1859..

No. 27.

[ No. 27. ]

REPORT of the Select Committee relative to the manufacture of Salt.

Your select committee to whom was referred sundry petitions praying your honorable body to take into consid. eration the propriety of passing some "act or acts" relative to the opening of the salt springs of the State and the manufacturing of salt, respectfully report they have had the subject under consideration, and owing to the press of other business have not had time to give it that at tention which its importance demands-your committee are fully convinced that the State of Michigan, can and ought to export rather than import salt. She has within herself all the requisite elements, and we are of the opinion that no single enterprise could be promulgatted within the State that would conduce more to en rich her and her people, than the speedy development of the saline waters which underlie the Southern Peninsula. We venture to say that salt can be as successfully made in this State as any State of the Union, and we

see no reason why our State cannot supply the whole west with that indispensable article.

In the year 1842 the manufacturing of salt was commenced at Grand Rapids, by the Hon. Lucius Lyon. The work was prosecuted by him and his successors until the year 1847, making from one well 80 to 130 bushels per day. The well was 461 feet deep, but no saline water was found below the depth of 320 feet. The salt rock was struck at a depth of 250 feet.

In taking up the tubes to make some repairs after having been in use five years, the well caved in-so they were unable to replace the tubes-thus ended salt making at Grand Rapids.

Doctor Houghton estimated that it would require but sixty-five gallons of the water to make a bushel of salt, but as the well passed through a cavity in the rock, and as the conducting tube was defective, the brine was much diluted by an infusion of fresh water, and it required 280 gallons to produce a bushel of salt. In consideration of what has been done on a limited scale, with limited experience, your committee cannot but conclude that if the business should be prosecuted on a scale co-extensive with its importance, that a quantity sufficient to supply the demand of our own State could be made, and a large surplus for exportation; thereby bringing into the State a large amount of wealth. In addition to the inexhaustible supply of saline water in the Grand River Valley, we are advised that large deposits are to be found in the valley of the Saginaw river, and in other portions of the State.

own resources.

Your committee would recommend a liberal policy on the part of the State, looking to the development of her To that end we would commend to your consideration two bills which are now before the Senate, a copy of which is on the tables of members of this House. All of which is respectfully submitted for your consideration.

GEO. W. ALLEN, Chairman.