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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 47

Mining in the Dominion

page 50

Mining in the Dominion.

Comparative statement of Exports of the produce of the Mine, Dominion of Canada:

Articles. Fiscal Year ending 30th June, 1876. Fiscal Year ending 30th June, 1877. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. the mine. $ $ Coal.................... Tons 284,279 1,002,510 254,933 873,251 Gold-bearing Quartz, Dust, Nuggets, &c......... $ ......... 1,472,471 ......... 1,189,075 Gypsum, crude............... Tons ......... 99,095 101,376 96,175 Manganese............... " ......... 4,355 720 13,568 Oil, Mineral or Earth, crude..... Galls 9,692 1,289 152 13 " Refined............... " 5,112 2,074 3,929,219 901,785 Ore, Copper............... Tons 2,230 352,035 1,313 264,442 " Iron.................. " 14,280 30,702 7,755 14,854 " Lead................ " 179 7,516 7 50 " Silver.................. " 691 584,378 190 122,695 Salt.................. Bush 990,534 121,471 941,215 118,434 Slate............... Tons ......... ......... 335 5,227 Stone, Unwrought, and Sand......... " ......... 10,733 47,630 75,760 Other articles............... $ ......... 5,173 ......... 23,629 Total produce of the Mine.... ......... ......... 3,787,802 ......... 3,698,958

Ontario and Quebec.

Gold.

The gold mines of Marmora and Made, with the exception of the Feigel, are ice owing to litigation or want of capitd. The Feigel mine is said to pay a fair sir-plus over working expenses. The Gatling and other mines have all the necessary plant, and the gold is undoubtedly these. Pity it should stay there from the caues named.

Considerable activity has been displayed in the Chaudière District since our last issue, something over 1,000 ounces of gold having been extracted, and the production continuing at an increased rate, returning, we are informed, over $120. per man per month. Quite recently sone very nice nuggets have been found on the surface, one weighing over three pounos. An average force of 60 men has been at work on the Gilbert. The Famine River has been well tried, but with little or no success; but the little creek called the Rulsseau d'Ardolse, not far off that stream, appears to be rich in nuggets.

"Color" appears everywhere or nearly so in the Parishes of St. Francois and S. George, and particles of gold dust In nearly every shovelful of earth washed. Nev hands are rapidly flocking to the District, and we may hope for satisfactory developments next year

Silver.

The following has been received under date 29th October, 1878:—

"The Silver Islet people are in full work, having found the vein lost two or more years since. The vein is traced to the mainland, and found to be so rich that it can truly be said that they are quarrying the silver in quantities far exceeding any experience of the past. In three consecutive weeks the Company mined $70,000, $73,000 and $75,000 worth. In the interval they had reduced their stock from $6,000,000 to $1,000,000, and given a mortgage to New York capitalists for $400,000, bearing interest at 8 per cent."

This mortgage will be paid off at once.

The Duncan mine is also doing well, and the mining interest of the Thunder Bay region is looking up. The Prince Location, not far from Prince Arthur's Landing, is to be worked through the winter.

Plumbago.

The following extract is from the Ottawa Free Press of the 21st Sept., 1878:—

"We have to congratulate the Dominion of Canada Plumbago Company on its wonderful success at Paris, it having taken the highest prizes in every department, namely:—Gold medal, pencils, highest award; silver medal, crucibles, highest award; silver medal, plumbago, highest award; honorable mention, stove polish; and the Commission advise that a diploma of honor is expected for the collective exhibit. This is one of the most promising of the mining industries of the Ottawa Valley, and the success it has already achieved is most creditable to its promoters. The enterprise was commenced and carried through over a period of unexampled depression, and has achieved a signal success in the face of the strongest monopolies in the world."

The Company is fairly under way, with a capital of half a million of dollars, agencies in London, Paris and New York, exhaustless mines, and the world before page 51 it. Before winning the above mentioned honors in Paris, it had already carried off the highest gold medal of the Arts Association at Ottawa in 1876, and the highest medal and diploma at the Centennial in 1876.

Mica and Asbestos.

Available deposits of these minerals have been found along with the iron and apatite of Templeton. A ton of asbestos has been shipped to Philadelphia by way of experiment, price $125. There is also a mica mine worked near Perth. The mica, cut into plates of various sizes, is sold at $1 per pound.

Apatite.

The existence of workable deposits of apatite in the country has been known for many years, and the veins of Bedford have long been laid under contribution by the chemical works at Brockville. But it is only recently that attention has been directed to the seemingly exhaustless beds of the townships of Hull, Templeton, Buckingham and thence to the northward.

The demand all the world over for fertilizers, and the failure of the Peruvian guano beds, cause an ever increasing demand for superphosphate of lime. A single manufacturer in London, Eng., requires 1,000 tons per week of the mineral phosphate. A factory near Hamburg uses 30,000 to 40,000 tons a year; and its agents have already made purchases in Montreal.

The mineral's value depends on the percentage of phosphate of lime contained; 70 per cent. Canadian brings in London $21.00 per ton; 80 per cent. $25.60 and 90 per cent., most wanted, $30.60.

"At this writing (Monetary Times, May 17th. 1878) there are free buyers in Montreal at $18.00 to $19.00 for 80 per cent, cash; a keen competition existing between English and German manufacturers. The same time last year the price was $13 50 to $14.00."

To render the native phosphate of value as a fertilizer, it is necessary to convert it into superphosphate, which is done by depriving it of one equivalent of its lime through the agency of sulphuric acid. The manufacture, therefore, requires a cheap supply of that chemical; and the neighbourhood of beds of iron pyrites is a great desideratum, and these are known to exist abundantly in the Laurentian rocks which contain the phosphate.

It would seem at present hard to draw too hopeful a picture of the prospects of the new industry, of which Canada, from her vast development of Laurentian rocks, would appear to have almost a monopoly, A boundless supply of the mineral at home, and an equally boundless demand for it abroad, secure the trade against the hazard of failure of raw material, and the danger of stagnation from over-stocking, and assure its stability and success.

Hitherto, although a great deal of prospecting has been done, and with great success, actual developement has not advanced beyond a comparatively incipient stage. Up to 1875 the exports did not reach 2,000 tons per annum,—in 1877 some 6,000 tons. The shipments of 1878 will probably reach 10,000 tons and may be doubled next year. Judging by the progress of the South Carolina Coprolite beds (low grade phosphate) the development of the Canadian industry will be rapid; the former trade having grown from small beginnings in 1869 to 199,086 tons in 1877-78.

The Brockville Chemical and Superphosphate Works obtained a silver medal at the Centennial. Their price for the prepared superphosphate is $35. per ton, and from 300 to 500 pounds per acre is sufficient for an ordinary crop. At this rate it does not cost much more than hauling and spreading barnyard manure at a busy time of the year, and experience has already proved its value to the Canadian farmer.

Besides superphosphate, the Brockville Works make sulphuric, nitric and muriatic acids, sulphate or soda, nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, &c.

It is to be hoped that before long Canada will take the wind out of the sails of the English manufacturers of superphosphate in the markets of the United States, the West Indies and South America, if not in Europe itself. The cheapness of the raw material in Canada should counterbalance the distance of the market in the latter case.

"Looking into commercial affairs generally," says the Monetary Times, "cities overcrowded, business dull, manufactories languishing, all the old highways over-filled, and indeed everything over-done, it is gratifying to point to this new cheery prospect, which promises to acquire, and that before long, really large proportions, and so be capable of employing a reasonable share of the surplus means, minds and hands."

Iron.

Although the manufacture of iron cannot apparently be carried on profitably in Ontario or Quebec, a market for the fine ores of those provinces may be found in the furnaces of the United States. This trade has, to some extent, existed for some time, and is capable of extension, should good times return to the Union iron masters. The North Hastings Railway will shortly reach the Madoc Iron district, and by its aid the ore can be laid down at Sodus Bay, the terminus of the lines running Into the coal fields of Pennsylvania, at $3.46 per ton. Marmora and Madoc being the sources of these high grade ores nearest to the Pennsylvania markets, would seem to secure this branch of the trade to Ontario.—(Vide Monetary Times.)

Salt.

In our last issue we gave some account of the great salt-beds of the counties of Huron and Bruce, having an aggregate thickness of 126 feet of pure rock salt, with the dolomites of the Guelph formation, underlying them, still untried.

Since then Mr. Attril has been engaged In the tremendous task of sinking a shaft 12 feet in diameter to these beds, which are at a depth of from 1,000 to 1,400 feet, for the purpose of mining the salt, and bringing it up in masses, which process is estimated to cost from one-third to one-half that of the present one of evapora- page 52 tion. After pursuing this attempt to a depth of 270 feet, Mr Attil was reluctantly compelled to desist by the quantity of water, and proceeded to Belgium for the purpose of obtaining machinery which will render boring possible under water. The result is awaited with very great interest, and with the best wishes for the success of the enterprising gentleman, whose determination will surely be rewarded.

Minerals. Quantities. Greatest Previous Production. Quantities. Years metallic. Gold..........ounces. 16,882 27,314 1867 Iron Ore......tons. 18,603 15,274 1876 Manganese Ore " 97 300 1865 Copper Ore......" 285 45 1876 Lead " ....... " 11 6 1876 non-metallic. Coal............ " 757,496 1,051,467 1873 Gypsum......... " 107,506 120,693 1873 Freestone, &c.. " 9,343 8,829 1874 Limestone...... " 6,728 4,860 1875 Barytes............ " 23 1,103 1869-70 Moulding Sand......" 160 300 1874

Nova Scotia.

Summary, 1877.

Comparing this summary with that of the preceding year, its general appearance is not unfavorable.

Gold Mining.

The districts of Sherbrooke, Oldham and Caribou having yielded exceptlonably well, the total produce of the year shows an increase of 40 per cent.

Iron Mining.

The Iron Works at Londonderry being in successful operation, called for an additional out put of 3,000 tons of ore, and doubtless, during the current year, will require a further increase.

Manganese Mining.

Though this branch of the mining industry is conducted on a small scale only at Teny Cape, it is satisfactory to notice its revival.

Copper Mining.

A most promising deposit of ore has been cut at Poison's Lake, and had it not been for litigation, the quantity mined would have been larger, and the extent of the deposit better known.

Lead Mining.

Has not yet passed beyond the prospecting stage at Caledonia and Pembroke.

Coal Mining.

Though the output for the year is slightly in advance, the business is still as depressed. in consequence of the restricted demand.

Gold.

General Statement for the Year 1877.

Shewing the number of Mines at work, days labour performed, quantities of Quartz, &c., crushed, yield of Gold, &c., &c., for the twelve months ended December 31st.

Districts. Number of Mines. Day's Labour. Mills Employed. Steam Power. Watr Power Quartz &c, Crushed Yield per Ton. Maximum yield per Ton. Total yield of Gold. Average yield per man per day for 12 months, at $18.00 per oz. oz. duat. gr. oz. duat. gr. oz. duat. gr. Caribou .... 5 14,579 2 2 .... 1,735 1 9 21 42 17 .... 2,596 13 23 $3 20 Gay's River 2 3,151 1 1 .... 859 .... 5 20 .... 14 22 251 3 15 1 39 Montagu .. 2 1,404 1 1 .... 55 .... 18 5 1 7 .... 50 1 9 0 64 Oldham.... 8 14,144 2 .... 2 2,015 1 5 2 17 14 12 2,527 19 13 3 21 Renfrew... 1 3,543 1 .... 1 294 .... 14 3 1 3 14 207 13 4 1 05 Sherbrooke 13 47,725 5 2 3 8,651 .... 19 1 3 16 16 8,237 3 10 3 10 Stormont.. 1 3,310 .... .... .... 96 2 10 4 4 .... .... 240 19 .... 1 30 Tangier.... 2 5,102 2 .... 2 361 1 2 13 3 8 9 410 14 15 1 42 Unlacke.... 4 7,252 2 2 .... 470 1 8 6 4 19 9 663 15 9 1 64 Waverley.. 4 14,261 2 1 1 1,422 .... 12 4 2 11 20 866 18 10 1 09 Wine Harbour.. 3 5,772 2 1 1 1,068 .... 10 21 2 4 12 580 14 3 1 80 Unproclaimed, &c.... 2 3,322 3 .... 3 337 .... 14 15 2 9 19 248 9 10 1 34 47 123,585 23 10 13 17,369 .... 19 10 42 17 .... 16,882 6 1 $2 46

page 53

These figures show a satisfactory increase over those of the preceding year, in which only 12,039 ounces of gold were produced, the average daily yield per man being $1.94. The average number of men omployed in gold mining in 1877 was 411.

Coal.—general Statement.

Year. Produce. Sales. Colliery Consumption
1877 757,496 687,065 98,841
1876 709,046 634,207 113,788
1875 781,165 706,295 124,110
1871 872,720 749,127 119,582

Note.—Stocks on hand at the end of the year 17,060 tons.

The distribution of coal sold in 1877 was:

Markets. 1877. 1876.
Nova Scotia—
Land Sales 109,955 80,411
Seaborne 145,835 145,247
Nova Scotia Total 255,790 225,658
Quebec 95,118 117,303
New Brunswick 104,818 101,890
New foundland 49,342 51,742
P.E. Island 45,196 46,908
United States 118,216 71,634
West Inland 13,660 17,971
S. America 573
Europe 4,379 1,101
687,065 634,207
1876 634,207 645,207
1875 706,795 706,795

Iron Mining.

Steel Company of Canada.

The works of this Company, at Londonderry, now present a more complete appearance, and the operations of making and working iron have been extensively conducted. One of the two new furnaces was lit and kept in blast 44 weeks; the foundry was busy using about 100 tons of metal per month; puddling was once more resumed, and a rolling mill erected and ran.

To the courtesy of Mr. Jamme, the manager, and Mr. Louis, the analyst, I am indebted for the following data:—
1877. Mined. tons. Smelted. tons Metal Produced tons.
Iron ores, 16,879 20,270 9,863
Ankerite, 1,724 1,850 9,863
Limestone, 5,164 6,520 9,863
Coke, 15,970 9,863

The best weekly yield was 297 tons.

The furnace in use is 65 feet high and 19 feet in diameter at the boshes. The blast has a pressure of 2—4 lbs. heated in three Cowper Siemens' stoves 800° to 1100° Fahr.

The blowing engine has the steam cylinder above the blowing cylinder, which has a stroke of 5 feet and a diameter of 6 feet.

Water is brought in a flume 3,460 feet to the blast furnace, and 4,060 feet to the rolling mill.

There have been built 6 single puddling furnaces and one double, 2 more double furnaces are in process of construction; and there is one heating furnace; in all having a capacity of 20 tons of finished iron per day.

There are two trains of rolls, one 9 inch and one 16 inch trains; two steam hammers, one 20 cwt. and one 50 cwt.

The bar iron made, according to Riehle Bros, tests, is "ductile and fine grained Tensile strength 60,000 lbs. per square inch, and elongation 33 per cent. The "Best Best" iron has been used to replace Lowmoor and Swedish iron.

The principal mining of late has been at Martin's Brook, and the chief source of ore was the slopes above the shallow level, under 80 to 100 feet of cover. These levels are in about 2,000 feet each.

From the furnaces to the mines there is a narrow guage railway, and the ore trucks are moved by a locomotive. Captain Bryant, the manager, states that the average number of miners employed was 34, labourers 40, mechanics 10, boys 5. About the furnaces and workshops about 100 more men were employed. (Report of Dept. of Mines.)

Manganese Mining.

The produce of the last year was 97 tons, which was sent to New York, where for the best quality $55 per ton was obtained. The Custom House entries show that 78 tons were shipped from Windsor and its outports, valued at $2,459. The average number of hands employed at Teny Cape was 8 men and 4 boys.

Manganese has been found at many spots westward of Teny Cape, and openings have been made on the west side of Walton River, at Rainy Cove and near Cheverie. The explorations of the past year were chiefly near Rainy Cove, under the direction of Mr. R. Kennedy. At the locality selected the surface yielded a good deal of ore, which was washed and hand-picked. Two small contiguous veins of 3 and 4 inches wide, were also exposed, and they promised fairly, but for want of means operations were suspended.

The right to work manganese is not reserved, but belongs to the owner of the soil, who in some cases agrees to lease at one dollar per ton, and grant to the miner the right to make roads, build houses and use what timber he requires for his operations.

Copper Mining.

Has been carried on at Poison's Lake, where some 210 tons were taken out. At French River eight months work of twelve men produced, according to the statement of Mr. Pendergast, the manager, some 18½ tons of ore, valued at New York at $120 per ton. At Waugh's River some 3 tons of ore were collected in 1877, page 54 valued at $30 per ton. At Lochaber explorers report having taken out some 40 tons of unknown percentage (Report Dept. of Mines.)

Gypsum.

107,506 tons of this mineral were taken out, value $93,855.

Barytes.

23 tons of barytes were mined at Five Islands, and used on the spot by the Dolphin Manufacturing Co.

Freestone.

14,265 tons of freestone and limestone were raised and shipped, worth $55,370.

British Columbia.

Gold Mining.

The amounts actually exported by the Banks during the year 1877 are as follows:

Bank of British Columbia $353,254 16
Bank of British North America 497,748 65
Garesche, Green & Co 855,133 48
1,206,136 29
Adding one-third for gold exported in private hands 402,045 43
Gives a total yield of $1,608,182 72

In the Cariboo District, 179 claims were worked during the year 1877, giving employment to 333 whites and 598 Chinese. During the first nine months of that year the mines produced gold to the value of $411,402.

The "Big Bonanza Ledge," worked by the Cariboo Quartz Mining Company and the St. Lawrence Company, is a true fissure vein, assaying at the surface from $6 to $35 per ton, and about 12 feet in width. Concerning this vein Mr. Harper reports: "I had no difficulty in forming an opinion so favorable with regard to its permanent and remunerative character as a gold bearing ledge, that not a doubt remains in my mind as to the great influence its development will eventually have in the welfare of the District and the Province in general."

Writing later Mr. Harper says: "The same (Cariboo Quartz Mining) Company's tunnel on the Bonanza Ledge has been run in for the distance of 160 feet. At a distance of 138 feet the lode was intersected and run through, its width at this point being 22 feet, and its depth from the surface 52 feet. The assays from the rock averaged $33 per ton. On the surface this rock only averaged $14 per ton, the inference being that the ore increases in richness at the lower level. 3,000 feet beyond I visited the Victoria Shaft and found the same lode at a vertical depth of 350 feet below the surface, where the rock was taken which averaged $11 to the ton. At this point the assays ranged from $24 to $36 per ton, and the ledge at this depth had a width of 30 feet"

The "American," "Pinkerton" and "Enterprise" mines are also on the Big Bonanza Ledge.

The Cariboo Quartz Mining Co have also crushed 41 tons of ore from the Stead-man Ledge, with an average result of $18 per ton.

In the Cassiar District, 123 claims were worked during 1877, employing 673 whites and 210 Chinese, and producing gold, according to the Report of the Gold Commissioner, as follows:—
Dease Creek $ 81,300 00
Thibert Creek 173,700 00
McDame Creek 144,800 00

Amount taken out, of which no definite returns could be procured say $45,000, which, with the sum of $55,000 allowed for the probable yield from the date upon which the statistics were completed until the 31st December next, will bring the gross amount to $499,830.00

"Considering the many difficulties which have beset the miners, and the fact that there have not been as many engaged this year, I think that, on the whole, the results for 1877 are not unfavourable, but rather go to prove that Cassiar stands to-day a mining district second to hone in the Province as regards the number of men it employs, its great extent, its prospects, and the fact that it is as yet, except as regards a very limited portion of it, undeveloped." (Report of the Minister of Mines.)

On Fraser River little was done in 18 7, though the labors of a few Indians and Chinese proved the district a rich one, three Indians in six weeks raising $1,500. Work had to be abandoned owing to the low water in the creeks.

Coal.

The total output of Coal in 1877 was 151,052 tons, an increase of 11,861 over 1876. Of this the Vancouver Coal Co., contributed 94.809 tons, and the Wellington Colliery 48,743, 600 hands are employed in these mines, at wages varying from $2.75 to $5,00 per day.