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/■

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE
PRECIOUS METALS

BY
ELFRIC DREW INGALL

Associate R.S.M., Chief of Section of Mines, Geological Survk

OF Canada

TORONTO

Journal of the Canadian Bankers' Association

1899

''* » '< '^r>i>

(

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE
PRECIOUS METALS

Elfric Drew Ingall

Associate R.S M., Chief of Section of Mines, Geological Survey

of Canada

IN writing on the subject set forth in the above he.iding, it
will be impossible in the time and with the space at the
disposal of the writer, to deal with the question in great detail.
It may be interesting however to bring out some points illu; tra-
tive ot the present position of our country in comparison with
the other contributors to the gold and silver output of the world
and to compare it with that held in the past as well as to
attempt to form some opinion as to what rank we may possibly
take in the future.

The figures used throughout this article are, for the Do-
minion, those issued by the Mines Section of the Geological
Survey of Canada. For the rest of the world the annual vohmie
issued by the Engineering and Mining Journal of New York,
entitled the " Mineral Industry " has been adopted as authority.
The data given in the latter represent probably as close an
approximation as it is possible to attain in such figures, especially

•ttf-mm^^mw

2 CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS MF.TALS

as in the case of several of the large producing countries no
accurate official statements are available. For Canada the in-
formation is collected, checked and compiled with great care,
and probably represents the actual output as accurately as that
can ever be arrived at.

Canada's place in the world

In 1898 Canada produced, as nearly as can be ascertained,
some $13,700,000 worth of gold, thus bringing her to fifth place
amongst the countries of the world with a contribution of 4.79
per cent of the total. Going back to the commencement of the
present decade, we find that in 1890 Canada occupied the
eleventh place in orJer of contribution, being credited with
about I per cent of the total.

The year 1897 is the last for which corrected figures are
available at the present moment, and the growth of the country
in regard to the rest of the world will be well shown by the
figures in the following tabulation of the two years.

world's production of gold

1897 1890

per per per per

cent. cent. cent. cent.

Australasia 22.4 24.7

British India 30 1.6

Canada 2.5 1.0

British Guiana 0.9 0.9

United Kingdom and other 0.5 o.i

British Empire 29.3 283

Witwatersrand 21.7

Other African 2.2

Africa 23 9 8.2

United States 24.8 273

Mexico 30 06

Colombia 16 3.0

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Brazil 06 0.4

Chili 0.6 1.2

Venezuela 0-4 ^4

Other South American, less than X% °-5 o-4

America (except U.S.A.) 7-5 78

Russia 90 21. 1

Austria Hungary 0.9 1.2

Germany o-8

Other less than %% 02 0.2

Europe 10.9 225

China and Corea 3-i 5°

Japan 0.3 0.4

Asia 3-4 5 4

99.8 995

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CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

I I

In the above table the figures are given only to the nearest
first decimal, so that although not quite accurate, they show the
relative importance of the contributing countries sufficiently
well. Whilst, however, the improvement there shown in Can-
ada's ranking is very gratifying, it is well for us to remember
that we have yet much ground to cover before we can proudly
rank ourselves with the really large producers. Thus in 1898,
four countries, viz : the Witwatersrand district of South Africa,
(25.7 per cent.) ; the United States, (22.5 per cent.) and Austra-
lasia, (21.5 per cent.) are to be credited collectively with nearly 70
per cent, of the whole ; Russia coming m fourth with 9 per
cent. Still when we reflect that in 1886 the production of the
whole of Africa, which is now over $79,000,000, or nearly
28 per cent of the whole, was less than $1,500,000 and that the
present position of that continent is mostly due to the discovery
of one small district, the chances are good for Canada with its
large areas of as yet little known mineral-bearing formations.

During the period from 1890 to 1898 the world's annual
production of gold increased from nearly 120.5 million dollars to
over 285.75 million dollars or about 137 per cent., the increase for
1898 over 1897 being nearly 20 per cent.

Turning now to Silver, we find that Canada produced in
1898 over 2^ million dollars' worth. This was a decrease in
value of over 22 per cent, as compared with 1897, although the
quantity decreased but a little over 20 per cent. ; a result due
of course to the falling price of the metal. The only data avail-
able for the world are those for the latter year, and taking the
same period as for gold, the figures are as below :

WORLD S PRODUCTION OF SILVER

per
cent.

Australasia 8.g6

Canada . . 3.10

United Kingdom 0.16

British Empire

United States of America

Mexico 3014

Bolivia 5 • 85

Chili 2.62

Peru 1 . 04

Colombia o 92

Central America o . go

Argentina 0.18

America (except U.S.A.)

1897

41.63

1890

per

cent.

cent.
6.17
0.30
0.22

cent.

12.22

6.69

31.48

28. g8
7.20
2.g6

1-57
0.48

1. 13

40.56

0-35

42.69

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

per

cent.

Germany H.03

Spain 2 . 34

France i . 26

It;ily 0.68

Austria Hungary 0.47

Russia o.iC

Norway and Sweden 0.12

Turkey 0.03

EUROI'E

Asia (Japan)

1897

l8go

per

cent.

4-35
1.23
1.70
0.20
I. 21
0.08
0.23
0.03

cent.

13.09

9-03

1-39

1.02

99-83

99-99

Consulting the tabulation given above, we find that the
Dominion has advanced not only in production of gold, but also
in that of silver, and that her position amongst the countries of
the world is, similarly, greatly bettered. In 1890 she produced
a little over $419,000 worth " commercial value " of the white
metal, and fourteen other countries ranked above her. In 1897
she is credited with over $3,300,000 worth and stands sixth.

In this connection it must not be overlooked that the value
of the world's production of the metal has fallen off very con-
siderably since 1890. In that year the average price of bar
silver was nearly $1.05 per ounce, whilst in 1897 it had fallen to
about 59.8c., and in i8g8 it was about 58,3c. This does not, of
course, affect comparisons of the different countries one with
another. It is however interesting to note that on account of
this fall in price the total value of the world's production in
1897, viz., nearly 107.2 million dollars, was under 62 per
cent, of that of 1890, viz., nearly 173.75 million dollars, not-
withstanding that the quantity in 1897 was over 33 per cent,
larger than in 1890. For Canada, the production figures of
1897 were nearly eight times those for i8go in value, and nearly
fourteen times in quantity.

Canada's place in the empire

It will be interesting to note also Canada's place with
respect to the rest of the Empire. In the tables already given
it has been shown that in gold the British Empire taken as a
whole ranked higher in 1890 than any other contributor, outdoing
the next in rank, viz.: the United States by one per cent. In 1897

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V/ORLD'S PRODUCTION

J890 - >S9r

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vjoRLDs pRODucTioH OF Silver,

1^90 ?5 189T

1
1
]
1

the latter
had incre;
bulk of tl:
Colonies,
contributi

Austr
Britis
Cana(
Uritis
Unite

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ones aval]
total prodi
the Britisl
this she m
rand, the
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As a s
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dealt with,
cent, to ov£

■><?«;(

CANADA A': A PRODUCER OF THU PRECIOUS METALS 5

the latter country still occupied second place, but the Empire
had increased her lead to over 4 per cent. Of cour; e the r,reat
bulk of the gold product is to be credited to the / tr^lasian
Colonies, but Canada has more than doubled her percentage
contribution as will be seen from the figiires rjiven I' • ow

GOLD PRODUCTION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

1897 '890

Australasia 76.4 percent. 87.3percent.

British India 10.2 " 5.6

Canada 8.5 " 3.5

British Guiana 3.1 " 3.2 "

United Kingdom and other 1.7 " 0.3 "

99.9 99.9

In 1898, taking the preliminary figures, which are the only
ones available at present, the Empire kept its lead. Of the
total production of the world estimated at about 285.75 millions
the British possessions are to be credited with 30 per cent. In
this she maintains her leading position, overtopping Witwaters-
rand, the next highest by over 4 per cent., and the United
States by about 7 per cent. Canada again advanced her
position in the Empire very considerably over 1897, contributing
now nearly 16 .'er cent. This large increase in one year is, of
course, nearly all due to the working of the placer deposits of
the Yukon District.

Asa silver producer the British Empire occupies a much
more lowly position in the world than in respect cf gold. In
1890 she was credited as shown in the tabulation already given
with a litt'e under 6.7 per cent., and although in 1897 the figures
show a gratifying increase to nearly 12J per cent., this is still
very much below the contribution of the large silver producing
countries. As with gold by far the largest amount of the silver
produced within the bounds of Greater Britain must be credited
to the Australasian colonies. This is shown by the figures
below, where it will also be noted that Canada has materially
improved her position within the Empire in the period of years
dealt with, the value of her share having increased from 4.5 per
cent, to over 25 per ,ent. of the whole.

-f f |r»|ii tliO'i H i K i mwy^.-.

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CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS
SILVER TRODUCTION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

1897

Australasia 73 . 3 per cent .

Canada , 25.4 "

United Kingdom 1.3 "

100. o

1890
92.2 per cent.
4-5 "
3 3 "

100. o

HISTORY OF Canada's production of the precious metals

So far the output of the precious metals hasonly been spoken
of in its proportional relationship to the rest of the world. A
statistical study of the subject would hardly be complete, how-
ever, without giving the actual figures. These are given below
for the forty-one years commencing i'858. The annual totals are
compiled from data taken from the reports of the Section of
Mines of the Geological Survey Department.

PRODUCTION OF GOLD IN CANADA

1858.. $ 705,000

1859 1,615,072

i860 2,228,543

l86i 2.666,113

1862 2,798,774

1863 4,186,011

1864 4,126,199

1865 3.987,562

1866 3.153.597

1867 3.013,431

1868 2,773.527

1869 2,123,405

1870 1,724,343

187 1 2,174412

1872 1.866 321

1873 1,536871

1874 2,022,862

^875 2.693.533

1876 2,020,233

1877 ' 1.949444

1878 1,538.394

1879 «i,582.358

J88o 1,304,824

1881 1. 313. 153

1882 1,246,268

1883 1,113,246

1884 1,058,439

1885 1,148,829

1886 1,413,196

1887 1,187,804

1888 1,098,610

1889 1,295,159

1890 1,149,776

1891 930,614

1892 907,601

1893 976,603

1894 1,128,688

1895 2,083,674

^^96 2,754,774

1897 6,027,016

1898 13,700,000

The record as given above begins with the year 1858,
when gold was first seriously mined in British Columbia. About
1846 gold mining was commenced on the Beauce placer gravels
in Quebec, but the work done was slight, and practically no
figures of production are on record before 1863, and even after
that date the figures available are known to be partial and un-
reliable. Thus the totals given from 1858 to 1862 inclusive are
those for British Columbia, the only contributor. From that time

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^<»4».«V-tWA .Jtt ,

CANADA AS A PRODVCEP. OF THE PRECIOUS METALS 7

until 1885, the production of Quebec being relatively so slight,
Nova Scotia and British Columbia stand practically alone as
gold producing districts in the Dominion, the former contri-
buting to the total, amounts varying between about 5 per cent,
and about 38 per cent. Taking then the figures as given above we
notice, firstly, that from 1858 to 1863 we have a sudden increase,
from under three-quarter million dollars to nearly four and one-
fifth millions. This was mostly due to the discovery of the
very rich placers of the Cariboo district in British Columbia,
although after 1862 Nova Scotia contributed a small but
increasing proportion. The banner year previous to 1897 was
1863 both for British Columbia and for the Dominion, the one
following the other owing to the western province being, until
quite recently, the preponderating factor. Since that year the
output of the placers of British Columbia has shown a steady
falling away and with it that of the Dominion. The year 1871
showed a slight tendency towards returning to the standard of
1863, due to the discovery and working of the Cassiar placers,
and from 1873 to 1875 we also find an increased output as well as
a slight augmentation in 1886. With these exceptions decrease
was he rule till in 1892 and 1893 we find the output of both
British Columbia and the Dominion at their lowest, the latter
being credited with but $907,601 in 1892, the former arriving at
its minimum, viz : about $379,535 in 1893.

During the period of years above described fresh discoveries
of shallow placer ground in British Columbia were made from time
to time, but they served, as stated, but to modify the falling
away and occa'jionally reverse that condition for short periods.

The contributions from the Nova Scotia quartz mining
industry, although until recent years comparatively small com-
pared with that of the Pacific Province, has been an important
and steadily increasing factor. True the record has not been
one of absolutely unvaried increase. Following its highest record
in 1867 there was an average falling away in the years that
followed up to 1881, when it touched bottom at nearly $210,000,
but since then the production curve has shown a steadily rising
tendency.

Until 1885, with the exception of the very slight and spas-
modic output of the placers of Quebec, already alluded to, Nova

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

Scotia and British Columbia were the only producing Provinces.
In that year, however, the placer gold of the Saskatchewan
washings and the Yukon District began to be an appreciable if
variable quantity. Owing to the discovery of the Klondike the
gold out-put of the North-West Territories has been of increas-
ing importance, until in 1897 it takes first place. British
Columbia was then outdistanced, notwithstanding the rapid
increase in her product during the few years preceding
1897 due to the working of the ore deposits of the
Southern Kootenay section. In the early nineties Ontario began
to appear on the scene with the gold of her quartz mines and
has steadily improved her standing with regard to the Dominion
output as a whole. The relative position of the various Prov-
inces in 1892 — the year of Canada's lowest production of gold —
was as follows : Nova Scotia, nearly 43 per cent. ; British Col-
umbia, about 44 per cent.; North-West Territories and Yukon,
about 10 per cent. ; Ontario and Quebec, a little over 2 per cent.
In 1897 we have the North-West Territories and Yukon, about
42 per cent. ; British Columbia about 45 per cent. ; Nova Scotia
about 9 per cent., and Ontario about 3 per cent.

In 1898 the proportions had changed to the following: Yukon
and North-West Territories, as per nearest attainable estimate,
about 72.9 per cent.; British Columbia, 20.6 per cent.; Nova
Scotia, 4.4 per cent. ; Ontario, nearly 2 per cent.

By reference to the before given table of Canada's gold pro-
duction the results of these increases in all the provinces are
evident in the very large proportional growth in the figures of
late years. In 1892, her lowest year since 1863, she had sunk
to a total output of a little over $900,000 of gold. In the five
following years, to 1897, the figures show an increase of 564 per
cent., and the country had regained all the ground lost in the 34
years since 1863, and overtopped that year by about 44 percent.
The increase of late has been very rapid, from 1894 to 1895, 84.5
per cent. ; from 1895 *" 1896, 32.2 per cent. ; from 1896 to 1897,
1 18.7 per cent., and from 1897 to 1898 over 127 per cent.

In value the silver product of Canada ranks far below that
of gold. In 1898 the latter constituted over 36 per cent, of the
total mineral output of the Dominion, taking first place, with
coal second, whilst the value of the silver produced was but a

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Calen-

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dar

Year

Oiinc

1887

190,^

1888

208, c

1889

181, e

1890

is8,;

1891

225, (

1893

41..

i8q,1

1894

, ,

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1896

1897

5.<

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRRdOUS MRTAIS 9

little over two and-a-half millions or nearly 7 per cent, of the
whole. It thus ranked fourth only in importance, being over-
topped by the estimated value, doubtless too low, of the building
material credited to that year.

Previous to 1887 thcru are no compk te and accurate figures
of the production of this metal for the whole of Canada, but the
quantities and values since that year are given below. They
are taken from the report of the Section of Mines of the Geologi-
cal Survey of Canada.

PRODUCTION OF SILVBR IN CANADA

Calen-
dar
Year

Oni
Ounces
190,495

rARIO

Value
$186,304

QUKBKC

British

Columbia

TOTAL

Ounces
146,898

Value
$143,666

Ounces
17.690

Value

Ounces
355.083

Value

1887

$17,301

$347,271

1888

208,064

195.580

I49.j<i8

140,425

79,780

74.993

437. 23 i

410,998

1889

181,609

169,986

148.517

139,01a

53.«9a

49.787

383.3'8

358.785

1890

•S8,7«5

166,016

17'. 545

179,436

70,427

73.666

400,687

419,118

1891

225,633

222,926

185,584

183,357

3.306

3.266

414.523

409.549

189a

41.581

36.4-i.S

191,910

168,113

77. '60

67,592

310,651

272,130

I«93

8,689

126,439

195,000

■ •

330,128

1894

101,318

63.830

746,379

470.219

847,697

534,049

1895

81.753

53.369

1,496,522

976,930

«, 578,275

1,030,299

1896

70,000

46,942

3. '35.343

2,102,561

3.205,343

2,149,503

1897

5.000

2,990

80,475

48,116

5.472.971

3.272,289

5.558,446

3.323.395

It will be noticed that, except for 1890, Ontario Iield first
place as a silver producing Province from 1887 to 1891, con-
tributing during those years roughly between 40 and 55 per cent,
of the whole. Quebec came second, running, in general, from
10 to 13 per cent, lower than Ontario, whilst British Columbia
contributed a small and variable proportion of from about 5 to
rather under 20 per cent, from 1887 to 1890, and under i per
cent, in 1891. Following the period already described, we find
Ontario falling away suddenly in 1892 and finally disappearing
entirely in 1894, contributing nothing until 1897, and even then
a very small amount. Quebec also shows a deciease, until in
1897 it is credited with less than i^ per cent, of the total, and
to British Columbia is practically due all the rest.

It will be noticed that in 1892 the value of the silver out-
put of Canada was at its lowest ebb, amounting to but a little
over one-quarter of a million dollars, whilst in 1897 it had risen
to nearly three and a third millions dollars worth, increasing

CANADA AS A PKODfCr.R OF THR PKKCIOVS MRTAI.S

about 12J times. This result is practically due to the develop-
ment of the ore deposits of Southern Kootenay in British
Columbia, and especially to the o[)onin(^ up of the argentiferous
galena mines of the Slocan district. The silver credited to
Quebec r(!presents the small proportion of that metal, amount-
ing only to a few ounces per ton, contained in the cupriferous
pyrites ores mined in the Eastern Townships. These are mostly
shipped to New Jersey and used as a source of sulphur in acid
making. Thus in this case the metal can be counted simply
as a by-product, and during the suspension of work on the
silver veins of the Thunder Bay district of Ontario the Pacific
province was left as the only silver producer proper in the
Dominion.

From about 1868 to 1878 the Thunder Bay district occupied
a prominent position. The famous Silver Islet mine with its
wonderfully rich ore, was at the zenith of its career, and from
its discovery in 1868 to 1884, when it closed down, it turned out
about $2,250,000 worth of the metal. Other mines nearer Port
Arthur were also worked ior periods of several years about this
time, but the district fell off decidedly after the first few years
of prosperity, and for a time the silver production of Canada,
which was practically that of this district, dropped to little or
nothing. About 1885, however, several other veins were dis-
covered south-west of Port Arthur, in the same formation and
with similar ores, and the revival due to the working of these
mines is evidenced in the figures for 1887 to 1893 given in the
table. These were practically closed for several years, and it
is only during the last two years, 1897 and 1898, that any ore
has been taken from this district.

In 1898 British Columbia still contributes the great Lulk of
the silver values, being responsible for nearly 92 per cent., the
balance being due to the operations in Quebec and to the
reopening of one of the silver mines near Port Arthur already
alluded to.

Canada's possibilities in the future

So far we have dealt with Canada in her relationship to the
rest of the world and with her present and past position as a
producer of the precious metals.

CANADA AS A PkOUVCER OF TH" PRECIOUS METALS

Naturally this leads one to ask what of tiie future? She
has apparently started in the past few years on a course which
is rapidly bringing her to the front. Is it likely this will continue ?

We enter here into the region of surmise and the role of
prophet is a position neither easy nor gratifying to HU. Still there
is a certain amount of geological and other evidence available
upon which one may justly base some general conclusions as to
the possibilities for the future, always remembering that the
element of chance is a very dominant factor in prospecting,
which can by no means as yet claim to be an exact science.

The causes affecting our future are both economic and
geological. In regard to the first a moment's thought will make
them eviilent.

Firstly we have a population of only about five million,
with considerable areas of territory, the mineral possibilities of
much of which are fairly certain, and still larger areas where less
is known, but where the probabilities are great. Eliminate from
our consideration the very large proportion of the population and
of the local capital of the country, which will necessarily be
busied with other pursuits, and we have but a handful of the
people left, wholly inadequate to prospect and work even the
more accessible portions of our mineral territories.

Thus it is evident that should we desire to see still more
rapid advancement in the future we shall be largely dependent
upon outside assistance, especially in regard to capital, and in
many districts for a supply of prospectors. The discovery of
exceptionally rich, shallow, placer ground, as in the Klondike,
may from time to time bring us more rapidly to the front for
short periods of years, but for permanent growth we must look
rather to the extension of our operations in the systematic
exploration of our veins and other mineral deposits, and of our
less rich and accessible, but more extensive gold bearing gravels.
These industries, however, requiring a considerable expenditure
of capital, are necessarily of slower growth. On them must be
based, however, our hopes for the permanent prosperity of our
mineral industries.

A good instance of this is found in the history of British
Columbia previously mentioned. Here, in the early sixties, we
had discoveries of very rich placers at various places, much of

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

it comparatively shallow ; a rush of prospectors ; a few very rich
Cieek beds worked for a few miles in length, yielding start-
lingly large returns ; a rapid growth of the national gold out-
put and continuance of the same for a few years, followed by a
gradual decline broken only by the occasional discovery of other
rich spots, serving to revive onr prosperity for a time. Then
after some years, as a secondary result of the previous develop-
ment, discoveries of veins and other deposits of rich ores of
the precious metals, and as the country became opened up and
accessible, the development of a permanent and steadily growing
mineral industry.

The growth in our output of gold and silver on the latter
basis will evidently be slower, but it will be steady and certainly
of greater and more lasting effect on the prosperity of the com-
munity. A much larger proportion of the wealth produced
remains in the country, not as in the Yukon, where so large a
percentage ol the value is carried away by alien prospectors to
be expencied outside of Canada.

Even in vein mining, nowever, with our large areas where
the possibilities are good, it is not unreasonable to hope for the
discovery of exceptionally rich deposits and districts, and there
is no reason to regard as impossible a repetition to a greater or
less extent of the history of South Africa already alluded to.

A further consideration, rendering probable a great and
permanent increase in our mineral industry in the immediate
future, is found in the fact that outside capital not only in Eng-
land but in the United States has begun to realize the great
possibilities of the country. Tlie increasing regard in which
Canada is being held as part of the Empire will also undoubtedly
cause greater enquiry from the Old Country as to the chances
here for profitable investment. Such inquiry can be given a
satisfactory answer.

In the east we have the numerous gold veins of Nova Scotia
worked as yet to comparatively slight depths and with small
capital, and yet for about 35 years yielding steadily, as a whole,
the most satisfactory returns on the capital invested. Judging
from the results of the work being done there by the Geological
Survey and considering the very favorable situation of these
districts for easy access and cheap working, it would seem as if

'."n ■ " "imii im^^mffrt'mmmum

, lUb.. ,.p.iiiw*Mj.ja..^-.53j,:F=

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

the province offered a fint; field for the investment of a much
larger capital than is at present involved, and that exploitation
at much greater depths and on a much more extensive scale is
likely to yield the most satisfactory results.

In Quebec, it is probable that something might yet be done
to revive the working of the placer gravels of the province, and
perhaps the last word has not been said as to the quartz veins
of the surrounding district.

In Eastern Ontario the gold-bearing veins worked many
years ago, and then idle for a time, are now again receiving
attention, and the difficulties formerly experienced in economic-
ally treating some of the refractory ores wUl doubtless be over-
come by improved methods. In Western Ontario, in the Lake
of the Woods, Rainy River, Seine and other districts south-
west of Port Arthur, as well as in other areas of Huronian rocks,
situated around Lake Superior, numerous gold-bearing veins are
being exploited, a number being on the producing list.

There are numerous other areas of these rocks in this part
of the province, the existence of which has been proved by the
explorations of the Geological Survey, and doubtless good mines
could be opened up in many of these which are as yet unpros-
pected or only partially searched. The work of the Survey,
both in the eastern and western districts, in further delimiting
these Huronian areas and in studying the geological associa-
tions of the veins, will doubtless prove an important element in
the progress of further discovery and development.

Throughout all the Eastern Provinces argentiferous galena
deposits have been found from time to time in past years and
worked to a greater or less extent. None of these are being
exploited at present and they have not so far proved to carry
so high a content of silver as those of British Columbia, but
being mostly more accessible and in districts where labour is
cheap, some of them will probably be eventually worked at a
profit.

The mines in the areas of Animikie rocks around Thunder
Bay have yielded in the past silver ores proper of an exception-
ally rich grade. Some of that taken out of the famous Silver
Islet mine was fairly held together by metallic silver and
thereby rendered difficult to extract. Although but one of

^w-.w-

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

these mines is being operated at present, areas of similar rocks
are known to exist elsewhere in Ontario, and one may fairly
hope for further discoveries.

Passing westerly across the prairie lands, we come to the
range of mountainous country, constituting British Columbia,
which is known to be highly metalliferous through the length of
two continents. The occurrence of gold, even if not always in pay-
able quantities, in so many of the rivers running from the eastern
slopes of the Rocky Mountains, is a most encouraging sign.
For some distance along the North Saskatchewan River, near
Edmonton, gold has been washed from the river bars for years,
and with the advent of dredges now being put in operation this
and other rivers should become of much greater importance.

The rich gold gravels of the Klondike and other tributaries
of the Yukon River extend our gold-bearmg areas far into the
North, and even if one must regard as unreasonable the concep-
tion lately indulged in by the public, of one vast placer
deposit extending southward from thence to the known gold
placers of British Columbia, we may justly believe that many
rich districts will yet be located at points along this stretch of
over 300 miles.

In British Columbia, to the north of the Canadian Pacific
Railway, lies an area of mountainous country about 800 by 400
miles, which is very difficult to travel, being opened up by but few
trails, and although fairly well prospected for the shallower gold
gravels, it may yet be regarded as mostly an unknown territory
with all its possibilities before it. This may be said to be
especially the case in regard to veins and other deposits of ores
of the precious metals, and to the poorer and deeper gravels
suitable only for hydraulicing, as well as to any river bed de-
posits so situated as to require to be dealt with by dredging.
The era of placer mining by these methods can, however, now
be said to have begun with good chances for great expansion in
future years.

To the south of the Canadian Pacific Railway the province
is fairly well opened up, and the railways projected and in con-
struction assure favourable economic conditions in the future.
In the opeidtions in the Trail Creek, Slocan, Nelson, Boundary
Creek, East Kootenay and other mining camps, exist the begin-

•WST

■5^

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

nings of a new stage in the mineral development of this province,
and we may expect to find numerous other similar camps
started in the region to the north as the opening up of the
country leads to new discoveries and renders vein mining pos-
sible.

In the United States, the mining districts which are the
largest producers of the precious metals, lie along the extension
southward of the mountain ranges which are found in Briti h
Colum't^ia, and although this does not necessarily assure the ex-
istence of equal mineral wealtli in our portion of these ranges,
the fact has very important bearings.

The views of Dr. G. M. Dawson, the director of the Geo-
logical Survey, carry especial weight in this connection, he
having spent so many years in studying the geology, etc., of this
province. His conclusions will be found in the following quota-
tion from his report on the " Mineral Wealth of British Col-
umbia," published by the Geological Survey in 1887. The ten
years that have lapsed have served but to prove their correctness.

" In preceding paragraphs particular attention has been
" drawn to certain notable differences between the better known
" and more fully developed regions of the southern part of the
" Pacific slope and those of the Province of British Columbia,
"chiefly as a note of caution against the rash assumption of
" complete uniformity in conditions too often made without due
" investigation. The salient fact of the general identity of the
" structural features of the Cordillera region south and north,
" however, remain, and is such that from this alone, even with-
'• out taking into consideration the numerous and important
"discoveries already made, we should be justified in predicting
" an eventual great development of metalliferous mining in the
" province. It has already been stated that British Columbia
'■ includes a length of over 800 miles of the most important
"metalliferous belt of the continent, and adding to this the
"northern extension of the same belt, beyond the 6oth parallel,
" we find that within the boundaries of Canada its entire length
"is between 1,200 and 1,300 miles. This, as I have elsewhere
" noted, is almost precisely equal to the whole length of the
" same region included by the United States from our southern
" line to the northern boundary of Mexico, and after having

CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS

"enjoyed exceptional opportunities of investigation, I feel no
" hesitation in recording my belief that the northern moiety of
" the Cordillera will ultimately prove to be susceptible of a
" development corresponding in importance to that which has
" already been attained in the southern."

•* With respect to vein-mining proper, we have as yet to
" chronicle merely the first steps, but in the southern part of
" the province the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway
" has at length afforded the necessary impetus in this direction,
" and it is very gratifying to find, as an immediate consequence,
" that this part of the country is rapidly beginning to prc^ve its
" valuable character and to justify the confidence which those
" best able to form an opinion on the subject have always felt,
" and frequently expressed. Everything which has been ascer-
" tained of the geological character of the province as a whole,
" tends to the belief that so soon as similar means of travel and
" transport shall be extended to what are still the more
" inaccessible districts, these also will be discovered to be
" equally rich in minerals, particularly in the precious metals,
•' gold and silver."

Regarded then as a producer of the precious metals, Canada
would seem to have a bright future before her. Even if in the
past she has not held a very prominent position, the progress
recently made has been very rapid and encouraging, whilst a
study of all the conditions seems certainly to justify the belief
that she will yet hold her place amongst the larger producing
countries of the world.

•mmm

mtk