SALT ENTERPEISE IN MICHIGAN. 263 



In November, 1859, I paid Saginaw and vicinity a geo- 

 logical visit. The East Saginaw well was then (Novem- 

 ber 10) down 445 feet, and Dr. Lathrop submitted to my 

 examination a complete series of rock samples brought up. 

 Comparing these with the rocks already studied at their 

 outcrops on three sides of the peninsula, I perceived that 

 a very satisfactory correspondence existed, and announced 

 that the bottom of the Marshall Sandstones, the reservoir 

 of the brine, would be reached at about 800 feet, and 

 that there would be no need of continuing to a greater 

 depth, unless it were decided to penetrate to the Onondaga 

 salt formation. 



In February, 1860, I made further examinations of the 

 geological situation at Grand Rapids. These fully con- 

 firmed former conclusions. There was furnished at this 

 time, by A. 0. Currier, a detailed list of borings bixraght 

 up from the Grand River Salt Company's well, then (Feb- 

 ruary 11) 156 feet deep. Mr. R. E. Butterworth's well 

 was 146 feet down, and he supplied me with a register 

 of rocks pierced, subsequent information being added by 

 Mr. Martin Metcalf, to the depth of 490 feet. I gave a 

 public address in Lyceum Hall, on " Salt and its Geological 

 Relations," in which I set forth my conception of the 

 geological situation in Michigan. On returning home I 

 addressed a communication to the superintendent of the 

 Saginaw Salt Works, on " The Salt Borings of Saginaw," 

 with the view of making clear my views, as State Geolo- 

 gist, of the geological conditions and prospects under 

 which his enterprise was conducted. It was published in 



interested persuaded the legislature to make over the grant, when they bored 

 a hole and left it as a record of successful business management. The com- 

 pany never informed me of this procedure, nor did Governor Austin. 



