163 REPORT OF THE 



a brine of considerably greater strength. In February of this 

 year, I found it standing 5° Beaunie, (20° Salometer,) at the 

 temperature of 50° Fall. 



In the meantime, borings had been undertaken by the Grand 

 River Salt Co , (Powers, Martin and Leonard,) and by Mr. R. 

 E. Butterworth. The former, on the west side of the river, 

 nearly opposite Scribnei's, at the depth of ]40 feet, found them- 

 selves in possession of brine whieh stood at 100 •* of the Salom- 

 eter. This, however, did not rise to the Surface, and the supply 

 was found to be limited. According to information received 

 from Mr. Martin Metcalf, the phenomena presented by this well 

 are as follows: 



"When we first put in the pump, onty about two quarts per 

 minute were furnished, ranging 80° to 100°. Now, we can 

 pump one gallon in 16 second*, for 2| minutes, before we feel a 

 tendency to vacuum; after which, we get 1 40 100 gallons per 

 minute. Now, if we let the well rest five minutes, we can 

 again pump one gallon eveivy 16 seconds, for 2| minutes, as 

 before, when we find a vacuum creating; and afterwards, if the 

 pumping is continued, we can obtain for half an hour, at least, 

 1 40 100 gallons per minute. I am told that 1 J gallons per 

 minute have been obtained for several hours together — in fact 

 as long as they have continued pumping — salometer ranging 

 from 80° to 86*"."* These phenomena are probably attributable, 

 as Mr. Metcalf suggests, to the existence of a cavity holding 

 about 11^ gallons. 



Mr. Butterworth's well attained a deptli of about 500 feet. 

 The h\;w of water from the surface whs immense, being not less 

 than 300 gallons per minute. By means of an ingenious ar- 

 rangement for stopping off the fresh water, Messrs. Metcalf and 

 Butterworth found the brine, at 325 feet, to possess a strength 

 •of 22°; aid they succeeded in obtaining a constant flow from 

 the top, of one gallon per niinuie. of the strength of 20°, which 

 would require about 131 gallons for a bushel of solid ingredients. 



During the past se ison, two other wells havt* been bored. 



* Letter dated March 15th, 1360 



