East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-04-07


!. water enough to supply three blocks
The wells at Syracuse are shallow com
> pared to those at Saginaw, the deepcs
/ ones being little over 800 feet.
4 "The tubing used at Syracuse is o
wood, s inches in diameter, and Fl on
the easy flow of the water a well vii
E supply four to five times as many blocks
, as at Saginaw. The discovery of brine
in these valleys may ultimately very
seriously affect the property of the State
SAGINAW SALT.
Here is that portion of the report de-
voted to the Saginaw salt interests;
The principal competition that the
manufacturers at our salines have en-.
countered in the Western markets, has
been from the foreign salt brought up
the Miss ssippi river, and that made in
the Kanawa Valley and Mason city,
Va, and Hooking Valley and at Pome.
roy, Ohio. Within two years, however,
large manufacture has sprung up in
tho Saginaw Valley, Michigan. The
SILT produced here must seek the same
markets hitherto supplied by the pro.
duction Of the Onondaga works
From representations made by the
salt manufacturers of this State, and
from facts drawn from other sources, in
regard to the threatened competition,
the committee thought it advisable to
visit the works in Saginaw Valley, which
they did last October For portion
OF the facts stated, the committee are
indebted TO an article in the September
number of the Merchants Magazine and
Commercial ReUieac, on the salt manu-
taoture of the Saginaw Valley, Mich
The article was communicated by Alex
amber Winchell State Geologist, Mich
igan. The Saginaw river is formed by
tho confluence of the Cass, Shlawassee
and Illla6awassee rivers. 1t flows
little east of north, aud empties into the
head of Saginaw bay. Its length is
about % miles. Saginaw bay indents
the southwest shore of Lake Huron
about 90 miles. The valley, therefore,
lies well toward the centre of the State. |
1t has long been the centre of vast
timber trade, amounting in some years |
to l25, 900 900 feet The valley con.
talns the elements of great wealth, and |
will dltimatel y become one of the rich
est portions of the State. 1t is estima.
ted that the Michigan salt group of
rocks underlies 1000 square miles,
Salt works are in operation almost the
entire length of the river, and new wells
are being bored Ia different directions
upon its branches. Enough has already
been done to snow that over a large por.
ton of this vast area well can be sunk
with fair prospect of finding good brine
The only question seems to be wheth
er to float the wood to the salt works
or erect the works where the wood is
The first blocks had been erected, and
boiling commenced in July, 1860. BE.
fore the close of the year 4 900 barrels
OF salt had been manufactured. A
bounty OF 10 cents per pushed and eS.
emption from taxation on capital invest.
ed IN salt manufacture had been granted
by the Legislature of 1859. This law
was modified in 1861, so as to apply
only to works commenced before the
first day of August, 1861; the bounty
was reduced TO ! 0 cents per barrel, pay.
able afterthe manufacture of 3 900 bush
,ls. The law also provided that no
company should receive more than
900. The exemption from taxation
vas restricted to five years.
In 1862, 10000 bushels were made.
Inc prospect of profitable investment
directed the attention of capitalists to
saginaw, until the capital invested in
aIt erectons does not fall far short of
} 100000 Mr.. Winchell reports the
lumber of salt blocks on the first of last
August at %. When the committee
we're there, on the first of October, 38
we're reported as being in operation
At the closing in of winter there were
lbont GO. with enough in progress. or
contracted for, 10 make the plumber
100 this spring. The production of
hese blocks shonld reach nearly or
quite 100000 of bushels the present
ear. The quantity of salt sent beyond 5
Detroit by the Onondaga Salt Company, {
Is shown 10y the testimony, was last ,
ear 2,401 ,9l4 bushels. A large guam c
ity of foreign salt, and undoubtedly
ONE more Onondaga salt found its way
vest. .
Assuming that Saginaw does not /,
ZONE up Ia this production, still with !
What there is now in the Western mar
'et, there will be enough to supply the
market on the upper lakes. From the :
'heapness of production, Saginaw salt !;
IAN he sold at profit, while the Onon. !;
laga salt must be sold az cost. The ,
blowing statement relative to the cost /.
# manufacturing salt at Saginaw. was :
,iyen to the committee by DR. III. g. ;
Potter, secretary and general agent of :
Cast Saginaw Salt Manufacturing Com !,
'any, to whom, with other gentlemen, !
he committee are indebted for much !,
'uluablo information: iI .
Estimated costuf.raising brine, inclu
ling cost of engine, pump house, aud ;
Ially expenses to cents; strength of :
'rne, 81 degrees by salometer; product !
# block, so bbls. per day; cost of wood, =
y 90 per cord, 81 cords used pei day; :
nen to attend block, two at Sl.75 each !,
nd one at 8 .25 cost of barrels, 81 to ;.
9 cents packing and nails, 81 cents :
'er barrel; which, with interest on CAPT E
Il inyo1t..I -. 4