Phosphate Mines.

Chap. 4.—The lands on which phosphate of lime is found are withdrawn from sale under 32 V., c. 11. Phosphate lots are to be surveyed in areas of 400, 200 and 100 acres, with the allowance of 5 p. c. for roads. In unsurveyed areas the front of the first shall be 52 chains, of the second 26, and of the third 13 chains, with for all, 80 chains 80 links in depth. In surveyed townships these contain 1, 2, or 4 ordinary lots. The C. C. L. may cause geological explorations to be made to ascertain where phosphate deposits are, and designate lots surveyed under this Act on the maps as phosphate lands; and he may withdraw them from sale for colonization purposes, if workable phosphate beds be found on them. They are to be sold by auction after 4 weeks notice in the Official Gazette and in newspapers in Quebec. Three Rivers, Sherbrooke, Sorel, Montreal, and Ottawa. An upset price not less than $2 per acre is to be fixed by the C. C. L. and the terms to be cash. The working of the beds is also subject to a royalty of 50 cts. per ton of crude phosphate obtained and removed from the lot, to be paid under penalty of annulling the sale and confiscating the phosphates quarried,—the seizure and confiscation to be effected as in case of timber for nonpayment of dues. These sales are to be subject to the ac- page 102 quired rights of the owners of timber limits for three years after such sales. All lands sold in future for ordinary agricultural purposes will be subject to the condition, inserted in the letters patent when they are issued, that if phosphates be found and worked on them a sufficient further sum will be paid to raise the price to $2 per acre as well as the royalty on phosphate moved, as above. Phosphate lots on which improvements may have been made with a view to settlement or to which a claim may exist, may be sold by private sale instead of auction, the price not to be less than $2 and terms cash. Sales may be made in the same way to those who have explored or made excavations upon such lots under license from the C. C. L. These licenses issue lor 3 mos. for one lot of 200 acres, alternating with four contiguous lots reserved for sale by the Government, the fee therefor $10. They give the licensee a right of preemption during that time. When a phosphate lot is sold subject to a royalty, the working must be begun within 1 yr. and continued, or a rent of $5 per an. paid. The persons claiming in unsurveyed districts must send in a plan of survey, according to this Act and departmental regulations, with their application. They must also send in specimens of the ore with affidavit as to the place where quarried and proof of the existence of a phosphate bed. Returns are to be made, when called for, to the C. C. L. or his agents, of the quantities of phosphates obtained, under penalty of $50 with costs of recovery. Royalties and fines collected form part of the C. R. F. The L. G. in C. may, by regulations, alter the size and configuration of phosphate lots, and provide for matters unforeseen in the Act.