Detroit's Subbasement
The Detroit Salt Co. extracts salt from a mine that winds through 5 miles of tunnels beneath the city.
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Miner
Bill Brownlee is one of 30 or so workers who extract the salt.
Beyond the Rubble
The mine's shaft, rear center, stands not far from an abandoned lot.
Saint of Safety
Workers have installed a shrine to Barbara, the patron saint of miners.
Counting Heads
A tag-board system ensures that no one is left behind in the mine.
Essential Gear
Workers rely on helmets, rebreather oxygen belts, earplugs and goggles.
Going Down
John Bednarczyk mans the hoist at the mine's entrance.
State of the Art
A continuous-miner machine is used to scrape salt off the mine's walls. After processing, the salt is sold to local governments for snow removal.
Hold the Salt
Detroit Salt Co. vice president Emanuel Manos shows a chunk of the product.
This Way Out
The company says several thousand tons of salt are extracted from the mine each day.
SOURCE: TIME Magazine
