History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

412

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

favorably received. Shortly after its approval, Feb. 15, 1859, the
first association of salt manufacturers was formed, under the title,
" East Saginaw Salt Manufacturing Co.," with a capital of $50,000,
of 2,000 shares. The company opened their subscription book
March 30, 1859, and on April 1 the entire amount was subscribed.
The original stockholders were, Jesse Hoyt, 180 shares; Wm. L.
P. Little, W. L. Webber, Geo. A. Lathrop, James L. Ketcham,
D. G. Holland, John F. Driggs, A. English, M. B. Hess, W. J.
Barton, C. B. Mott, A. C. Potter, Wm. F. Glassby, C. B. Jones,
John Derby, 120 shares each; Wm. C. Yawkey, Geo. W. Merrill,
40 shares each; D. W. C. Gage andO. P. Burt, 20 shares each; C.
H. Gage and Perry Joslin, 10 shares each.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY.
The articles of association were signed April 16, 1859, and the
company was organized with Dr. Geo. A. Lathrop, Pres., W. L.
P. Little, Treas., and W. L. Webber, Sec. Charles B. Mott,
H. C. Potter, J. L. Ketcham, Moses B. Hess. Geo. W. Merrill
and W. F. Glassby, with these officers, formed the directory.
PREPARATORY LABORS.
This manufacturing company being organized with men and
money, the next object was a location. There were few if any obstacles here. Jesse Hoyt, the owner of the land in the best saline
district, made a conditional sale of 10 acres in the northern part of
East Saginaw, the proviso being that if the springs were not
found, the sale would be annulled. Geo. W. Merrill and S. R.
Kirby were asked to proceed to New York State with a view to inquire into the working and machinery of the salt factories there.
This mission was well performed, and within the year the beginning of that which has since continued to diffuse wealth throughout the district, and add importance to the State, was made.
THE FIRST SALT WELL.
The sinking of the first salt well was entered upon in 1859, and
in that year the boring reached the saturated sandstone at a depth
of 633 feet, which was penetrated 14 feet, and the well rendered a
total depth of 647. Dr. Lathrop in his journal of this transaction,
gives the following statement of formation, with degrees of saltness as gleaned from the result of a 3| —inch boring: