H8 REPORT OF THE 



difficulty in the working of our brine, is an object which ought 

 not to be left to the chances of private enterprise. The policy 

 recognized, and the experience gained in all similar cases in 

 the history of the past, both advise the setting apart of a spe- 

 cial sum as a proffered reward for successful discovery in this 

 direction. Such reward should be open to universal competi- 

 tion. If success were not attained, no expense would accrue 

 to the State. If success were reached, millions of dollars would 

 be added in a day to the wealth of our people. 



I must be pardoned for making the following further sugges- 

 tion: 



If the State of Michigan contains a population of ^50,000, 

 the total annual consumption of salt, estimating at the rate of 

 45 lbs. per capita, is about 602,000 bushels, or 120,420 barrels. 

 During the past year the average price of salt delivered in De- 

 troit has been about $1 50 per barrel. At this rate the annual 

 contribution .of Michigan to the business of other States (ex- 

 cept the small amount paid for freight on salt carried in Michi- 

 gan vessels) is $180,630. Every political economist must re- 

 cognize the desirableness of retaining this expenditure within 

 our own State. The amount which the State could afford to 

 expend to effect this object would be the annual interest of the 

 money of which the State is thus deprived of the use. That 

 money is the whole amount of the profit to the manufacturer 

 and dealer until the commodity reaches our own borders. 



Having presented as extended a statement as seems imme- 

 diately necessary, of the local details connected with the salt 

 enterprise in our State, it may be useful, in view of the general 

 interest felt in this new branch of industry, to append some 

 general and comparative statements for the purposes of reference 

 and comparison. 



As the addition of common salt to pure water increases its 

 weight, bulk for bulk, it follows that the strength of any brine 

 may be known by comparing its weight with that of the same 

 bulk of pure water. This comparative weight is its specific 

 gravity. The most exact method *of ascertaining the specific 



