iMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ..J.n M €.0 '4p.a ■^ ^ y. <^j .^^ €£>. (? (/. 4^ 1.0 iii 136 I.I 12.0 1.25 1.4 1 — 1 l'8 1.6 III i ^: m ■//* °m (^ m ^. t ^^' Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY MS80 (716) 872-4503 A. I '% 1^1- age The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generoeity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract spocifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. Al! other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or ilrustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page w:th a printed or illustrated impression. 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ANDERSON, L.R.O.S.E., President, Literary and Historical Society, Quebec. »t(f^5*c- QUEBEC: PRINTED AT TIIE "MORNING OHRONIOLB " OFFVOB. ■■ ■■ "« * 1872. ■ u Pr TiEiE mm or THE CH1UDI[II[, ITS SCENEET" if) c?0 AND aOLD FIELDS, 'I BY DE. W. J. ANDERSON, L.R.O.S.E., President^ LlUrary and HUtorlcal Society^ Quebec^ ^■»^fi^'*-j»-^ QUEBEC: *^2lT\TBD AT THE "MORNING CHKONICLR^' Ol?rrrE» ■< I II ■ .... f rn CHAUDIERE AND ITS GOLD FIELDS. CHAUDiERE VALLEY. The Valley of the Chaudiere extends from Lake Megantic, on the borders of Maine, to the North Shore of the St. Lawrence, about nine miles above Quebec. It is one of the earliest settlements in the Province, the Sei- gniors holding patents from Louis Quatorze. The valley is beautifnl and populous, and I moderately lertile. It produces abundant crops of hay, oats and barley, and raises great numbers of cattle, v^hich find a ready market in Quebec Formerly a considerable quantity of wheat was grown, but of late year&\ owing to the midge and blight^ its cultivation has been generally abandoned. The habitants were formerly censitaires^ I holding their f\irms under seigniorial tenure, but since the passing of the Seif?niorial Tenure f a2 Act they are the proprietors of the soil. The exceptions are so few^ that this district may he truly said, to be exclusively Franco-Cana' (lian^ the occupants claiming descent from the first settlers, and retaining the language, the religion, and the customs of their forefathers. The present seigniors, the Taschereaus and de Lery's, claim descent from the distinguish- ed men \\ hose names are so intimately con- nected with the early history of Canada. Mr. Pozer, who at present represents the County of Beauce in both the Local and Dominion Le- gislatures, is the only seignior not of French descent. His progenitor, a Grerman gentle- man, attempted to settle his seigniory with Grermans, but few remained after the first winter, and we question, if, with the excep- tion of Mr. Pozer himself and the members of his family, more than am other Grerman can be found in the whole valley. The population is moral, orderly, industrious and hospitable, and, at any rate till the discovery of gold, was quite contented with its lot, their farms yielding in abundance, more than sufficient to supply their simple wants. . i J GOLD, SILVER, &c. Gold, silver, copper, and precious stones, chiefly garnets of trifling value, have been 5 The : may ■Cana- >m the e, the it hers. Ls and guish- Y con- . Mr. bounty on Le- ^\ench gentle- j with le first excep- bers of an can alation citable , gold, I'arms cient to stones, been e found along the beds of the river and its tri- butaries, and on the adjoining highlands. I The late Mr. Charles de Lery, seignior of Rigaud de Vaudreuil, gave me the following ccount of the discovery of the precious etals. Some time before the conquest, iu the time of his great-grand-father, some In- ians had occasion to make an encampment 111 the neighbourhood of his Mansion, in what is now the Parish of SL Francois, and one morning, when the fire was burnt out, on raking up the ashes, they discovered a metal, which they brought to Mr. de Lery, and which ttirned out to be silver. M. de Lery sent it to France, where it was manufactured into a set of salt spoons, which w^ere, at the time he related the circumstance to me, in his posses- sion. GOLD DISCOVERED, The next discovery, that of gold, was made about half-a-century ago, by a woman, near the mouth of the Touffe de Pins, or Gilbert Biver, a tributary of the Chaudiere, but it at- tracted no attention. But in 1834, a woman ffekkiiig a horse to water at the same spot, saw something glittering in the river, which prov- ed to be a nugget of considerable size, as it weighed 1066. G3 grs. No other disco vei'y was made known till the following year, though it is believed that the brothers Poulin had made a further discovery, which induced Mr. C. de Lery to make a search, which re- sulted in the party under his direction find- ing, in about two hours, gold to the value oF In granting the Seigniory of Rig'aud de Vaudreuil, the French King had made, as was customary, certain reservations, one of which was that the grantee " should give immediate notice to the King, or his G-overnor and In- tendant, of the discovery of all mines^ ores or minerals^ Being satisfied of the value of the discovery, Mr. de Lery applied to the Cana- dian Grove rnment, and in 1846 secured a pa- tent giving him exclusive right of mining in the Parish of St. Fran9ois. ^ f Mr. de Lery said, that it was somewhat cu- rious, that notwithstanding his first great suc- cess, he never again found an atom of gold and that though the men v/hom he employe( found some quantity, they asserted that when ever he made his appearance where ihey wen digging, the gold was never to be found. Mr. de Lery was induced to abandon tin working himself, and gave a lease of his right scoveiy s Paul in induced hich re- 011 find- valno of o'aud do le, as was of which nmLdiate ■ and In- ?.s', ores or tie oF the the Cana- ired a pa- mininG: in ewhat CIV i great sue- m of gold employee that when ;. they wer< found. )andon tin )f his riu'ht' for a certain number of years, to a Quehcc 'ompaiiy, of which the two brothers, Drs. iDouglas, Captain llhodes and the late Mr. J. *1^ell Forsyth, of Quebec, were prominent 111 embers. The compar.y carried on opera- tions for some time with indifferent success, and eventually Dr. James Douglas alone be- came interested in the lease, and prosecuted the work for some time with characteristic energy. , ^ The first company, called the Chaudiere Mining Company, commenced operations on the Tunffe de Pins, about a mile from its mouth, and though they worked for several years, it was with so little skill and economy, that the receipts did not cover the expenditure. The Des P/anUs was also worked in several t laces, and at the spot immediately above the rst Fall, a deposit w^as struck, which yielded ||br several weeks from three to ten ounces a day. H^re also was tried the experiment of dry digging. In 1853, when the company Was workinsf" on the Des Plantes and the Fa- mine, Lord Elgin paid a visit to the woiks. The gold of the Du Loup and Famine is smaller tiian that of the Gilbert^ while the gold of the Des Planks is much larger than that of the Gilbert, It is to be re , retted that this first attempt should have been attended with so l||tle success, as it was, Dr. Douglas seeing 8 : i that the enterprise would not prove remune- rative, desisted, and his sig-nal failure no doubt had a tendency to retard future adven- ture. This is the more to be regretted, be- cause while these operations were being pro- secuted, the Canada Mining Company worked extensively during the summers of 1861 and 2, and vV ashed alluvions at the mouth of the Du Loup. The operations were superintend- ed by a Cornish miner. Captain Otey, who adopted the Cornish system for washing tin. In 1852, three-eighths of an acre were wash- ed, and 2,88^0 dwts. of gold obtained, of the value of $2,496. Mr. James Douglas says : " Nine of the nuggets weighed together 468 dwts. ; the largest being 127, and the smallest 11 dwts. The snm expended for labour was ,888, leaving a prolit of $608." Mr. Douglas justly adds : " Had the same amount of labour been as systematically and scientilically employed elsewhere, there is; reason to think the result would hare been more encouraging." I'i » The Canada Mining Company was oblig* d to abandon its work, on account of some dis- agreement and threatened legal p oceedings on the part of the adjoininr proprietors. After 1855, it Would seem that the public had come to the conclusion, that though there was gold on the Chciudiere, ii would cost more to produce it than it was worth, and the gold fields were accordingly looked upon as things of the past. Yet they were not for- gotten by all, for it is known that several habitants, especially the five brothers Poulin, were all the time, at intervals, working with more or less perseverance and success. One of the brothers, on being asked by the Cure to give the Church gold to gild the High Altar, is reported to have replied, that " ho could give what could gild the whole Church." Exaggerated reports prevailed of their wealth thus acquired, but as it was the product of " poaching on another's preserves," they made no outward show of it, and continued to live on in the usual way. But early in the sum- mer of 1868, it was generally rumoured that the Poulins, with their nephew, Narchse Ro- drigue^ had discovered on the Gilbert^ where it passes through the farm of the latter, a very considerable quantity of gold, and it was as- certained by the agent of Dr. Douglas, that the report was true. Dr. Douglas at once ent(^red into an arran- gement wuth these parties, and gave them a mining license on condition thai they should pay over to him, one fourth of the gold found. 10 Under this agreement, a certain amount of gold was paid over, with which the doctor was quite satisfied, believing it represented his proportion, so far as in reason he could have expected; })ut, in the interim, it had so happened that, belie vinj]^ it woukl be more to his advantage, he had sold out the reversion of his lease, (a period of fifteen months,) for $8,000, to Messrs. Parker and Hans Hagens. It then became necessary that his son, Mr. James Doughis, should be sent to intimate to all parties at the Chaudiere, that he had ceas- ed to have anything to do with the gold-Held, and to close the outstanding accounts. On the evening of Mr. Douglas' arrival at St. Francis, he was called out of the Inn by one of the Poulins, who informed him that he and his brothers wished to have a conference with him behind the barn. Mr. Douj^las at once assented, and the interview commenced by the question being put to him : " Mr. Dou- glas, did you really and truly intend to charge us no more than we agreed to give vou ?" *' Most certainly," replied Mr. Douglas, " what made you ask such a question V " Oh !" was the rejoinder, *' we were told that you intend- ed to make us pay more, but here is i/oirr gold," and he handed to him a bag contain- ing nearly two pounds weight of gold. They then told him that believing that he did. not intend to abide by his bargain , they had re- \ II tallied that porlion of his due, always intend- ing to g'ive to him what was strictly his, at the close of the season ; that they had made the Cure aware of what they had done, who had authoritatively enjoined on them the pre- serving- an exact account, and surrendering' to Mr. Douglas what was his at the final set- tlement. They were well pleased when Mr. Douglas returned to them some odd ounce of gold, and promised to use his influence with the new lessees, to get them a favorable loca- tion for continuing their operations. This he also fulfilled to their satisfaction. Mr. Dou- glas felt it his duty to call on the Cure, and thank him for the part he had taken. The Cure said : '' I thought since they had retain- ed the gold, they might retain it to the end of the season, but thev said, ' No M. le Cure, our consciences are tender now, they may be- come hardened, so we had better give up the gold at once.' " . . , ., "* - ' .' ■ ,■ '.■■'*, ''^ .■'■■■■ V ' ■,'■ ■"* I tell this story without any comment, but ns well calculated to illustrate t!ie morals and manners of the inhabitants of the Chaudi^ri? Valley in I860. Dr. Douglas received, as his portion of the product of elcA^en days' digging, two and a-half pounds of gold. T had been down in Nova Scotia, and had taken the opportunity of visiting the gold I' I 12 fields of AViiie Harbour and Sherbrook, and being struclv with the great similarity which these bore to a certain locality in the neigh- bourhood of Quebec, I was still- more sur- prised on taking up a Quebec paper, to lind that the excitement about gold in the Chau- diere had arisen anew since my departure. I resolved to visit the mines, immediately on my return to Canada. Things had reached the point I have mentioned just })eibre my arrival at Quebec. Having decided to visit the diggings, I made my arrangements, and crossing with the Si, Marie mail-courier in the ferry boat to Pointe Levis, and there taking his vehicle, proceeded along a splendid macadamized road through a beautiful and well cultivated country to St. Henri, a pretty village, distant about twelve miles from Quebec, St. Henri is the centre of the parish of the same name, the population of which exceeds 3,200. We then proceed along the ordhiary main road of the district, which though not maca- damized. Was in verv fair condition, to the villaire of St. Isidore, six miles from St. Henri. The population of this Parish is 2,500. ': I After continuing to pass through a pictu- resque country for six miles further, and op- the '.1 "'■S'^' " ■•■' r-' sur- find >.>4;f 1 I CO C9 c/> o c/> 13 C9 a o : two miles, found ourselves at the Sum- mit, 1 should suppose about 500 feet above the level of the riA^er at the point whore we left it, Here we left our carriage and com- menced our descent to the Gilbert about a mile and a-half distant. The ridge was CA'^ery here and there coA^ered Avith boulders, interlineat- ed with quartz, and in many places slate pro- truded aboA^e the soil. The first part of the path to the diggings lay through the open lieJd, but the latter i^ortion through a dense Avood, AA^hich continued close to the bank Iiig of Mrs. re we fall of with i vil- , Mrs. id the venty- 3,600 or SI. 1 Que- takin<^' travel- tSum- a bove -re we 1 com- a mile 'V here liueat- te pro* of the ! open dense bank •tl j5>" S"';''*'.;?'-^ ' r 'to.! i-\' ... r 15 "'ii^y . oi the brook, on arriving at which a scene o[ great interest and aciivity presented itseli'. The Company, who in addition to acquir- ing the mining- rights of Dr. Douglas, had secured a further lease from Mr. DeLery for fifteen years, had commenced operations on the Gilbert. They had not only made a sluice and employed men in digging and washing gold themselves, but had the wisdom to sub- let claims to all applicants, on tf^-ms varying from fifty to one hundred dollars for the sea- son. I was told that counting those in the employ of the Company and those working on private account, there were then on the ground about two hundred and fifty miners. I counted upwards of sixty at the place I visited. Having spent an hour or two on the ground very much interested with w^hat we saw, we retraced our steps to where we had left our carriage and returning to the Chau- diere, crossed it opposite the t VILLAGE OF ST. FRANCOIS, where w^e put up at Barbeuus and took tea. St. Fran9ois is fifty-four miles from Quebec, and the population of the parish 3,000. As the even- ing w^as x^leasant, and bright moon light, we de- 16 H, ft H cidod to proceed u^^ the river to Si Georges, and arrived at Cahilts "American House,*' about one in the morning. Notwithstanding the unsea- sonable hour, we were welcomed and our horse cared for. The American Hotel is situ- ated about two miles below the Falls, at the junction of the du Loup with the Chaudiere. The surrounding district has furnished speci- mens of gold, and it* is thought that it may yet prove as prolific as the Grilbert. b^t. Greorges is sixty-three miles distant from Que- bec, and the population of the parish is about 1,500. LITTLE FALLS. On the following; morninix after breakfast^ we drove to the " Little Falls,'^ and after bath* ing in the pool below, and inspecting a quartz vein crossing the river, we ascended half a mile further to the " Big Fall.'' The scenery was very beautiful, but owing to the lowness of the river, the Falls did not show to ad van t* age. This was the extreme point of our jour* ney, and we then commenced our return homewards. "VYe had resolved to pay en pas* sant a second visit to the Gilbert^ so we turn* ed off at the same point as on the previous day, and on ascending the hill overtook three young gentlemen with whom we were ac* I il 3 !i!l ' 1 -:-t- 'vyn-:- '^ 1 i ■ ' nI ' ■ ■ ■' 1 'i '1 4.- '^■■■-i '«.j,4 , ' • 17 quainted, and with whom we had an inter- view the day before, at the Devilh Rapids on passing that point in the carriage, we were shouted to from the opposite side of the river. We stopped and a canoe with one of our young friends crossed over ; he informed us with the g-reatest sincerity and delight that we need go no further to seek for gold, for that they had discovered as much as they wanted, in short that the supply Avas unlimit- ed. He invited us to go over, and inspect the discovery, and we did so, but to the ex- treme disgust of the party, we had to tell them, that if their riches would not make unto themselves wings and tlee away, that they would certainly lloat down the river, as the ** line gold" was nothing but very beauti- ful plates of mica. We recommended them not to waste any further time there, but to spend the rest of their holiday at the Gilbert. They were now on their wa}'^, in true Califor- nia rig — the most stalwart, a gentleman of the long robe, was striding along carrying their tent, another one a sack with provisions, and the third, picks spades and cooking im- plemenis. If their mothers knew' they w^ere out, they certainly would not have known them if they had then met them. On our ar- rival at the diggings, we found as much bus- tle as on yesterday. We first risited the claim of Poulin & Rodrique, where we found eight Bl 18 i r ■ \ I'i. < I !'. men, digging and washing, A lew days ago they had taken out, one nugget of pure gold, which they sold on the spot to Mr. Park r, for $200. On the three days previous to our visit, they had taken out successirely 16 oz., 10 oz. and 11 oz. per day. Mr. Douglas and I each washed a pan, which yielded eighty cents each Mr. Douglas then dug two large panfuls from the drift, which I assisted in washing. His pan pro- duced one nugget for which he paid $7.50, anvd several smaller pieces. My pan only produced about three dollars w^orth, which might have been owing to its being a lirst attempt. We paid the Poulins for the gold of the two pans $11.50. Durins" the time we were there w^e sa^v several large pieces washed from this claim, one of which was estimated at the value of $40. The Poulins were evidently the lucky men of the diggings, as the adjoining claims had hitherto yielded little more than working expenses. A young merchant from Quebec, who had just com- menced digging in the adjoining claim, had procured in all, about iourteen dollars worth of gold, i'l three days, and was very sanguine that he would soon strike the drift vs^hich had yndded to the Poulins so rich a harvest. I regret to say, that as if to show the uncertainty of all mining operations, though his pit was \ / 6 ago gold, r, lor J ovir 6 oz., pail, )nglas drift, L pro- $7.50, . only which a lirst e gold me we pieces ih was Poulhis ggiiigs, yielded . young st com- im, had s worth anguine lich had vest. I jertainty pit was I o 3 <-»■ o gd P9 o o n I— 19 •-'- / only a few yards from the Poulins, he was entirely disappointed. DEVIL'S RAPJDS. Having spent some hours, very much inter- ested in what we saw, and Mr. Douglas wish- ing to purchase some ' dust," the term applied to a collection of the smaller nuggets, he atk- ed Narcisse Rodrique. if he had any for sale. Kodrique grinned from ear to ear, and replied, '•Qui Monsieur," and at once accompanied us to his house on the clearing of his farm on the toj) of the hill. The house was a log cabin of about ten feet by fourteen, of a single apartment. There was no lock on the door, and though we had passed his wife and children reaping at some distance from the house, there was no fastening, and he only had to *' pull the bobbin," and the " latch fiew up." We entered and Kodrique drawing two three legged stools of very primitive construction towards an equally simple table, invited us to be seated. Then going to a sort of cupboard, the door of which was closed by a wooden button, he brought forth, two soup plates, both full of nuggets of all sorts and sizes, which he said was the common stock of him- self and partners. The quantity was weighed B 2 i nil i 1^1^ 20 out, which Mr. Doujcjlas wanted, the money w^as paid, and after I had selected and paid for a few nuggets for specimens, the soup plates w^ere returned to the cupboard, and we all left the house together. Rodrique to return to the diggings, and we to our car • riage, at the house, where we had left it. We arrived at Barbeai/s in time for tea. On our way we stopped at the Devil's Rapids, and ex- amined the Quartz vein, which there crosses the lines, and in which gold has been found. The American company had formed a sort of cofferdam with sand bags, at the west bank and were about to test the vein by blasting. The cofferdam proved inefficient and they ac- complished nothing. The night being fine with bright moon, we decided to go on to St. Marie, which we reached at a late hour. We slept at Blouins, and on the following morning, after breakfast, started for Quebec, and arrived atPointe Levis, just as the noon gun was fired. Thus ended very satisfactorily my first visit to the Chaudiere Mines. Shortly after this, on the 1 2th September, the Government sent Mr. Judah, of the Crown Lands Department, to visit and report " on the actual state of affairs on the Chaudiere," and on the 26th, immediately on his return, Mr. Judah sent in a report, since published, which contained really all that w^as worth 21 (( on 71 knowing. It is a very valuable report, and perfectly reliable so far as it goes, and it is important as being official. I shall give a summary. Mr. Judah pointed out that the operations up to that date were confined to Seigniories, there being none on the Crown Lands. He stated, with very little v^ariation, from the account I have given, the facts in connexion with the discovery and the work- ing. He states that within his knowledge the per eentage paid by the Poulins and Rodrique to Dr. Douglas, from May till the middle of July, amounted to $600. As might have been expected, many' had been disappointed, but he adds: — "I think that for the most part, the workings have been remunerative, for I did not see or hear myself, while I was there of any instance of dissatisfaction or disap- pointment." On one day, on which he visited, ten men got out of one pit $100 worth. He further says that one of the Poulins admitted to him, that the share of himself and his three brothers, had then exceeded $1,000 each, and he was inclined to think that this was an under estimate, as he subsequently saw in their nephew, Rodrique's house, a saucer con- taining, at the lowest estimate, $1,080, being his share. I may say that the two soup plates which I saw contained somewhat over eleven pounds weight of nuggets. Mr. J. believed that at least $18,000 worth of gold had been •99 |i taken out, at the date of this visit. He point- ed out what was obvious to everyone that the pits were being dug without any regard to order or present convenience, and totally regardless of future operations. He inciden- tally mentions a circumstance which h2,d an important bearing on the future, and which I fear did more to retard the development of the mines than any other thing. "A few days," says he, " previous to my visit to the mine, Dr. Reed of Quebec, had purchased the Vallieux and Orondin lots, for I was in- formed, $300 each, and had placed men to work on one- third shares ; these had been notified to desist by Messrs. Hagen & Co., and such notice being disregarded, the latter had sued out process against them ; matters were in this state when I left the mine." ^ Knowing the very great jealousy which exists in every part of the British Dominion, against privileges being confined to a few of the rich and'powerful to the exclusion of the poor, industrious and enterprising, on my re- turn from the mines, I published a paper, in which I admitted that while Grovernment was undoubtedly justified in making the con- cession to Mr. De Lery, at the time it did, that circumstances were now entirely altered, and I thought it would find on enquiry, that it might be expedient to resume the 28 0111 1- t the gard tally den- an ieh I it of few the lased s in- ill to been L Co., latter atters vhich inion, 3W of of the ay re- er, in inient e con- l, that 1, and e the patent, toifk the con^eht of ayid indemnifijin the Seigniors, as there could be no question but that the patent was valid." Government left the matter to the action of a committee of the Legislature, which unfortunately gave satis- faction to no party, as it neither recognized nor repudiated the rights of Mr. De Lery, but left the contending parties to fight it out, at much cost and trouble while as a consequence the development of this promising field has been very much retarded. This is the more to be regretted as the success of the first isol- ated efibrts, though far Irom displaying any- thing like scientific skill, w^as such as to hold out a prospect of very gratifying results, more especially a^the salubrity of the valley, and the facilities which it afforded for all the requirements of mining, with the cheapness of labour and provisions, could not] be found elsewh^M'e, and above all the disposition of the inhabitants was every thing that covild be de- sired. I accord most completely with Mr, Judah, when he says : — " I cannot conclude this report without bearing testimony to the quiet and good order existing at the (Tilhert mine. The miners consist chieily of French Canadian habitants from the adjoining parishes Avith a few persons from (Quebec and else- wiiere, and at neither of mv visits did I hear a wora spoken in anger." - ■^. Though the cloud no big-g^ei* than a man*s hand, as we have seen, had arisen, the season of 1863 closed satisfactorily, and most san- guine hopes were entertained for the next season. ^ During the next year, 1864, the Govern- ment issued regulations for the Grovernment ot the Grold Fields and appointed Major de Belief euille superintendent of the Chaudiere District. His duties were for a time merely ^ nominal, but towards the close of the season, some troubles arose in connection with dis- . puted rights, and application was made for police, but no serious disturbance ever took . place, though a great many miners had been attracted from various parts of the Province, and some from England. The Glenffarv men mustered in considerable force, and were en- ergetic and successful, and it is known that a very considerable quantity of gold was taken out during the season, a great portion of which was purchased by Messrs Crlover & ^ Fry and the Quebec Bank. Among the Grlen- gary men, McRae appeared to have been the most fortunate as he took one nugget > which was exhibited before the Gold Com- mittee of Parliament which weighed 12 oz. 14 dwts. and was purchased by the Quebec Bank. A new feature in mining was also in- troduced. Hitherto the miners had onlv duiy 25 mM pits of a few feet in depth, now the sinki^^g' oi shafts was commenced with considerai/ie success, and another great advantage was derived from this, whereas all operations of necessity had ceased on the commencement of winter, now the miners were enabled to work during winter with comfort and ad- vantage. : ^ i THE GILBERT. 1 took occasion to visit the mines on the Gilbert in March, 1865. It so happened that the day before our visit an attempt had been made to eject some of the miners from one of the claims, and when we drove up at noon the men who were at dinner came swarming' out of the boarding house, like bees out of a hive, when they are intruded on; they ap- peared also to be much in the same tempers, as it was evident they mistook us for myrmi- dons of the law, but as I had been introduc- ed to one of them in Quebec, who soon reco- gnized me, we met a very cordial reception, and were taken down one of the shafts, a little over twenty feet in depth, where though the day was intensely cold above, there was no frost, the temperature being quite pleasant, and the water which in sum- m mm 2G •^■11 11 mer was aimisance, was now ol great advant- age, as it enabled the miner to wash the gold, which could not be done at the surface, at that season. One of the miners washed a pan when I was in the shaft, and gave me for a quarter of a dollar a very pretty speci- men of gold which it contained. The men specially McCrae appeared well content with their fortune, and I have no doubt that they had good reason to be so, as a very large quantity of gold found its way to Quebec, and I am convinced if Grovernment had at this time made an arrangement with Mr. De Lery, and opened up the field to healthy competition on terms similar to those adopted by the Nova Scotia Government, that such action would have been attended with the like satisfactory results. Their not having done so led to numerous vexatious and ex- pensive suits at law, in which all parties gained a loss, and all mining operations were lor a time put a stop to. - :?;:.?• Before leaving the mine, I purchased from one of the miners, 9oz. of gold at $18 per oz , and from another Goz , at $17.50 per oz., being of the total value of $267. Mr. Douglas, who was with me, also purchased a few ounces. I purchased the ^.old on this occasion for an ex- periment, as I ii'U-nded to send it on to the As- sav Office, New York, in order to test its value. lift 1(1 rant* e gold, ace, at shed a ve me r speci- e men it with it they y large Quebec, had at Mr. De lealthy dopted at such ith the havino' iiid ex- parties s were from )er oz , , beinjv s, who •unces. an ex- he As- value. I sent it on free of charg'e by a friend, who also brought back the yield to me in $20 gold pieces from the mint. Here is the result : — There was some variation in the weight, as 9oz. Chaudiere weight only yielded at the mint 8oz. 70^, which, on being melted, gave 8oz. 59^ gold, of 884^^2^' fineness, and of the value of $156.97, subject to a deduction of 78 cents mintage, leaving a net value of $156.19. The Chaudiere 6oz. vielded 6oz. 18^, and after melting, 6oz. 09^, but only of the fine- ness of 874^^^ and of the value of $110.03; mintage being 55 cents, the net value was $109.48. My two packets thus yielded $264.34, consequently I v^as a loser by the experiment of $2 66, beside a month's interest. Shortly after this, my second visit, all ope- rations were suspended, for the causes men- tioned^ and had it not been for the energy of a QiTobec merchant, it is probable that min- ing would have ended for some indefinite time. But Mr. Thomas Grlover, who had al- ways had faith in the Chaudiere, had suffi- cient enterprise and intelligence to induce certain gentlemen in Quebec and New York to associate themselves in a company, Ihe now well-known DeLerij Gold Mirnt/g- Co. This company engaged in operations with much energy, and obtained acharter from the Canadian (lovernment in 1865. The large !i r I Iff l#tM 2S amount paid to Mr. A. DeEery, and the sums given to other interested parties, shewed that the company was in earnest, and the exten- sive and costly surveys, conducted by Mr. A. Michel, af the Canada Geological Survey, and by Professor Hinds, proved the correctness of the views already propounded, by Cunning- ham, Sir W. Logan, Professor Hunt, Mr. .Tas. Douglas and others, and naturally had a ten- dency to increase public contidence in the venture, but it is very much to be regretted that the general policy of the company was not at first calculated to secure co-oporatxns from the poor but independent miners, on whose good-will and aid experience has prov- ed that all such ventures must reallv rest. Two surveys were prosecuted and a crushing mill was built at a cost exceeding $10,000, but so far as the public is aware, no dividend has yet been paid. Latterly, the company has adopted a different policy, and has con- ceded large tracks, to be worked by parties independent of them. And for the last two years an English gentleman, Mr. Lock wood, the representative of a wealthy English com- pany, and who is himself familiar with Cali- fornia mining, has conducted very extensive operations, by the aid of improved machinery, and it is understood, that though he has had to contend with many obstacles, he has suc- ceeded in taking out such a quantity of gold, 50 '! le sums ed that exteii- Mr.A. ey, and Lness of mning- Ir. .Tas. a ten- ill the Gfretted ny was nations ers, on IS prov- Iv rest, rushing H0,000, ividend )mpany as con- parties st two kwood, sh coni- th Cali- :tensive jhinery, bas had las suc- ot'gold, as to encourage him to proceed on a still mere extensive scale during the present sea- son. The extent of the gold fields of the Chau- diere is admitted, by all geologists who have visited them, to be very great, and though active operations had hitherto been mainly confined to the Gilbert, duLoup, Famine and Des Plantes, but chiefly to the Gilbert^ there is no doubt that other fields will, on being tested, be found equally productive. It has been noted that the gold, up to this date, has been altogether taken i'rom the tributaries of the Chaudiere, on its eastern bank. Gold has been found on the Grand Coude, on the west- ern sHe, but not in such quantities as to ii:- duce miners to abandon the more productive and better known localities. Gold mining on the Chaudiere has hitherto been confined to the digging and washing the alluvions, aiid no one has yet undertaken to say positively whence it is derived. Sir Wm. Logan, who always writes w^th great caution, says: — " The source of the gold appears to be the crystalline schists of the Notrp iJame range, and the materials derived from their disinte- gration, not only constitute the superficial material among the hills of the range, but are spread over a considerable area to the south of them." (if -. {'■ Mr. Douglas says : — '• Whether quartz be the original matrix oi' all gold or not, a good deal of the large gold of the Chaudiere is found with more or less quartz adhering to it, and several specimens from placer depo- sits, are almost embedded in the rock, though no vein yielding such large g-old has yet been opened." Experience in other parts of the world has proved since this was written, that though quartz is perhaps the most general matrix, it is far from being the sole ; but in reference to the conjunction in the Chaudiere, every one must have been struck with it. In the par- cels of gold which I purchased, I always made allowance for it, thoug-h seldom sulfi- cient. Mr. Douglas has recorded the fact, that "Dr. Anderson obtained gold {wm small fragment chipped oifa small boulder at St. Mary's." The gold was invisible in the quartz, but after pulverisation, and being treated by mercury and evaporated in an iron spoon, a small triangular flake was deposited, such as I found on a piece of slate at the dig- i^'in^^s of Wine Harbour, N. S. At the time Mr. Douglas wrote (1863), what he said was true, that " It is yet an open ques- tion, whether after all the Canadian gold lields are to be a source of wealth to the Province, n -rtz be a good [ere is ring to depo- liough it been Id has hough fcrix, it :^nee to ry one e par- dways i sulti- e fact, h\' m t Ider at in the being cin iron >osited, bte dig- ), what 11 qiies- 1 lie Ids )Aance, or only a subject of curious enquir}'* to the geologist and mineralogist." Mr Michel, three years later, wro*e : — " Moreover, we must not lose sight ol the fact, that there exist many sections of modern allu- vions in the seigniory, capable of being work- ed out advantageously by the Californian me- thods, which permit theproHtable washing of gravelly alluvion, when the minimum return in gold yields only 10 cents per ton," and — " I have pointed out the abuwdance of quartz veins already discovered in the lands of the Seigniory, as well as to the favorable results of the assay, applied to the mineral extracted from the several veins," and in conclusion he expresses his belief " that the working out of the quartz of the seigniory, as well as its deposits of alluvion, is worthy the attention of those interested in gold mining and the coniidence of capitalists." I have never doubted that the fields of the ('haudiere, if skilfully and economically worked would prove what is termed in min- ing phrase available. Past failures have not diminished my confidence. 1 only wish that Hiere existed the means bv which we u'tld ascertain the actual amount of gold ^/oduced undei past not over judicious ope- §m 32 rations. I consider I am justified in forming an opinion from what I saw on my two visits, and I know it to be fact, t^^at on the 7th July, 1865, one of the nuggets dug from 8mith &; Dale's shaft, weighed 9 oz., and became the property fMr. Kobb, of Montreal, and that on the 27th of the same monthj another nugget, weighing 12 oz. 14 dwts., was found by Mc- Kae & Co., in their shaft, and this with about a pound of gold dust was exhibited by Mc- Kae to the Gold Committee of Parliament, on 8th February. Writing of the Chaudiere, in 1864, I used this language ; — '' We should not like, how- ever, to say, that every adventurer will make his fori vie; we would rather discourage those whc 3 at present engaged in useful and profitable occupations, from following the '' tiCnusfatuus^^^ of the gold seeker. The past season may furnish a profitable lesson ; a few like the Poulins will realise hand- some returns, a few more will make fair wages, the vast majority will be disap- pointed." 1 have seen this prediction fulfilled, but I again repeat my confidence in the Chau- diere is still undiminished, and I trust and believe the operations now being carried on by Mr. Lockwood, will be eminently success- ful. ^ ' qo ming' s^isits, July, th & e the latoii igget, J Mc- about r Me- rit, on used how- make urage lis el'ul igthe i past 'ssoii ; hand- make disap- hlled, Ohau- t and 3d on ccess- Since the preceding was written T have had an opportunity of looking over official re- turns in the Crown Lands Office, and I have collected a few facts, which being official are not only interesting but will, perhaps, carry some weight. Mr. Judah reports to the Commissioner, that, on the 21st December, 1866, there was taken out from a shaft on the left bank of the (lilbert, at a depth of 32 feet, a nugget mea- suring 6 1 inches long, and 2 J inches broad, weighing 81bs., 9oz., 12 dw^ts , or nearly 46 oz., and of the intrinsic value of |850. Mr. Judah oflered that sum for it, as he desired to procure it for the Paris Exposition, but the holders declined to give it under $1,200. The returns for this year are not very regu- lar, but Mr. Pope, the Superintendent, report- ed that during the two months ended 81st March, that, there were 7 shafts worked by 20 men without the Seigniory, and 7 shafts worked by 27 men within, and that in addi- tion to these there wer(» from 15 to 20 othors of the mean depth of six feet, but that laese were not worked continuously. On the alluvials within the Seigniory there were six shafts worked by 34 men, which had produced in 28 days $287 of gold. C 1 81 II i.t^ 1 .[-Oil the 18th BecGrrrber, the ageiit of ihe Reciprocity Go., fiirnishecl Mr. Pope a return, showing' that there was gold taken out by it within the previous faur weeks, asunder: From a pit with 5 men........ $700 (K) '' 'Munnel with 5 men ; 504 00 ' " <' pit with 8 men 275 0(» , And. casVuilly taken out of other pits, and ^ wliile prospecting for locations ,..J 1,200 00 . ■^ ■• Total $2,079 m In 1807, during- April and May, gold to the value of $6,240 was found, including one nug- o'et, weighing 4l1^s. 2 oz 10 dwts., 83 grs. taken Irom a pit on the left bank of the (rilbert, at tbe depth of 18 feet, on lot IG. This nugget was of the value of $1,000, and it together with another of the value of $800, became the property pf Mr. Thomas Glover, and l)oth were exhibited ])y him to many in Quebec, The returns are not complete, but show that up to olst December, )ii»20,14t) worth of gold had been realised, $6,000 of which had been taken by 10 m^^ii from McTlae's shall, during l:lie 00 days pveceding that date, giving at the U.ate of .$10 per man, per day. „ ., - . - in ISGS^ the rpKirtM* ending Dlst Maicli, «,'Mve ,'}()'{ o/. " . aist»luly, ." 452 " V :'i'i; ^ ** ;}Oth Oetoher ■" ^i^O " .;.> " ;]lst Dec. '' ;}24. '^ • // Totkl... ■ 1,415 oz. -^ During* the latter part of this year several of tho best shalts had to be abandoned owing to the over flow of Avater w^hich could not be overcome by the pumps then in use. • r .i; On the 17th October, 1870, Mr. Pope re- ported that in the month of May and June preceding, the rater being very low in the rivers, surface gravel was worked on the de^ Ptantes, Branch, Famine ^ du Luup, and Chau- diere, and sufficient gold obtained to make H cover working expenses, that during the past eighteen months, 1,455 oz. of gold had been taken out, all but a few ounces, ivithin the Seigniory of liigaud de Yaudreuil, and that during that time he had issued 749 private , licenses. . .c - ' It must be borne in mind, that work was never carried on continuously, but was sub- ject to serious and protracted interrui:>tions at one time from flooding of the shafts, and again from the opposite cause, drought. On the 5th January of this year, Mr. Pope reported Ihat the Canadian and North West Land and Mining Company of which Mr. Lockwood was manager, had been obliged to abandon for a time lot 15 and transfer its plant to lot No. 8, where they had now a shaft . suiik to the depth of 94 feet. Mr. Lockwood i' Ifi 3( has since been obliged to visit England, and dTiTing his absence no operaiions were carried on, except sinking the shaft, and the returns show that during the three quarters ended 30th June, only 85 oz. of gold were taken out. Mr. Lockwood, who, I have already stated, has had la,rge experience in gold mining oper- ations in other countries, having completed iiis arrangements in England, has recently returned to Quebec, and is about to resume his operations on the Chaudiere. Extensive as they have hitherto been they are only to be looked tipon as exploratory in order to map out the exact courses of the ancient auriferous Tivers beds, which he has proved are not to be reached at a less depth, than ninety feet. Large sums have been already expended but not more than was necessary, and for which iprevious experience had fully prepared him. Me resumes operations w th greater confi- dence than eTer, and with every expectation that the operations of the present season will yield very satisfactory practical results. 1 iiave always held and expressed the opinion "that both science and capital would be neces- sary for the proper development of the Chau- diere Grold Regions, and I am happy to be- lieve that I shall soon see this opinion realis- ed. Mr. Lockwood s success will not only cbetieiit his own Oompany, but the DeLery r 37 and Tied urns ided I out. ated, 3per- leted ently sume Vii as to be map ltous lot to leet. Ihnt ^rhich him. conti- atioii L will ts. I »inioii leces- Jhau- o be- •ealis- only Lerv Company especially, as well as all who are interested in gold operations in the Seigniory. I am glad to learn that the position of the I)e Lery Company, has been of late much impro- ved, and that recent legislation has enabled it to arrange satisfactorily some troublesome law suits. On the suspension of work by the indi- pendent miners, G-OYernment very properly decided to withdraw the inspector from the Chaudiere, as also the police force, but I am in- formed that v/hen operations are resumed on the extensive scale proposed, and should cir- cumstance require it, all necessary protection will be aftbrded. In conclusion, I may say that Mr. Lockwood has evidence, that up to this date, not less than $700,000 of gold has been taken from the Chaudiere, and that the work has been done so carelessly and unscientifi- cally, that it would pay well to go over the same ground again. I have had ample evi- dence that during the eighteen months end- ing in March 1869, Messrs Cxlover & Fry of Quebec, purchased from independent diggers in the Seigniory of Rigaud de Vaudreuil, 999 oz. of gold which they remitted to E)igland, and which proved to be of the value of #17,500. ^ r Criande Alice, Quebec, 8th June, 1872. / 38 ROUTE X^D TABLE OF DISTANCES TOTIIECHAU DIERE GOLD MINES. f..^; By Ferry — From Quehoo to Levis, (T'ovvii,) Miles o cS i< r; O ;h «+- c rfl a o it ii a St. Henry, (Village,) fSt. Isidore, " Ste. Marie, " ]. St. Joseph, '' • Plantes, (River,) *' St. Francois, (Village,).,... " Toiitte des Pins, (River,) « Famine, " ..., St. rioorge, (Village,) « ^ J ersey, (Post Offtce,) " a '\ / i - «+- . o fi O > I— ' .l-H ' Metgermette, (River,) " (i Portage, (River,) Mario vv, (Post Office,) Boundary Line, , " .., n lUi 9 10 12 5 H 11 5 1 9 ;hau ^.. • 1 • • • lo.i » • • y , • • • 10 a • * 12 « • • « • • 6i • • • i-i w • 4 3A 1^, ')1 ... 11 ■■*■ A,' ^' % V -