Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-06-17

Extent and Depth Of the Great Salt
Basin OF Michigan-A VAST BED of
Pure and Solid Salt Rock Underly-
Ing the state.

lux INC Statc.
From Detroit Post and Tribune.
A few years ago Professor Winchell, Of
the State university, who was at the
same time state geOlOgist, made the
statement that under the center of lower
Michigan there was great salt basin,
or strata of salt rock. Since that time
1 have proven by actual and practical
work in drilling and boring the rock
that the renowned geolOgist was right
in his assertions.
have never seen anything printed
from Professor WinchelPs pen nor In
fact from any other geOl0gist, that has
placed or given the boundaries of this
salt basin. Therefore, having put down
many wells along the western part Of
Canada and in Michigan, have thought
1t would prove interesting to those of
your readers who are unacquaited with
the art of well-bOring, and acceptable to
those interested in geology, should L
write brief account of what l have
found in delving after salt and oil in the
rocks beneath.
As my purpose in writing this commu-
nicatiOn is mainly to show the results
of my labOrs in relation to the limits of
the great salt basin under the center of
the lower peninsula of this state, will
briefly give the depths and kinds of rock
passed through in reaching the salt and
iron rock in Canada and Michigan.
At IverhurOn, Canada, IL miles north
from Kinkarden, and on the lake Huron
shore, the distance to the salt rock is
700 feet. Here the salt rock is found on
ly five feet thick, and there is no doubt
but what this is the north limit to the
great strata of salt rock as is evinced by
the way it crops out so near the surface,
and also by the way it thins up at this
point.
Now notice how at Kinkarden IL miles
south down the shore from IverhurOn,
the depth to salt rock increases, and the
rock becomes considerably thicker. At
this point the distance to salt rock is 900
feet, and the rock is found II feet thick.
One we'll at this place, the Wrightmyer,
produces 700 barrels of salt per day. In
this production there is used 27 cords of
wood at $4 per cord. Seven men "put"
the salt ready for barreling and q cents
is paid for filling the barrel. The cost
of salt barrels is 10 cents apiece. Now
this salt is all shipped to the United
States at good profit. No other bust
ness is carried on in connection with
this salt block, as is done at Saginaw.
the owners making the production of
salt their sole business. The way the
we'll is pumped directly from the salt
rock proves that the rock water is
stronger than the brine wells at 'Sagi-
nav and other places in Michigan. The
way the basin is made is as follows:
When the salt rock is reached large
basin capable of holding a days pump
ing is made by letting water in on the
rock every day, thus making the strong
wholly free from the mineral deposits
wells and salt springs throughout the
country.
At Goderich, 30 miles on the shore
south from Kinkardin, the depth to salt
rock is about LILO feet. A change in
the situation of the strata is noticeable
at this point for here we find the salt
rock split by strata of limestone about
20 feet thick. The distances down at
Goderich are as follows: LILO feet to
salt rock, or the lower strata. First
about / 1920 feet to strata of salt rock
30 feet thick, then 20 feet of limestone,
under which is found 40 feet of solid
salt rock. At this place the same pro-
cess is gone through in pumping and
making as at Kinkarden and at the
same cost.
The town of Warrick is situated about
80 miles south and little east of GOder-
ich. Here the salt rock has been struck
at depth of 1 200 feet, and the strata of
salt was found 100 feet thick. The man
ufacturing of salt here is carried on
with flattering success.
The popularity of the different stratas
of rock passed through in getting to the
salt basin is almost Identical from In
verhurOn to Warrick: viz. first limestone
then white flint rock, and then blue
shale, which is found very hard and fill
ed with gypsum; after this is salt rock.
Under the salt rock there is found al
most invariably soft rock that is full
of sulpher beds, and this rock smells so
disgustingly bad that 1t would, to use
vulgar expression, stink setting hen
off her nest.
At Petrolia, 12 miles south of Warrick,
are situated the great oil fields Of Cana
da. Here the formation of the rock
changes and we strike stratas in the
following order: First is met limestone
which generally averages 40 feet thick;
then about 120 feet of soapstOne; then
about 30 feet of limestOne; then soap
stone again so feet; then about 60 feet
of very hard or close limestone and then
a soft and porous lime rock in which is
found the greatest amount Of Oil, al
though traces are noticed from the bed
rock down.
Mr.. Englehart, wealthy gentleman
from New York city, who is largely in
terested in the oil business at PetrOlia,
put down an experimental well, and by
the way would say that all good miner
al salt and oil wells are struck by test
or experimental wells, and he was re-
warded for his enterprise by striking. the
salt rock at danth of 260 feet. and ON