East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-01-21
From the y, X, Argus, Jan le] \
MICHIGAN SALT. ray .-r

~. Iron the n, X, Argus, Jan lsl ss9
,,.f-. .,r MICHIGAN SALT. 7,y srrrea
Reference has heretofore been made in
this journal to the important fact that
the State of Michigan has recently added
to her treasures in iron, copper, gypsum
ard coal, the Invaluable article of salt.
The early explorations in 1887, soon after
the admission of Michigan into the
Union, unfoldcd the existence of salines
in several widely-separated districts, aud
was done in the way Of
boring and manufacturing. The State
we'll at Grand Rapids was sunk in 1S4l-2
to the depth of 473 feet, and one by phi
vate enterprise as deep as 66l feet the
indifferent success of which led to the
abandonment of the work until 1859 !;
when bounty law stimulated parties at
several points to renewed Efforts These
were rewarded on the Saginaw river by
complete success; the well Of the East
Saginaw Salt Manufacturing Company
having produced, brine of great strength
and good quality at tho depth Of 632
feet. The great success of that com
pany, who are now producing daily one
hundred and fifty bvrrels of salt, from
brine furnished by one well of diameter
of three and a quarter inches, and at a
cost which leaves fair margin for profit,
has turned into that valley large amount
of capital; aud their manufacture of salt
bids fair to enter the lists as no con-
temptible coadjutor of our own State
works. Within the space Of only one
year, no less than ten wells have been
sunk, at distances of from two to fifteen
miles from each other, and all with uni
form success, and their brine is equal 10
the daily production Of z 500 bushels Of
fine salt. About $4,000 barrels have
already gone into the markets Of De
troit, Milwaukee, Chicago and other
Lake ports, and the al ticle is meeting
with ready sale and approval. ag o. sH''i
The Importance Of this discovery to
the valley of tho Saginaw, hitherto
known mainly for Its superior pine and
oak, can hardly be estimated. The con.
sumption of wood at Onondaga exceeds
100, 900 cords yearly; to say nothing OF
large amount Of coal used in the fine
salt blocks. On the Saginaw, the finest
hard wood can be had at twelve TO four
teen shillings per cord, and the facilities
for matchmaking are unequaled. w,
have seen the cost of producing barre
of salt, at that point, figured by reliabl,
authority at from rs tos0 cents; and i
is quoteia at 81 rs in Detroit, Toledo ant
Cleveland, and So in the ports Of Lake
Michigan. The blockade Of the Southern
ports and the Mississippi having shut out
foreign salt, on which the West mainl,
depends, and the salt districts Of Ohit
and Virginia having been disturbed b.
the progress of the rebellion, we are no
surprised to learn that Chicago, with
total receipt Of 100000 barrels in 1861
is now nearly bare of salt, nor to .hea
that the depots Of the 0nondaga Com
pany on the lakes are nearly all1ia tn
same condition. of the 10000, 00'
bushels Of salt consumed in the Unite,
States, we have looked to foreign mar
kets for over lonc-half. i a discovery lik,
this in Michigan, then, the direct of
spring Of theoretical geology, as thu
State geologist remarks, is most oppor
time. and valuable, and the alacrity viii
which capital is developing II, promise
to add immensely to the wealth Of tina
district and the State at large, .sbgrl
d. ssiti0o .-------a- 7+--.--- 4---++-'g Buo Ell
NEws.-The general current Of new
is in favor of the Union cause. Advance
are being made by the Federal forces'i'
Kentucky, MISSOURI, up the Tennesse
river, in Virginia, and in, all probabilit
in North Carolina, South Carolina, am
Louisiana. Immense results, either of D
favorable OF uufavorabIc, nature, must b
attained within the next fortnight at ID
farthest, and the country is on the ~
yirs Of expectancy Cor onewsofs thrilling
inports The Legislature Of this Stat
adjourned on Friday last, having efrecte,
the. passage Of . military bill, the pro
visions of which wu shall -endesvor y
give IN our next issue. % A direct tax o
$3.50, 900, 900 viii, without doubt, .
levied upon the people Of the Unite
"a. a. bv khas,~~o-oc> Cnr~~o.sfs.T III.