Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-02-19
The Salt Well.

among our citizens this week for sub
scriptions to the fund for sinking a well
TO test whether or not ChebOygan can
have the manufacture of salt added to
her other industries. The encouragement
he has received, from those he has visited,
leaves but little doubt that the amount
necessary to be rassed to definitely set
tie the question will be subscribed read
lily by our enterprising citizens. Already
there is something over $1,000 pledged
and but few of our leading citizens have
as yet put their names down, others have
promised to contribute, and all seem to
feel that this opportunity should not be
lost. There is considerable to be done
bsfOre the work can be commenced and
we trust our citizens will consider the
Importance Of the matter and have their
minds made up and be prepared to con-
tribute as literally as possible when
called upon by Mr.. COner. 1t has been
decided to get everything prepared SO
that the work of sinking the well will be
commenced Immediately upon the open
ing of navigation or as soon thereafter
as the necessary tools can be brought lii
by boat.
I'm connection with this matter the fol-
lowing paper prepared by VIM. l.. Web
ber and read at the meeting of the Mich
agan Pioneers meeting at Lansing,
which we find in the Lansing Republi-
can, cannot fail to be of interest:
The first report made by the state geOl0-
gist on the subject of brine springs Is
contained in house documents for 1888
DR.. HOughtOn commenced his report by
speaking of the Importance OF the springs
to the interests of the state. He alluded
to the fact that the Indians knew OF
their location, and mentions several OF
them, the one at the mouth of Salt river
being particularly noticed. In 1888 the
legislature directed the state geOlOgist
to commence boring for salt as soon as
practicable at one or more of the state
salt springs. Two points were selected
for test wells; one on Grand river about
three miles below Grand Rapids, and the
other on the Tittabawassee river at the
mouth of Salt river. In the report fol
1888 he stated the expenditures on thu
Grand river well at $1.798, and at Sal
river $2,119. That year the Legislature
appropriated an additional $4,000 to con
tinue the experiments. Further ap
prOpriatiOns were also made, so that in
1912 the total sum reached $4,000, o.
which S20,034 had been expended. Tn,
attempt to obtain water possessing ele
ments for making salt had thus fal
proved unsuccessful. The report of th'
state geOlOgiSt. dated Jan. %, 1S43, shows
considerable progress in the work OF
Grand river, but at the TittabawasSee NJ
further progress had been made, and M
disbursements beyond keeping tht
machinery in repair. The reason assign
ed for not going on with the work i'm
plies doubt concerning the title of the
state to the land where the salt well wa:
commenced.
This was the action of the state toward
the development of the salt springs in
the Saginaw valley prior to 1859. After
these efforts, the public faith was 81
slight in the correctness of DIR. HOugh
| lUIl JlldG Sldbc was CO1ttt1l
to let these salt interests remain unim
proved.
On January 26, 1859, meeting was
held in East Saginaw. DIR. George A.
LathrOp acted as chairman, and w. l.
Webber was secretary. DIR. HOughtOn's
views were discussed, and committee
consisting of Norman Little, Morgan L
Gage, DIR. George A. LathrOp, and W. l.
Webber was appointed. with instructions
to petition the Legislature for aid ant
protection in developing the salt inter
ests. The state treasury was nearly
bankrupt, and bounty of ten cents wa:
asked on each barrel of salt made
James Birney then represented the Sag
inaw district in the State Senate. The
Legislature seemed to regard the reques
as harmless one, and by way of ridicule
some member moved to make the bounty
ten cents on bushel, equivalent tt
fifty cents barrel, and the Legislator,
willing to carry out the joke passed tn.
bill in that form, and it was approved
Feb. 10, 1859. The act as passed also ex
empted from taxation all property uset
in the manufacture of salt.
The east Saginaw salt manufactur
ing company was then organized, will
a capital stock of $4,000. This com
pany, with many obstacles to overcome
solved the question of salt manufactur,
in 1850 and in that year turned out 10,
722 barrels. Other companies were sOOl
formed, and the salt manufacture be
came one of the great industries of Mich
igan. The East Saginaw company
which developed this mighty interest
received but $3,174 bounty from tn,
state, which was paid by cOmpulsOr,
writ from the supreme court. From
1860 to 1880 the total number of barrel
of salt manufactured in this state wa
18,S65,369 adding at least that many dol
lars to the wealth Of the state. Its man
ufacture within our borders also lower
ed the price of salt, which was a savin,
of at least S2,0O0,O00 to the people of tn
state