 
Jiro said:
just use cat litter :)
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Chicago is in good shape, unlike those out east. However, the suburbs here in IL are in the same situation are they are in. Our snow removal budget, however, is another story.
 
diehardbiker said:
Know what? I passed the salt mine several times in the past years. Normally, I see them at full capacity, the pile is very high and huge, ready to be dumped on railroad hopper cars. Recently, I passed that same salt mine, almost empty! That is not normal and triple the normal number of railroad hopper cars lined up! They are working around the clock right now.
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I saw on the news tonight that the salt miners are making a killing this winter working over time . They're loving this winter is mean $$$ to them .
 
Here's what I feel on salt. We do not need it. I am sick and tired watching people driving like its summer. I am sick of people driving at 10 mph too. If you cant drive in the snow, don't drive. I am also sick and tired of the plow operators spreading salt instead of plowing or salting EVERY time they plow several times a day on the same road during a snowstorm. REALLY?! you really need to dump salt on the roads every time knowing full well you gonna plow it again in few hours? This just encourages people to drive like idiots. Thats MY tax money you dumping on the roads. You DO NOT need salt for a mere couple inches of snow. Just plow it. The black color in roads will absorb the sun and melt the snow anyways without help of salt. You CAN spread salt at intersections for black ice safety. maybe... just MAYBE people will realize that driving with all seasons is not good enough and winter tires is a necessity. winter tires DO help. with siping and softer rubber compounds does work in the snow. All season tires do NOT have this capability. I have winter tires. I use them. I do switch em over fall and spring. its worth the money. Its not about driving faster in snow with winter tires -- its safety.

Do away with the salt I say.
 
Jiro, put this way, for years I have noticed my fuel tank at or near full. All of sudden its (Fuel tank) now at 1/16th full... What does this means?
 
diehardbiker said:
Jiro, put this way, for years I have noticed my fuel tank at or near full. All of sudden its (Fuel tank) now at 1/16th full... What does this means?
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is oil unlimited?
 
diehardbiker said:
You don't get it? Wow!
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I think it's other way around. looks like you didn't get what I'm saying. what we're doing is wasteful and destructive. we should look at what snow country does.
 
Jiro said:
no but it will give you traction :lol:
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I know but it would take a lot of cat litter to do all the highways and roads. I bet the cost of cat littler would go up if the demands got higher on it. I thought about putting cat littler down at my condo but people would not like . It would be good to keep a bag in your car with a shovel encase you get stuck in snow.
 
Many communities around me are short of or out of salt and doing sand/salt mixes; we also have various propane shortages-
 
Other idea to converse on salt would be to use heavy duty hammer. I'm not saying that they should hammer away on I 94. I'm thinking that would be a great idea for parking lots especially if they're small. Just hammer on the ices. Break them up.
 
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