East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-03-18
From the Detroit Advertiser
THE SAGINAW VALLEY.
saIt---Its Manu- facture orr the Sag-
rs imaw River.

Oalt mas been known anu mas Deen III
common use as a scasoner aud preserveI
of food from the earliest days Of the
worlds history. 1t also furnishes muri.
attic acid and soda, and forms glaze foI
coarse pottery by being thrown into the
oven where it is baked it improves the
whiteness and clearness of glass; gives
hardness to soap; in melting metals, il
preserves their surface from calcinationt
by defending them from the air; and
enters more or less into many other pro-
cesses of the arts. In some situations OF
soil, it is believed to be advantageous ss
manure. Mixed with vinegar, forming
pickle, it is represented as being an an
tidote against the deleterous effects pro-
duced by drinking an overdose Of cham
payne. The "tasten of salt, according TO
grave authority before us, sis universally
known, and what is strictly denominated
sak," a circumstance which is proved to a
demonstration to those who are invited
to test the strength Of the article upon
visiting the various works at Saginaw
which they must do, of course, in every
instance, out Of courtesy to the polite
gentlemen who act as escorts on such
occasions. 1t must be INDUCED in with
great caution, however, by those not ac-
customed to its taste in concentrated
form, lest il impart dangerous malady,
not unfrequently occurring in that region,
which the doctors there might, perhaps,
denominate-saH on the brain.]
Salt is found in pure state, in immense
masses, in this and many other countries,
which requires only TO be dug out and
reduced to powder. In that state it is
called rock salt. The mines in Poland
are upon very large scale, and have
been wrought for 600 years. There are,
also, extensive mines in Cheshire, Eng
land, which have been worked nearly two
hundred years, and the quantity of salt
obtained from them is, probably, greater
than from any other salt mine in the
world. In warm climates, salt is obtained
from sea-water by solar evaporation, and
it is believed that the crystals are more
perfect and pure from the slow process.
Hence salt by this method is held in high
estimation.
The salt springs in the Uuited States
arc numerous, and nearly all the salt
manufactured is made by boiling, except
ing what is made in ssachusetts, Flor
ida, aud the solar works at Onondaga. -
The following table, carefully compiled
by merchant in New York city, who
has been extensively engaged in tho salt
trade, will show the estimated quantity
manufactured in the United States in
1860:
Bushels.
In the State Of Massachusetts, (mostly in
vats built along the sea shore. 80. $4,000
New York (0nondaga county,. ......... 5000, 900
Pennsylvania (Alleghany and Kirkimine-
tas river). ................... 900, 600
Virginia (kanawha aud Kings works).. 3,500000
Ohio (Muskingum, Hooking riyer) 100000
(Pomeroy and West Columbia) -. ], 600 900
Illinois. ............,...,....,. $4,000
Michigan ..................... 10000
Texas. ................... ............ 10000
Florida. ............ ..................,-.. 100000
1876, 900
The annual consumption of foreign
salt in the United States and Territories
is estimated at 136,000,000, aud about
60 pounds to every inhabitant is the esti-
mated total amount consumed. The
wells in the Virginia salt springs are
about 900sfeet deep; those at Pomeroy
and West Columbia are from 1000 to
1900 feet deep. The boiled salt weighs
about Sc lbs. to tho bushel, varying,
however, according to the position of the
kettles above and below. Solar salt
weighs about 70 pounds to the bushel
(measure.) The average estimate Of
boiled salt, per bushel, is 56 lbs, or
bushels per bbl. of $50 lbs. Before the
manufacture of salt was commenced in
this State, it was estimated that some
s450,000 worth was annually brought
from the New York salt works.
SALT IN MICHIGAN.
1t was known, from the earliest settle
ment of the country, that the Indians
formerly supplied themselves with salt
from springs existing on the Peninsula,
and numerous reservations Of land, sup.
posed to contain the springs, were made
by the General Government; and it is a
matter Of record, that many years before
Michigan was organized into State
Government, attempts were made by in.
dividuals to manufacture the article. By
the act Of admission of this State into the
Union, in 1887, it will be recolected, the
State authorities were permitted to select
seventy-two sections of salt spring lands
A State Geologist--the lamented DR.
Douglass Houghton--was appointed Al
the first meeting of the Legislature
thereafter--who, in his report to tho
Legislature in January, 1888, says he re
garded it important that the springs bs
selected for State purposes, at as early Q
day as possible, and most Of his examina
tions, the season previous, were devoted
to that end DIR. Houghton's explorations
resulted in finding many indications Of
saline springs, particularly on the Grand
and Tittabawasseo rivers, and he refers
to similar springs near the mouth of the
Flint and Oass rivers in Saginaw county
and also in Sanilac, st. Clair, Macomb
Wayne and Oakland counties. The
Legislature passed an act for the improve
ment of the State salt springs, in 1888
1