Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-02


TEr SAGINAW SAT- WoRKs-We take
the following with regard to the Saginaw
Salt Works from the Saginaw Weekly En-
tsrprise; et
"Ths earliest intimstiOns Of the existence
Of salt basin underlying the Saginaw Val
ley we're given By the lamented Dr.. Douglass
Houghton, the eminent State Geologist ap-
pointed soon after the organization Of the
/ State Government in 1887. DR.. Houghton
reported to the Legislature in 1888, as the
result Of his explorations up to that time,
tho discovery Of many indications of salt
springs on the Tittabawassee, gass and Flint
rivers, and in various other portions Of the
State. The Legislature Of 1888 passed an
act for the improvement Of the State salt
springs on lands donated by the General
Government to the State, and selected for
that purpose, and authorized Dr. HoughtOn
to make further examinations and institute
experiments to ascertain the value Of these
salt indications. He accordingly commenced
operations on Grand river and on the Tit
tabaWassee River, an important tributary Of
the Saginaw, just below the mouth Of Salt
river, and some twenty-five miles (direct)
from the Saginaw river. At this place a
we'll was bored to a sufficient depth to OBJ
tain a weak brine, but the work was sus-
pended in the general collapse Of State i'm
provements soon after. No further efforts
in the line Of salt discoveries were made for
some twenty years. In tho meantime, evil
dences Of the existence Of this salt basin
we're aecumulatiug in various ways. In the
progress Of improvements in digging wells in
various localities, veins Of water had been
struck strongly impregnated with saline
properties-One Of them at Birch Run, mid
way between East Sagina and Flint, and |
Eve or six miles from the liver; dug for the |
purpose of supplying saw mill with water
for making steam. Individuals, however,
resources Of this valley would yet be Of i'm |
pOrtanee, and looked forward in firm hopes 4
Of their development at some future time. |
Among them was Doctor George A. /
Lathrop, who, with a taste for GeoIOg- /
ieaI Investigations, had become fully con-
vineed Of the existence and richness Of the /
vet undeveloped salt basin beneath US, and i
his arguments and enthusiastic confidence |
tended greatly to inspire others with the /
same views. During the fall Of 1858, DR.. /
LathrOp visited the State we'll on the Titta
baEsssa, brought home a bottle Of the brine,
which was eVapOrated on a stove in Mr..
Motifs Office in this city, and few ounces Of
salt produced-the embodied prophecy Of
more extensive results. Public meetings Of /
citizens were held to take the initiatoTy steps
toward boring for salt as an experiment. The
same subject vas discussed through the col
umns Of the Saginaw Enterprise, the only
then published in the county
Petitions were presented TO the Legislature
for an act to encourage the manufacture Of
salt by Offering q State bounty; and ether
steps taken to initiate the work. During the
session Of 1853, the Legislature, in compi
anoe with the wishes Of the citizens Of this
region and the Grand river salt interest,
passed an act giving a State bounty Of ten
cents per bushei for all salt manufactured
within the State.
In April, 1859, the East Saginaw Salt Man
ufacturing Company was organized with
capital Of $4,000, under the general law Of
the State in regard to corporations. The
stock Of this company was taken entirely BY
citizens Of East Saginaw and parties inter
ested in real estate here. Operations were
about the first of May, 1859, and
the first WeIl was completed to a depth of $40
feet in ten months thereafter.
Thus, from the inexperienee Of the first
operators, and the various difficulties en-
the time occupied in boring the
first we'll was three times as long as now re-
quired. While the boring Of this well was in
progress-EhiIe the drill was penetrating the
the treasures beloW-the progress Of develop
nents was eagerly watched BY those engaged
IN the movement and others interested in the
result.
Immediately after tAe completion Of the
yell, small quantities Of salt we're produced
IN a temporary arrangement Of three or four
kettles but the ere tion Of pump
ing apparatus, vats for storing and settling
The brine, and blocks of kettles, took some
.hree months longer, and the manufacture Of
salt as a business was commenced in july
1850, when block OF 80 kettles was put in
operation under the supeTintendenee Of DR..
II. C. Potter, who had taken an active part
in the previous operations and experiments.
The East Saginaw Company have the most
works of any company or firm on
The river. Their first we'll has been contin-
ned to a depth Of 743 feet, and a new we'll
1ndsr the same roof has been bored to depth
" 500 feet-entirely through the salt bearing
rock. This well is also larger than the first
1ne, the tubing being 4 IL inches inside
the first one being but three inches,) and a
larger supply Of brine is OBJ
.ained. More recently the same company
have sunk another we'll about 100 rods further
North. They have now six blocks OF kettles
IN operation, and 500 solar vats."