GRANDPA START FAMILY SALT WORKS
One day French colonel which was in charge of provisions for a soldiers and laborers come to Grandpa and ask? "Sir where we can acquire large amounts of salt? We do not have enough salt for proper nutrition and people getting sick"
Grandpa, raise his eyes from the drawing he have in front of him and start to wonder if this Colonel playing stupid or stupid he really is. On the coast of Adriatic Sea for a Centuries, salt manufacturing was normal thing since Roman times and most of villagers will cook salt for themselves. Making sure to he have understand correctly and to Colonel do not play the games with him, he answered: "Sir, what amount of sale we talking about?"
Colonel check his books and adjutant handle him some papers. The Ministry of Military affairs have need of twenty tons of salt annually in different sizes and for a different use. From animal feed to a human kitchen.
Also, he added to French Government willing to pay for a such production which will make sure to French and laborers never get short on salt supply again.
Grandpa was stunned, Million different thoughts was roaming through his brain. Who in his right mind will pay for a something what is so abundant in mother nature. Sea was there, all French's have to do is take big pots, and pour Sea water inside and fire up, and cook and cook until enough salt was in the pot. Or, send the carts to a Solin where salt
factory was producing salt since Romans. Well, lets play the game he said to himself. "Sir, Colonel, Sir, if I find the way to produce salt will you help me in establishing it?"
Now Colonel look puzzled. This big Dalmatian have something on his mind. Military technicians was brainstorming about salt production for a months and did not come with relevant plan. Now after single question, this Dalmatian Merde (Shit) may have an answer right from his sleeve. He better be careful, if he do not play this hand properly his golden epaulettes may never some. He was hopping to become a general. So carefully not to offer to much, he said: "Well Sir, I can contact the Command and ask them if they have any plans for that, but what is it what you will need? Can you make some projection and put on papers to I can submit to my superiors?"
Grandpa look at him hard and read him advance. If I give to him what he need and make calculations, he will go to Headquarters and submit this as his own plan. So he decide to play dummy. Carefully not to turn the Colonel's attention to a plans he was just moment before reading he turn around and said: "Sir, Colonel, Sir, how poor peasant as me can submit something on paper when I have never being in the school? But if you let me work on it, and give to me what I ask you for I am sure to you will be satisfied, and we will have enough salt".
He did not told the Colonel to he is the Church graduate, and only his duty toward the
family have stop him to pursue further education. He probably knew more about science than Colonel.
And so Colonel went back to Headquarters and told them what Grandpa have told him. Approval was given for a necessary material and labor and whatever was needed. With that, Colonel come back and issue order to Grandpa start and organize salt manufacturing on spot. With Colonel in his pocket, Grandpa start sending the messengers to Rovanjska to organize firewood collection, building for permanent posts for a giant pots in which Sea water will be cooked, and order to a blacksmith to start black smiting of two thousand liters pot. In the same time he put all the people on French pay role. He also send his youngest grandson to a Velebit in order to deliver the message to Filip. Filip was ordered to go across the St. Bordo in Lika and buy hire or any other way secure enough horses, mules and donkeys to arrange for a flow of firewood from Velebit to a Rovanjska coast where salt will be cooked. Also he secured the funds for a pay of Lika workers.
The Colonel was coming around on his mare every day to inspect what's going on, and dutifully was filling up requests for this and that. One the end of the week all workers will line up in front of his tent and receive pay. For a times when most of a trade was done by exchange of goods, Grandpa's family have source of almost unlimited fund I gold. Everybody was hired kids, children, woman, horses, donkeys, mules. French was to pay
per load of firewood, daily wages for all laborers, animals, and on the end they will pay for a salt. Grandpa have set the first family business and he intended to make most of it.
Colonel most of the time did not understand logistics of salt manufacturing but, he have seen to Grandpa have all under control and on the end of the first month he will just show up with pay role and make report to headquarters. It was to his convenience to he can stay in camp with all benefits of it, than try to run every day business in some lost Dalmatian village, where people do not have manners, toilet was unheard of, table utensils, decent cheese, cognac, champagne, court and dances. He did not like Dalmatians, he did not like them even more because they was natural, did not have high manners, and will tell you off, if they did not think to you are right. But French's was ALWAYS right, so Colonel was caught in between Fire and frying pan. He need Dalmatian Merde (Shit) how he call them for him self, to get job done, and on the other side was not able to achieve his goal in advancement in ranks, if Dalmatians did not do what he suppose to do. So Colonel did not like the people, he did not like what he must to do where he must to spend his time, and on the end there was no woman refined enough for courtship. He have find few good looking, but on his advances they will just raise they head, smile politely, turn away and let him talk with man they was always with. One day he turn to Grandpa and ask him why is woman that way in Dalmacija, Answer was so simple to Colonel did not have nothing to said. He
was told to woman in Dalmacija have they own mind, they know for a simple reasoning, they knew difference between good and bad, and most important they did not like flirt for a pleasure of it. If Colonel wanted woman in Dalmacija he will have to marry one after long courtship in presence of a chaperons, or prove by his work to he is worth of her attention. One of the older woman told him not too long ago, to his hands is clean and soft so he must not be a hard worker. The other one to whom he brought bouquet of flowers have laugh at him so hard, to tears start running down her face. That was something unheard of, this crazy French must to be out of his mind. What in god's name one will do with flowers in the heat of the day, they was good only to put them on the grave of loved one.
When she sow the eyes of the French officer, she try to explain him to will be much more appreciated if he get off his horse, take his fancy jacket off, and help her to put pair of Vucija (specially shaped barrels for potable water) on cargo saddle of her donkey. When he did not understand or he pretend not to understand she simply did it herself and down the path she go. This make him even more furious. She did this with so much easy, and each Vucija was at least of 60 kilograms. He knew to he will need all him might if he wanted to do that. And that what make him more mad at this unbelievable man and woman. They was so independent, so proud, full of self esteem, and they even have not been conscious about. They had just natural. Sometime at Sundays, when after mass they will dance, or
throw the boulder from the shoulder, many French soldiers attempted and have fun. Most of the time they will win the target throwing, but in free stile wrestling, boulder from the shoulder, weight lifting, jump they was looser, and they was losing a big time. One day Marshal Mammont was passing by, on his way to Rijeka and he saw the competition. After soldiers was defeated with so much easy, he give the order to all soldiers and officers must to improve they physical conditions. That was, at least was said, first beginning of modern day military calisthenics.
And so, salt production start finally by firing the fires under big salt pots which, Grandpa and man of the Family have brought by Sea on big leuts (fishing boats with oars). Trip have taken almost a week. But French's was paying all expenses so it was not as hard. Children was filling the pots to overflow and once was full, they keep fire going strong and all the time. Day and night, fires was burning, kids, children, young woman and old woman, every body was participating in this new venture of Grandpa. It was something new, unusual entertaining and most of children did not take this as work. Rather that was welcome change in boredom of every day work and so shmrika (local evergreen) was burning with greasy, thick smoking fire, and being of high calories wood was fast increasing the temperature in pots. Grandpa have made of wood, big cooking spoons which was used to stir the salty water in pots. How water evaporated, more sea water was
poured in pots and boiling continue. After hours of cooking, brine was getting thicker and thicker. Then with deep large spoons, adults start to skim the brine of salt. Salt was stored in bags, close to fire to additionally evaporate the water. After few days Colonel arrived and inspected, and smoke from fires soon chase him away. He was satisfied wit beginning of production and did not bother to wait how much salt they will make first day.
Grandma was cooking food at home for a salt workers and young man will go home with traljas (wooden stretchers) and bring the meal to the shore. There all will eat and wash the utensils in the Sea. They have established the shifts, so some was taking care about production others was sound asleep. Grandpa was soon working as Inspector, and always was on the road. When he was told to Colonel do not make daily visits, he order the few youngsters to "save" some salt for a family needs. And from then, for a ten bags for French's one bag was for a Family.
Soon people from Mountain and backlands was coming to a village and trade for a salt. Salt was in that times very expensive, especially for a people from backlands which did not have access to a Sea water. Animals need salt more than humans, which always can get some . Grandpa have all Family money and soon Family start purchasing the land as far a Posedarje, Jasenice, Novigrad, Drachevac and some land was purchased very close to town of Zadar. Soon family property have grown so big, to people have hard time remembering
what was where and what must to be done. Autumn was coming to an end and soon will be winter. French's was intending to continue building the road in the winter. Grandpa have give them warning to North wind Bura is so strong sometime to will blow people in the Sea. But they did not heed his warnings. Finally one day, two workers was blown away, and get all bitten up in shallow water. After that French's stop the construction. Production of salt continue and family that winter made good, very good. Grandpa one day saddle the horse and ride somewhere. It was a week before he have returned. He did not say no body nothing. It was not his duty to said anything to any body. He was the head of the Family and what he decided, it was that way.
Salt was cooked day and night. One weekend Grandpa come around and find to nobody have picked up salt. He ask the boy on salt works when last time they have seen Colonel, and answer was not to his liking. So he saddle up the horse and start toward the road construction sight under the Starigrad and Paklenica, riding most of the day. On road side he find nobody working. French troops was no place in sight. This is strange, he thought, and continue riding. Workers was sitting down, smoking cigarettes, talking or eating. When he asked about the French's whereabouts nobody knew right answer.
So he continue riding and two days after he fine himself in Senj, but in headquarters for Primorje also no French was in sight. Town folks did not know answers on his questions.
This night he slept in livery stable and early in the morning he turn horse around, and start on the way home. On construction site, he explain the workers to is nobody around who will pay them. In addition he said to they have come to work on his honor and word. He can not let them go just like that. He invite them to come to Rovanjska and he will give them amount of salt to take home for earned wages if they agree. Naturally anything is better than perspective of going home with nothing. Salt was worth a lot, and Grandpa open his ledger and pay them out. Some did not have means to take salt home. They make deal to Grandpa will lent them mules and donkeys which they will deliver back with firewood load for service. All agree to it there was no writing of papers. Grandpa knew each man personally and where was his house. Any way, it was no way to they will not do what was said. It will be same as horse thievery, and broken word of honor will destroy particular person in short period of time. So all youngsters was saddling the cargo saddles on all Family animals. Soon they was on the way. Silence fall on the Rovanjska first time in many months, everybody in family did not have nothing to do, but little house chores which was lagging behind. Week after, Rovanjska was already in old way. Life was going on familiar way. Kids was playing. Grown ups was performing their duties. Life was good.
