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

534

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

in 1870. The machinery is valued at $15,000; the building at
$5,000. The estimated season's cut for 1880 was, 6,737,000 feet of
lumber, giving employment to 37 hands. In 1870 the capital invested amounted to $50,000, the lumber cut to 6,775,500 feet, laths
manufactured 1,445,000, men employed 37. All the lumber is
dressed before being shipped. Robert Staples is in charge of the
mill.
The Planing Mill gives employment to 45 men, and produces
10,000,000 feet of dressed lumber annually. The building is 140x
100 feet; machinery is valued at $10,000, moved by Wickes Bros.'
120-horse-power engine. The six dry kilns in connection with
this department have a capacity of 150,000 feet. Wm. J. Bartow
is general superintendent of the entire concern.
John G. Owen's Saw, Planing and Shingle.lills were constructed in 1870, at a cost of $70,000, with machinery valued at $30,000.
The main building is three-stories high, 40x125 feet. The planing
mill is a two-story building, 60x80. There are three salt wells, of
an average depth of 750 feet, with a two-story building 125x125
feet, and warehouse 20x100 feet. The season's cut for 1880 was
14,040,000 feet, with 500,000 laths, and 327,750 shingles. The
product of the salt wells is about 175 barrels per day, or 15,560
barrels of manufactured salt for the season of 1880. This busy
center of manufacturing industry gives employment to 130 men.
The former partner of Mr. Owen, Mr. Bremer. who was interested
with him in the old McLean mill until 1876, lost heavily in the
fire of Dec. 4, 1878. Although the old mill stood directly opposite
the present Owen property, the fire did not reach it, and thus one
of the great industries of the city was preserved.
Hamilton, McClure & Co.'s S. and L. Works.-This firm of
manufacturers is the successor to W. R. Burt & Co., lumber, salt
and shingle manufacturers. It is composed of J. A. Hamilton,
Jethro Mitchell and Wm. McClure. W. R. Burt & Co. operated
these works. In 1866 they built a saw-mill, erected a salt block,
which continued in use until destroyed by fire, in 1878. Subsequently
this firm constructed what was known as the New York salt works,
doubled the production of the mill and salt block, and otherwise
improved the property. The lumber mill has a capacity of 20,000,000 feet per season.
The Salt Works were improved by McClure & Co. A steam
salt block was erected, with a capacity of 275 barrels per day, together with solar works of a capacity of 30,000 barrels per annum.
These solar works are the largest in the United States, outside of
Syracuse. The mill and salt works stand on a farm of 300 acres,
and give employment to 175 men, many of them skilled mechanics.
The company have ten salt wells, which are in operation day and
night. This association of enterprising men is among the first in
the Valley. The products of their works are well known in the
markets of the States, and their reputation well sustained.