East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-01-31

Extracts from tho State biologists Re-
port Tor 1850.


contemplated that in the presentation Of
a final report upon our Geology, promi-
nence shall be given to the economical
materials, furnished by the carths crust,
embracing an explanation Of the princl-
pies concerned in searching for. them,
plain, practical rules of procedure, the
best method of extracting, purifying and
preparing them and the nse to which
they may be applied. In thepreceeding
descriptions Of our formations / have in
many cases, alluded to the uses to which
the various rocks and mineral products
of the Lower Peninsula seem to be well
adapted, and as a general statement, l
do not deem it best to do anything more
chan this in the present report. In re-
gard 10 the leading mineral interests OF
the Lower Peninsula, however it may be
expected that it should furnish even in a
report Of progress, q greater amount OF
data for the practical guidance of those
interested, ..
The manufacture Of salt is fast assum-
ing great degree of Importance to our
State. II the geological indications on
which | found my opinions are not talla-
clous, we have the most magnificent sa
lilerous basin upon the continent, east OF
the Mississippi. As might be expected,
too, the strength Of it is proportoned to
the extent of the basin.
| omit any historical notices Of the
use and development of this interest,
from the time when the State commenced
IlegisIating On this this subject in 1886
down to the present time. Many of the
disappointments heretofore experienced,
might have been avoided by an observ-
ance Of such practical suggestions as are
suboired.
l. The occurrence Of a salt spring is
only proof the escape Of brine.
=. Brine is found issuing at the out
crops of the Coal Measures, the Gypse-
Gus Group, the Napoleon Group, the
Marshall Group, On Ohio from the Ham
iIton Group and the Onondaga Salt
Group.
3. Only two of these or ups produce
brine OF sufficient strength for mauuiGc-
turing purposes; and only the Gypscous
Group i, known to do this in our State.
4. Before deciding on Che indications
Of salt spring, therefore, II IL necessary
to know from what geological fountain it
issues. Here the elaborate inyestiga
of the order and distribution Of our
strata find ono Of It's applications.
., Before the origin Of the brine can
be known We must ascertain, whether it
flows out horizontally at an outcrop, or
rises vertically through assures in strata
ovcrlying the salt rock. 4 fundamental
mistake, committed in the early eXplora-
tions for salt, grew out Of the assump-
ton that the brine Of our springs gener-
ally rises through assures and may be
sought by boring in the vicinity Of the
springs.
9. Most Of our springs issue at op'crops
OF saiiicrous strata; SO that the moment
we begin to bore in such situations, we
find ourselves beneath the source OF the
salt
I. The source Of the salt must be
sought by travelling from the spring to-
wards the centre of the basin, when by
boring down, the brine may be expected
in increased strength aud quantity.
g. Cur saliferous basin entends from
Grand Rapids 10 Saniiac county, and an
unknown distance towards the north -
Within this basin the area covered by the
Coal Measures may be taken as the area
urdcraiu by saiilerous strata Of maxi
mum produotivcuess.
The salt business Of the Saginaw Val.
ley was commenced by the East Saginaw
salt Co., who bored well about three,
fourths Of mile northeast Of the village
on the bank Of the river This vel
penetrated the saliferous beds between
iG and G27 feet, and ended at GO feet
The strength Of the water at different
depths was as follows At 20 feet, | .
at 102 feet, , 4; at 2ll feet, 10 9; a
293 feet, l49 discharging so Callont
per minute, of temperature of 30 ,
Fab, and rising IA feet above the sur
face; at IS7 feet, 2G at SIG feet 10 {
at 523 feet, A e; at go feet, GO .; a
500 feet, Ga .; at COG feet, Sc , with
temperature of 5l9 Fab, and at 639 #.
80 > or ten degrees short Of saturation
A sample of this water, at 81 ,, from
, the depth Of 515 feet, was examined b,
DIR. Chiffon, of New York, with the fol
lowing result:
Solid rcsilum in ono wine put.,.. ll55 grs.
Chloride Of sodium (lomiaoa salt" IUll5' gr'
Specific gravity '.''.'. '''..''' lilo
An analysis of the brine, made by Dr
Webb, of Utica, n. y, resulted as fol
{ lows
b Chloride Of Sodium. 49,. l9Cs3 per cent
4 Chloride of CaC.ium ......., So per cont.
Chloride of Maggo,ian ..'. l.2il por cont.
Sulphate Of l.ime and 1Lagnosa .225 per ccut.
Totol of solid matter 2l09l
The following analysis was publishe
), by Prof. Douglas, April 6, 1860, said {
I have been performed. upon water froi
the salt well Of " Mr.. Waldron, Of Sag
uaw,n bat according to Mr.. Waldron, {
4 East Saginaw, taken from the well {
. !, the above Company:
. Specific gravity .'.......,''. LILO
Saline tnntter. .,....,., % OH per cont
chloride of sodium arl...""T7l2
Suluhato Of Limo rypsanl.. ll6
Chloride Of lime 9. Of calciuml 2,l42
~ Chloiioo of MA liesia of mas-
- nciunil ~, s..'.'' "s''"'' l,bS2
IN Carbonate of iron ..,......... l05
Chloride of Potassium ......., 800