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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> 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 
( 
 
 CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE 
 PRECIOUS METALS 
 
 i 
 
 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 
 
 mm 
 
 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 
 
 ^^^^^-]^^:l^ -« 
 
 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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 z::*^ 
 
 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 
 
 per 
 
 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 
 
 per 
 
 per 
 
 cent. 
 
 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 
 
 ^1 
 
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vjoRLDs pRODucTioH OF Silver, 
 
 1^90 ?5 189T 
 
Ui 
 
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 1 
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 C. 
 
 the latter 
 had incre; 
 bulk of tl: 
 Colonies, 
 contributi 
 
 Austr 
 Britis 
 Cana( 
 Uritis 
 Unite 
 
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 ones aval] 
 total prodi 
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 this she m 
 rand, the 
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 position in 
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 more I0WI3 
 1890 she w 
 with a litt'i 
 show a gra 
 very much 
 countries, 
 produced w 
 to the Au: 
 below, whe 
 improved h 
 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. 
 
 'V 
 
-f f |r»|ii tliO'i H i K i mwy^.-. 
 
 —J" 
 
 «vmffm 
 
 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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 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 
 
 i- 
 
8 
 
 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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 s 
 
 
 £ 
 
 
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 '^ S uJ- t^ 
 
 r 
 
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 55l|S2|l2ll|^rg-r£-r5-s-rr|| 
 
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m^^" 
 
 wm 
 
 Calen- 
 
 ( 
 
 dar 
 
 
 Year 
 
 Oiinc 
 
 1887 
 
 190,^ 
 
 1888 
 
 208, c 
 
 1889 
 
 181, e 
 
 1890 
 
 is8,; 
 
 1891 
 
 225, ( 
 
 1893 
 
 41.. 
 
 i8q,1 
 
 
 1894 
 
 , , 
 
 189s 
 
 , , 
 
 1896 
 
 
 1897 
 
 5.< 
 
 1^ 
 
nm 
 
 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 
 
'^ 
 
 10 
 
 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 
 
 II 
 
 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 
 
i 
 
 12 
 
 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 
 
 13 
 
 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 
 
 S 
 
^w-.w- 
 
 H 
 
 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^ 
 
 mm 
 
 CANADA AS A PRODUCER OF THE PRECIOUS METALS 
 
 15 
 
 
 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 
 
i6 
 
 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. 
 
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