East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-06-21
Correspondence of the Bufhlo Courier
Northern Michigan, &c.
BANCROFT HOUSE,

from winch write, now place OF nine
years growth. In the great rush of cmi-
grafton westward, the resources of the
State Of Michigan have been overlooked
or neglected. The already cleared prairie
presenting greater attractions to the
farmer than the solidly wooded land of
this northern peninsula. But now that
the surface Of the prairie states have been
skinned over, and the most valuable and
accessible lands secured, attention is be.
ing directed to the wealth known TO re.
side in the northern part of this State -
Until within few years, Northern Mich
gan WAS terra incognita, and even now
rs northermost part is al uninhabited
forest The valley of the Saginaw is
particularly attractive for the variety Of
the sources Of wealth that it presents :,
which are ct this m oment attracting more
attention and capital than at any pre-.
vioustime. lnexhs ustible forests of pine
oak, maple, and other woods, line the
banks of the Saginaw, Flint, and other
rivers, that aow through this valley
Iron and coal, of good quality, are found
within few miles Of this town; and un-
aerlyiug the whole valley, and to a great
extent the whole centre of the State is
supposed to be a great salt lake, from
which present and future ages may draw
to an unlimited extent. The great wealth
OF this country consists of the valuable
trees that are packed with great solidity
on almost every inch of land extending
into some fourteen counties, lying on ten
different streams that empty into the
Saginaw river and to find an outlet to
market they have to pass directly through
this town. Land is comparatively cheap
In the Saginaw land district alone, over
one million Of acres are subject to entry
ct prices varying from twelve to SIPS
cents per acre. After the timber is got
of and the land cleared, the soil is found
TO be emincntly calculated for all pur.
poses Of agriculture, and so rich as to
reward the efforts of the farmer with
sbundant crops.
About year ago q number Of gentle
men satisfied from geological surveys, and
their own personal observation, that salt
water might be found by boring, organ
ICED company called the East Saginaw
sait Co., and Immediately proceeded to
sink shaft. This has been prosecuted
with vigor until now, at depth of about
700 feet water is obtained, that indicates
81 per cent. Of salt by the salinometer
This company have now a house erected
by their well, in which so kettles of the
kind in use at Syracuse are placed, and
IN the course Of next week it is expected
the masonry will be sufficiently firm TO
begin the boiling on an extended scale.
Another block of so kettles is being built
adjoining the first, which will be COM
pleted in week after the other. So
much confidence is felt at the success OF
this enterprise that three other compa.
MES have been organized for the same
object. One at Bay City, Ia miles be
low, one directly opposite the first works
in Saginaw City, and one further up the
river, thus making four companies organ.
lied for the purpose Of salt making.
The State more than year ago, fol
the purpose of encouraging the develop.
mcnt of this wealth, offered bounty OF
ten cents per bushel on all the salt tina,
might be produced Stimulated by this
and having the experience Of the East
Saginaw Co., the others nave immediate
ly entered the field here, and we hea,
now and then Of spasmodic efforts to or
ganize companies in other parts of thu
State. This bounty, if it was to be con
tinued, would alone pay to the boilers
fair per cent on the expense. am in
formed that it will cost at the present
expense for fuel labor, &C., about foul
cents to make bushel of salt, and as {
gentleman remarked to me "they car
throw it into the lake and then make
profit--provided the State bounty con
tinues.n
These sources of wealth, it seems, mus
bring considerable capital and labor T.
this region. This is emphatically man
ufscturing town, its greatest staple be
ing lumber. On the Saginaw saw mill
of various capacities, eight of which ar
located within the borders of this tow
and nearly as many on the bank opposite
These mills employ from ten to thirt
men each. Beside these there are tw
grist mills being built, one of large ca
pacity, two boiler factories, stave factc
rics, and salt works. There is hardly (
DO found town of $500 inhabitant
whore more activity prevails, or wher
there is presented more sources fror
which to create affluencc. It's increas
Is steady and rapid; last year one of tn
best hotels in the State of Michigan wa
opened to the public, and its streets lai
out with regularity, are being rapid
planked and graded, and their directio
and slope is such that no difficulty is eS
pcrienced in getting good drainage. -
Somewhere in this valley must be cit
of considerable size, and from the sta,
already. obtained by East Saginaw, an
from the energy oftbe citizens, there ca
be no doubt that this must DO the plac,
Therc is every indication that the tw
towns Will grow on opposite sides Of tn
river 30 as to meet, and then becom
united. This will be moro likely of col
summation by the construction of
bridge across the river, for which con
psny has already been organized. 1t
TO be hoped that such may be the cas-
for With ss much propriety might an
towp through which small river runs il
s;st ON being divided by il, as that the