USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II > Part 50
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SECTION OF SETTLING TANKS, SALT WORKS OF SAGINAW PLATE GLASS COMPANY
442
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
The grainers, ten in number, are the principal feature of the whole works, and were the first ever constructed of solid concrete. By this departure front the old method of using wooden planks, calked, the builders achieved a remarkable advance in salt-making. The grainers are long shallow tanks of concrete, each one hundred and fifty feet long, twelve feet wide, and twenty inches deep. The sides and bottom vary in thickness from six to ten inches. and rest upon a firm earth foundation, and so constructed with steel rein- forcement that no damage occurs by reason of the constant expansion and contraction going on through the changing temperature of the mass. Through the entire length of each grainer are ten four-inch steam pipes, running close together through truss bars suspended about eight inches fom the floor of the grainer, by means of wire cables secured to heavy beams above.
The Utilization of Exhaust Steam
All the engines of the large plate glass works exhaust into an elevated inain, twenty-two inches in diameter, connecting the works with the salt blocks. This main is protected with asbestos covering and the steam is conserved for all the requirements of the salt-making processes. When the engines are not running live steam direct from the boilers is turned into the exhaust main, which is not an unduly expensive procedure since the boilers are fired with cheap slack coal from the coal mines of this valley. The main steam pipe enters the block at the rear end, and extends across the ends of the grainers at right angles to them. At intervals of fifteen feet along the main feed pipes branch off to the right and connect with the ten steam pipes in the grainers. This is done in such a way that there is equal distribution of steam to all, so that all the grainers may be operated at the same time.
When the brine in the pre-heaters has reached the requisite temperature. it is allowed to flow into a grainer, nearly filling it. Exhaust steam is then turned on, and passing through the steam pipes in the grainer, continues the heating of the brine to the boiling point, when crystalization begins. This is a most interesting chemical action. Upon the steaming-hot surface of the brine a pellicle of salt forms; it soon breaks and sinks down to be followed by another, and the crystalization proceeds rapildy throughout the grainer. It is the extreme rapidity of the process in the concrete grainers that astonishes the old saltmakers, who declare they have never seen anything like it before.
"The secret is this." explained one of them: "the concrete becomes so extremely hot from the maintained temperature of the brine, that it acts as an oven and actually makes salt on its sides. Even after the steam is turned off the grainer gues on making salt for an hour or two. We have had to put on scrapers to remove the salt from the sides of the grainers; and is a device which saves the wages of three or four men."
The Wilcox Automatic Rakes
The salt accumulates rapidly on the floor of the grainer, and to remove it there were installed the Wilcox automatic rakes, which operate beneath the steam pipes. These are long rigid frames of steel, running the entire length of the grainer, of angle-iron construction, which slide backward and for- ward along a steel track which is bolted to the concrete walls about six inches from the bottom.
At intervals of eight feet. beginning at the extreme back end of the grainer, are hung crosswise rakes of galvanized bar iron, about six inches wide, hinged to turn upward and forward. This steel frame with the rakes
ONE OF THE TEN CONCRETE "GRAINERS." WORKS OF SAGINAW PLATE GLASS COMPANY
AUTOMATIC RAKES DUMPING SALT FROM GRAINERS ONTO CONVEYORS SAGINAW PLATE GLASS COMPANY
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
HILLS OF SALT IN HUGE WAREHOUSE, DRYING OUT FOR PACKING IN BARRELS, SAGINAW PLATE GLASS COMPANY
is attached at the front end to a hydraulic cylinder, of nine feet stroke, so that with each forward movement of the piston rod the salt is gathered by the rakes and moved along the floor of the grainer nine feet toward the front end. The return stroke places the rake next in front one foot behind the little pile of salt, twelve feet long or the width of the grainer, the hinged rake slipping over, and the operation is repeated again and again. This goes on through the whole length of the grainer, a complete stroke requiring three minutes. The last rake of the series at the front end brings up the accumulated salt on an inclined table which drains off the brine and then dumps it over the edge into a wooden conveyor below.
As the salt drops into the conveyors, which are twelve inches wide and twenty inches deep, automatic rakes carry it along to a series of hoppers, set in the bottom of the conveyor, at intervals of twenty-five feet. Beneath the hoppers are fast-running rubber belts, fifteen inches wide, which catch up every particle of the salt and carry it into the storage building adjoining. The salt, as it leaves the belt is caught up by vertical conveyors, lifted to the roof and deposited on other conveyors which carry it to any part of the big build- ings desired, where it slips off, forming huge piles. The power to drive these conveyors is furnished by a number of electric motors placed at convenient places for the transmission.
When the salt has been inspected it is branded with the company's trade brands, and is then ready for shipment. If loaded in bulk in cars, the operation is simply to run a pair of bucket conveyors into the car and in a short time thirty tons or more of the glistening white crystals are transferred from the hillsides of salt. The usual practice, however. is to ship in barrels, even though the package costs more than the salt it contains.
Working Up the By-Products
A further economic advantage to the Plate Glass Company in the manu- facture of salt, lies in the fact that two of the constituents of plate glass- saltcake and soda ash-are by-products of saline brines. As the brine lies
445
THE SALT INDUSTRY
in inexhaustible supply deep down in the earth's crust and under the immense plant, it is, of course, simply a matter of good business to bring the brine to the surface and work it up into the various products, some of which are essential to their other processes. The waste bittern, which remains after the salt has been taken from the brine, is here treated by chemical processes and converted into a dry solid-calcium chloride, which resembles salt.
This chemical is used for a number of other purposes, and is in demand principally for refrigerating, cold storage, cooling, the making of artificial ice, and to take the moisture ont of blast-furnace gases. It is also used on roads to settle dust, as it is cleaner and better than crude oil. About thirty tons of the substance are made per day in the chemical plant, adjoining the salt blocks, which is thoroughly equipped for the purpose. In each depart- ment of the great industry nothing is wasted.
Within the last two or three years the chemical business in Saginaw has been augmented by a similar plant for the reduction of salt brine bittern, by S. L. Eastman Flooring Company, at their salt works adjoining the maple- flooring mill in Carrollton, about two miles below the city.
Salt Production
The production and value in Michigan for 1914, according to the last report issued, were greater than for any previous year, the total amount of brine and rock salt being eleven million six hundred seventy thousand nine hundred and seventy-six barrels, valued at three million two hundred ninety- nine thousand and five dollars. The average price per barrel was twenty- eight cents three mills, the highest since 1901 except in 1904 when it was thirty cents nine mills. From 1905 the average price per barrel has risen from nineteen cents six mills to the present figure.
The following table shows the production and value of salt in this State during the last decade :
Barrels
1906
9.936,802
$2,018,760
1911
Barrels 10,320,074
$2,633,155
1907 10,786,630
2.062.357
1912
10,946,739
2.974.429
1908 10,194,270
2,458,303
1913
11,528.800
3,293,032
1909
9,966,744
2,732,558
1914
11,670,976
3,299,005
1910
9.452,022
2,231,262
Since the decline of the lumber industry in Saginaw Valley the manu- facture of salt here has fallen off to a little more than three per cent. of the total output of the State ; and in 1913 and 1914 was as follows:
1913 Barrels 05.478
1914 Barrels
Common fine
$49.991
30,795
$15,065
Coarse .
266,579
105.053
367,272
176,003
362,057
$155,044 398,067
$191.068
In 1914 the production of Saginaw County was only three and four-tenths per cent of the State production, but in value it was five and seventy-nine hundredths per cent of the total amount received by the manufacturers. The largest proportion of salt output of the State is now derived from the immense salt works on the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers and at Manistee and Ludington, although Bay County still contributes a considerable quantity.
14
5.
C
WASHINGTON STREET NORTH FROM JANES, 1888
CASS (BAUM) STREET SOUTH FROM TUSCOLA, 1888
CHAPTER XVIII THE COAL INDUSTRY
Primitive Coal Mining - Discoveries in Saginaw County - Early Mining at Sebe- waing - First Mines in Saginaw - Expansion of the Industry - Arthur Barnard Be- gins Mining Coal - Labor Difficulties - Some Miners Become Operators - The Oper- ators Take a Hand - Caledonia Wins Out -The Operators Regain Advantage - Characteristics of Saginaw Coal - Development of Mines - Costs of Mining - Value of Coal Lands - Methods of Mining - Introduction of Mining Machines - Coal Pro- duction - The Output of Saginaw County - Consolidation of Coal Interests.
T HE existence of coal beds in Michigan has been known for many years, almost since the early settlement of the State, but for economic reasons they were not developed until comparatively recent years. Fuel for the pioneers lay at their very doors, the wood from the forests which were leveled to make ready for agriculture, supplying all their simple needs. Timber was a waste product of advancing civilization and had to be burned to get it out of the way. As years passed and cities and towns took the place of primitive settlements, quantities of hardwoods, and the refuse of the saw mills which sprang up on every stream, were made to furnish heat for the inhabitants. Not until the timber supplies of the State began to fail, and other sources of fuel were sought, did enterprising men turn to deposits of coal in the earth.
In 1856 the first coal mines in the State were opened a few miles west of Jackson, and five years later mines in the city were first worked by William Walker. The operations were conducted on a small scale, and in 1877 only four mines were worked, giving employment to about two hundred men and producing sixty-eight thousand tons of bituminous coal in a year. Later coal beds at Corunna were developed on a commercial scale, but the product was of poor quality, containing a high percentage of sulphur and ash, although running well to fixed carbon and volatile matter. There was yet but small demand for such fuel and slight incentive for capital to develop new coal fields.
Discoveries of Coal in Saginaw County
The first discovery of coal veins underlying the Saginaw Valley was made in 1859, in drilling the first salt well of the East Saginaw Salt Manu- facturing Company. This well, it will be remembered, was on the east side of the river, just below the present site of Carlisle's tannery. From the diagram of the upper portion of this well, which was made at the time it was put down, it is seen that the drills passed through two coal bearing strata, one twenty-three feet in thickness, at a depth of two hundred and eleven feet from the surface, and the other ten feet in thickness, at a depth of two hundred and forty-six feet. Nothing whatever was done to examine these coal strata or to determine their extent, which is an illustration of the fact that the people had not yet begun to comprehend the great natural wealth and resources of this valley. A wealth of forest in all directions awaited their enterprise and energy to create fortunes therefrom, and lumbering was the one great industry. In drilling into the earth salt brine was what they were seeking, and the discovery and development of it occupied their whole attention. Very many salt wells afterwards drilled passed through various coal strata, but no efforts were made at the time to arouse any public interest in mining it.
448
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
In 1875 a vein of coal was discovered on the Shattuck farm, five miles west of the city, and created some interest among our enterprising citizens. In a report of the discovery made public at the time, it was stated that: "Two holes, one-fourth mile apart, were sunk to the depth of one hundred and sixty-four feet, resulting in finding a superior article of bituminous coal. During the past summer another hole was bored nearly a fourth mile distant from the others, and the following is the log of the borers: 'sand, sixteen feet ; sandstone and slate, twenty-three feet ; coal, four and a half feet : sandstone, slate and shale, twenty-four feet, and coal, seven feet, a total of one hundred sixty-one and a half feet.'
"The following analysis was reported by the chemist to whom the coal borings were submitted: 'Carbon, seventy-three and three tenths per cent ; ash, five and seven tenths per cent ; sulphur, sixty-eight hundredths of one per cent.'
"The almost entire absence of sulphur and the large preponderance of carbon render this, it is claimed by those who claim to be posted, fully equal to the product of the celebrated Blossburg and Cumberland mines.'
The report concludes with an account of the drilling at a point south- west of the holes mentioned, on the farm of William Badger on the banks of the Tittabawassee, in which a bed of coal seven feet in thickness was struck at a depth of one hundred and fifty-eight feet from the surface. As in previous discoveries of coal nothing was done to open up mines and as late as 1892, when coal was found at numerous places, south and southwest of Saginaw, from forty to fifty feet below the surface, with good roof, and in beds from five to seven feet in thickness, and of excellent quality, capital was still reluctant to develop the new fields. At that time it was believed that the whole Saginaw Valley was underlaid with rich deposits of coal, and it was confidently predicted by some enthusiasts that coal "would furnish an unlimited supply of fuel for the great manufacturing industries to be developed."
Early Mining at Sebewaing
Ever alive to the commercial interests of the valley, William L. Webber was the first to practically develop coal mining in this section. lle made it the hope of the commercial and industrial development of Saginaw by opening a mine at Sebewaing, in Huron County, on the line of the Saginaw, Tuscola & Huron Railroad, of which he was president. In 1889 John Russell, a well borer, reported to Mr. Webber that he had drilled through a vein of coal about four feet thick, and submitted specimen of coal in fine particles, which was taken from this drill hole. Mr. Webber tested the specimen and finding good coal directed several test holes to be made at his expense. These holes revealed the presence of a bed of considerable extent. and he directed that a shaft be put down in order to take out enough coal to test its quality with other coal then sold in this market. The comparison proving satisfactory, a coal company was formed, of which Mr. Webber was the principal stockholder, and he was elected its president.
Mining at Sebewaing by the Saginaw Bay Coal Company was actually commenced in the latter part of 1890, and soon reached a commercial scale, the product finding a market at Saginaw and other cities of the valley. The coal vein was about one hundred feet below the surface, and averaged four and one-half feet in thickness. The quality of the coal, however, was not what had been confidently expected; it contained a large percentage of sulphur, and in burning had a tendency to cake or run together and form a mass on the grates. For this reason it was found to be unsuited for steam- making purposes, and was little used by manufacturing concerns. The coal
449
THE COAL INDUSTRY
was thoroughly tried out in engines of the Saginaw. Tuscola & Huron Rail- road, with only partial success; and later was tested by the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, but after several months of experiment it was abandoned as unfit for use in locomotives. This decision closed a wide market for Sebewaing coal, and thereafter it was in less demand.
Meanwhile much trouble had been experienced in the mining operations by "flooding." and the scarcity of labor, and because of these and other adverse circumstances the Sebewaing mine was closed down in 1894. During 1892 there were mined and shipped from Sebewaing by this and another inine operated by Bay City capitalists, eight hundred and six cars of coal, being an average of sixty-seven cars a month. The amount of coal raised and shipped during the four years of its operation was about sixty-six thousand tons, but the sales did not compensate Mr. Webber and his associ- ates in the mining project for the time and money expended in this experi- mental stage. The discovery then made and pushed forward proved an incentive for others to follow, and to Mr. Webber, perhaps more than to any other pioneer mine owner, is credit due for having inaugurated a great industry, with numerous mines scattered through the valley, from which thousands of tons of bituminous coal are being hoisted daily.
Some years later the old Sebewaing mine was reopened by Thomas P. Whittier and others for the purpose of recovery of pyrites, a mineral which was abundantly associated with the slate. Mining operations were carried on for some time, but without very marked success, the production of coal being a secondary consideration. Pyrites is commonly of a bright brass- yellow color, and is often found crystallized in cubes. It is very widely diffused, frequently being found in coal fields, the action of water and air changing into sulphate of iron, during which so much heat is devolved as to render some mines unworkable. The mineral is used for the manufacture of sulphuric acid and alum, and sulphur is obtained from it by sublimation.
First Mines in Saginaw County
Coal was first mined in Saginaw County early in the eighteen-nineties by local capitalists, who sunk a shaft at Verne, in Taymouth Township, about twelve miles south of the city. This was the original proved coal vein in the valley, and mining operations were conducted on a small scale there for several years. At first the coal met with a ready sale among the farmers and the villages within easy wagon haul of the mine, but gradually it found a market at Saginaw. The quality, however, was inferior to the Ohio and West Virginia coals then used in this city for steam and domestic purposes, and the production being limited it was never favorably known here. Later its production was used exclusively near the mine, when it could not be worked profitably and was abandoned.
The first production of coal on a commercial scale in this county was at the old Saginaw mine, located on the Genesee plank road, in May, 1896. The company which controlled this property was promoted by William T. Chappell, to whom is due the honor of having successfully inaugurated the coal industry in this city. This mine tapped the richest vein of coal on the cast side of the river, and was operated at a good profit through miles of passages until very recent years. When the long distances the coal had to be hauled to the shaft rendered further operations unprofitable, the mine machinery was removed and it was closed. No other mine in this district has had so long a life, or produced so great a quantity of good coal.
Expansion of the Industry
Encouraged by the success of this venture in coal mining, capital was at last released for investment in the infant industry; and such astute
--
THE FIRST COAL MINE IN SAGINAW COUNTY The Old "Saginaw" Mine Opened Up in 1896, by W. T. Chappell
451
THE COAL INDUSTRY
business men as Harry T. and William J. Wickes organized a company, with Robert M. Randall as general manager, to prospect for and mine coal. As a result the Pere Marquette Coal Company sunk a shaft on the John P. Allison farm, near the Saginaw mine ; and it was named Pere Marquette No. 1. Soon after a second shaft was sunk on the West Side, just beyond the city limits between Gratiot and Brockway Streets. This mine was known as Pere Marquette No. 2, and soon mining was commenced on a large scale.
About 1899 the Standard mine, located a short distance south and west of the original mine, was completed and put in operation by other parties ; and the coal business of the valley was fairly launched. The product found a good market close at home, and at a good profit in active competition with Ohio and West Virginia coals, which had to bear a freight charge from three to eight times more than that of the local coal.
Arthur Barnard Begins Coal Mining
An enterprising citizen early identified with the coal industry was Arthur Barnard, who first secured coal leases in Blumfield Township, about nine miles east of the city. On this land he soon after sunk a shaft near the line of the Saginaw. Tuscola & Huron Railroad, which formed an outlet for the product. This mine was successfully operated for a number of years, the coal taken from the entries being of very good quality, and was mostly consumed at home.
The success of this mine and the prosperity attending the expansion of the industry led to further investments, and early in the present century he "Jimtown" mine, in James Township, the Riverside mine, south of the city on the Tittabawassee, the Chappell & Fordney mine. on the Belt Line near Gratiot Street, and the Barnard mine, on South Michigan Avenue, were sunk by enterprising operators, and the coal business in Saginaw began to assume large proportions.
Meanwhile the Pere Marquette Coal Company was absorbed by the Saginaw Coal Company, which was composed of practically the same stock- holders, and the mining operations of the company expanded to a huge scale. Besides sinking new shafts in proved coal veins, the company purchased several of the independent coal companies, whose operations had not proved entirely successful, and in a few years it practically controlled the coal business at Saginaw. Some of the older mines, such as the Pere Marquette No. 1, which had reached the end of profitable operation, were dismantled and abandoned. In others improved machinery, electric haulage, and modern equipment were installed, to place them on a better paying basis. For economic reasons the industry was gradually becoming consolidated. not only to better control the market and the shipment of coal, but also to fix the selling price. In this city the price was fixed on the basis of the price of Ohio and West Virginia coals at the mines, plus the freight charges to this point, and ranged from four to four and a half dollars a ton delivered.
Labor Difficulties
During the early period of coal mining in Saginaw Valley, the labor problem was the greatest difficulty encountered. At first there were no experienced miners here, and after the industry was fairly started it was necessary to go to Ohio and West Virginia coal fields for them. This was no easy matter to bring about, as the Michigan coal fields were almost unknown to the miners of the old fields, and they were reluctant to leave their homes to try out newer conditions in the Michigan field. It was necessary to send a good man with tact, judgment and patience into the coal fields, and corral every unemployed miner and as many others as could be induced to leave
452
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
their jobs, herd them together as a party in chartered cars for the trip to Saginaw. A close watch had to be kept over them at every place the train stopped, to keep them from wandering off ; and even then a number of the recruits would desert their new "boss" at the first opportunity, although the fares and expenses were paid by him. It was altogether a strenuous job to land the greater portion of a gang of new miners in Saginaw, and actually get them started to work in the mines. In this work of bringing in miners Frank S. Spencer, for a number of years with the Saginaw Coal Company. was very successful.
Some Miners Become Operators
The operators in the Saginaw coal field, which includes all mines in this county, have experienced the usual labor troubles arising from disagreements, disaffection and the persistent efforts of the miners to improve working conditions. Added to these difficulties was the active influence of Social- ism, which has many followers among the workingmen in Saginaw, and cries out against the employers with some bitterness. Some of the Socialist miners in looking around for something more practical than verbal expres- sions of hatred, conceived the general plan of the Caledonia Coal Company, a purely co-operative concern, which was organized in 1905.
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