Year: 1865

the absence from Lansing of th'


Chairman Of the Committee, w. II


Taylor, Esq, that portion under tn,
head Of " Historical and Geological


by some mischance got badly mixed


in the hands of the printers BY re.


quest we publish, from revised copy


for the benefit Of cur readers, SO much


as comes under the head noted:


HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL.


The first satisfactory evidence OF
the existence of saline waters within
the limits of onr State, of a strength
sufficient to render their manufacture
profitable, was furnished by DIR.
Houghton previous to 1910, while
prosecuting the geological survey of
the Sthate which was undertaken at
that early period, and which has added
so largely in unfolding and developing
the natural sources of our wealth.


Although public attention was at
that time directed to our salt springs
and practical Investigations relating
to their development were for time
vigorously prosecuted, these expert
ments failed of complete success, and
the subsequent death of DR.. Hough-
ton depriving the State of one on
whom it had relied to give intelligent
direction to these enterprises, diseour-
aged in measure their further prose-
cution.


Guided, however, by the information
thus furnished, other Investigators
took up the matter, and on thorough
examination of the subject, became
SO fully. satisfied Of the existence of
rich saline waters in cur State, that
they at once determined to extend
their experimental researches still
further, and soon demonstrated in the
most satisfactory manner, the entire
correctness of the theory advanced.


Saginaw Valley has the honor Of
having practically proved tho wisdom
Of our first State Geologist, in regard
to the saline resources Of the State,
and demonstrated, in few short years,
to an extent hardly to be credited,
their unlimited supply, as well as their
exceedingly profitable and beneficial
nature.


A more recent exploration of the
rocks of the Lower Peninsula, giving
minute and correct information in ref
orence to their relative position, was
made during the progress of the last
partial geographical survey, under the
direction of Prof. A. Winchell, OF the
State University, and has thrown much
light on the source of these brines,
and has assisted largely also in giving
Intelligent direction TO tho expenditure
of capital. But whilo we regret that
the State should, from what we regard
as mistaken motives Of economy, have
concluded to suspend the geological
survey, We cannot do otherwise than
express our qualification at the wis
dom exhibited by previous Legislators
in instituting these examinations, and
adopting course 80 full of sound
policy, and which hus returned TO the
State treasury many times the amount
expended in these partial surveys
and we venture to express the hope
that these Investigations, as yet only
partially complete, will again be taken
up, and the riches which lie hidden
within our borders, be thus still fur
ther unfolded.


The Michigan Salt Group-so call
cd by Professor Wincholl-(soe report
of last geological survey by Prof. A.
Winchell,) and the contiguous sand
stones above and below, particularly
the Napoleon sandstone, have thus far
proved to be the principal sources or
depositaries of the brines discovered.
These have proved extremely rich,
even more so than the most sanguine
anticipated. The entire extent of
country over which they may be found
sufficiently productive to repay the
cost of manufacture, is in measure
undetermined, and it is to be regretted
that we have not availed ourselves Of
the provision made by the State Leg
islature two years since, to determine
this fact by collecting the records of
the different borings throughout the
State. 1t is to be hoped this informa-
ton may yet be collected.


Encouraged by the information
furnished by the geological surveys,
borings in several localities have been
extended TO another group of rocks,
much older and lower than the prece-
ding, viz: the Onondaga Salt Group
the representative in this State of
the group so called in the State of New
York--and therefore their productive
ness is not yet perhaps satisfactorily
established, sufficient encouragement
has been received to afford reasonable
hopes that these rocks may yet yield
a supply of salt water sufficient to
render them a source of profit, thus
adding immensely to the saline wealth
Of the State.


In regard to those portions of the
State which shall prove productive in
rich brines from the Michigan salt
group, much remains for future sx-
plorers to develop. This much, how
ever, may be expected, and will
doubtless prove correct, that those
portions of this group of rock which
show tho greatest depression below
the level. Of the lakes, will be found
to possess saline waters Of the great
est density and strength, the natural
tendency of the heaviest brines being
to- gravitate towards the lowest por-
tions of the basin. So far as actual
experiments have thrown any light on
the subject they have furnished
grounds for tho belief that the region
along and in the vicinity ofythe Sagi-
nav Valley, is oyer the points where
thelgreAtest depression exists in these
rocks, q depth being attained in some
places Of nearly or quite ono thousand