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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte d des taux de reduction dlff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est fllmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 1^' '^^'^f 'n »K ^ '4 ■ MERIGOMISLCOAL MINING COMPANY, ir fic ^.■' *•;.. iw .. ^ - ■- TQiU, NoYA / y REI'ORTS OIF )COTlA. WILLIAM BAEXE:s Esq., jX MiniiKi I'huiiiii'i'r, Halifax. ■^ ■ .lOHN EUTHEKFORD, Esq., Firrwerht Ittspn'tor of Miytes, xV. iS. "■'CHARLES KOBE, Esq., Mining Emjinci'r, Montreal, Canada. ^ ^ EDWIN GILPJN, Jj{., Esq., Miniinj li]n(jinen\ a, id Government Inspcdor of Mines for Sova Scotia. H A li I F AX, N . S . WILLIAM MACNAH, STEAM JOB PRINTER \'2 PRINCE STREKT, 1881. »3'' ".<<.' -v-W^^ ^ '^ i ■ THE MERIGOMISH COAL MINIE COMPANY, r Nov A S( ICTOU, NOYA pCOTIA. HESI'OIITS OF WILLIAM BARNES, Esq., Mining Engineer, Halifacc, JOHN RUTHERFORD, Esq., Formerly Inspector of Mines, N. S. dk CHARLES ROBB, Esq., Mining Engineer, Montreal, Canada. EDWIN GILPIN, Jr., Esq., Mining Engineer, and Oovemment Inspector of Mines for Nova Scotia. J, f HALIFAX, N. S. WILLIAM MACNAB, STEAM JOB PRINTER 12 PRINCE STREET, 1881. I' I \ (■■ «5i:,^T^^ '-rMm^l ii mt '; /.'''""'■'■ '!/ •rB:s3 r Merigomish Coal Mining Co. ■ <•» ■ REPORT OF WILLIAM BARNES, ESQ., MINING ENGINEER, OF HALIFAX, N. S. ■ « w ■ My attention having been directed at the request of L. E. Kirby, Esq.i to two areas of 5 square miles each under license to him, I have embodied the results of my observations in the following brief remarks. On area No. 1, the southern half alone can be considered valuable, as the northwest portion consists of Strata lying below the productive coal beds. A license to work on the area No. 1 of one square mile can be so laid out es to comprise several workable seams of Coal, one of which is five feet in thickness, and formerly worked by one John McKay. But little Coal was extracted owing to the want of means ^ the owner to sink a shaft and put up the requisite works. I examined this seam, and also some of the Coal taken from it. It appears to be of very good quality, and well adapted for domestic and forge purposes. Persons residing in New Glasgow who have used it speak well of its quality. That the McKay seam, as also all the others in the locality, thicken as they descend, and improve in quality is beyond dispute. By measure-oent the rate of increase of thickening here is one inch in 4 feet. The cropping of three other seams also shew, and these run into and under area No. 1. The existence of Oil Coal on this area can be relied on, but no test of its quality has yet, I believe, been made. The large seams of the Albion mines should pass into part of this area, but have not as yet been discovered. Coal here can be mined at a distance of about 1| miles from the Pictou extension line at New Glasgow, and carried to that place by a tram-road at an easy grade, and thence on the Pictou line to the place of loading on the East Eiver. The expense of the tramway would not exceed $3000 per mile, (including light T rails,) there being little cutting or filling required. , ^ . . . , i Ax i 1 do not conisder any locumotive engine would be required, aa the cars can be worked by their own gravity in their descent, and rf turned to the pit either by horaes or wire rope, in connection with a ninall stationary engine similar to the long incline used at the Mining Asso- ciation's works, Sydney. It is on Area No. 2 that the largest amount of Coal can be relied upop. Here two square miles of surface will give five (if not more) workable seams. One of these, the Barton seam, fouud on the area of E. G. Haliburton, Esq., is 10 teet in tnickness, another, the McBean seam, near widow McLane's house, is 7 feet in thickness, and proba- bly more, as two feet only of the low6x- bench of coal were gone througn in the opening made on it. I'bis may probably be one of the large seams wrought by the Mining Association at the Albiou mines. The McKay seam, worked by Gieorge McKay, is 4 feet 3 in. iu thickness in the Lindsay Pit, and 5 feet 3 in. where bored through on area No. 2 ; it is overlaid 60 feet vertically by another seam of 3 feet 2 in., — both of which seams can be worked by one sett of Pits, and thus being equal to a seam 8 fb. 5 in. The rich Oil Coal ot the Q-eorge McKay area, 6 ft.* in thickness, will also be found on No. 2. This Oil Coal at the surface has, I am informed, yielded 62 gallons of crude Oil per ton, and fVom my own knowledge of it, I do not think this amount over-estimated. From the course of strike and other surface indications, I consider area No. 2 will contain all the known seams of the district, and should yield seams containing in their aggregate a thickness of 78 feet. Annulling the entire two miles to be selected to contain at the least two thirds of the above quantity in thickness over their whole extent, a total of upwards of 48 millions of tons is shewn. In this calculation the amount required for support of roof, &c., has been deducted. Of course, on such an estimate, a large deduction must also be made for accidental loss of workings. But even deducting | of the amount mentioned, a quantity remains that renders this one of the most valu- able properties in the Province. As to the facilities for shipment from this area, a glance at the plan will show that Merigomish Harbour, on which the eastern part of the area No. 2 abuts, is, by its sheltered positson, depth and extent, well adapted for the accommodation of all the shipping required for the export of the Coal raised. Vessels of over 1000 tons have frequently entered it for the purpose of loading with timber. Owing to the close proximity of Pictou Harbour, however, vessels invariably use that as a shelter. On examining Capt. Bayfield's Chart of Merigomish, published in 1842, I find the depth of water ranging from S5 feet at the entrance to 9 feet in Big Gut. I had soundings taken through the ice at low tide from Cameron's Point to Mnnroe Head, and find an average of 12 feet of water in a nearly straight channel, the minimum of depth b^ing 10 feet, with a black mud bottom, into which a searching rod can be driven by hand 10 and 12 feet. / To accommodate vessels of a large class, some dredging will be necesjsary ; the bottom being soft mud, the cost should not exceed 20 cents per cube yard. About 1600 yards will be the maximum re- quired to allow vessels drawing 15 and 16 feet to proceed to Cameron's Point, that being the nearest spot to the probable site of the perma- nent Pits and Works. A line of valley extends from thence through area No. 2, by which a line of railway not exceeding one mile will connect the very heart of the workings with the place of shipment. No natural obstacles exist to render the construction of a line of railway either difficult or expensive. A wharf of piles, 150 feet in length, will give ample depth for loading. In conclusion I would recommend a careful selection of ground on Areas No. i and 2, and a judicious course of exploration to be carried on during the coming summer, to determine fully the extent, number and direction of strike of the various seams before the opening of any permanent pits or establishmens of the works on the mine. If the line of railway be determined on, grading may at once be commenced, and the building of the wharf undertaken, as under favorable circumstances severat cargoes may be shipped before the ensuing winter, by which the quality of the Goal will be established. I have not as yet seen any analysis of either the McBean, Barton or McKay seams, but from an examination of Coal from each of these I judge them to be of very good quality, free from injurious earthy, admixtures, and no doubt excellent steam and Gas Coals. The estab- lished character of all the Coals from the Albion mines district is so well known that nothing need be said on the subject. Eeference to essays made by Mr. Dawson and Professor Johnson may be seen in the " Acadia Geology," page 260, and a more recent analysis of Coal from the " French " seam by Prof. B. Silliman in the prospectus of the Nova Scotia Coal Company. WM. BAENES, Halifax, N. S., March 15, 1866. Mining 3igineer. '. s 1'.. REPORT OF JOHN RUTHERFORD. ESQ., Isipeotor of Minw for lora SootU. Halifax, N. S., March 8, 1867, To the Directors of the Merigomish Goal Mining Co Gentlemen, — On the 13th ult. I visited your coul property near New Glasgow, in the County of Pictou, in accordance with your request, and now beg to submit the following report : — The property consists of two adjoining mining areas, each one square mile or 640 acres in extent, held under a license to work, and four square miles held under a license to search, from the Frorincial Government. The western boundary of the areas is about half a mile from the town of New Glasgow, and from it the property ranges in a south-east direction. Near this boundary, boreholes have been put down and trial pits sunk, with the following result : At a depth of thirty feet a seam of coal was reached, the thickness of which in the shaft is about ten feet. It dips a little to the east ot south at an angle of about fifty degrees. The true or geological thickness I could not exactly ascertain in con- sequence of the state of the bottom of the shaft from the water which had been standing in it and only been removed a few hours before I went down. It will not be much under seven feet. i « , , This seam is evidently one of those portions into which the mai^ seam of the Albion Mines is divided, as shewn by the operations o the Montreal and Pictou Company on the west side of the East river. Its position accords with the line of crop proved by that company, and though a further opening of it may be necessary to identify it with any particular bed of the series passed through in their shaft, there can be no doubt that it is the easterly continuation of one of the beds — most probably the upper one — forming the northern crop of the main seam. A trial pit situated to the north-east of this shaft is reported by Mr. Kirby to have proved a seam dipping south forty degrees east. I am unable from my own observation to verify this statement ; but, assum- ing its correctness, the crop appears io be following the range of the conglomerate, lying to the north of the measures. An opening about one mile and a half to the south-east of this pit appears to confirm the position, and little reason is therefore lefb to doubt that the seam exists throughout the whole of your westeru area. The qualities of the main seam are so well known that it is almost unnecessary to allude to them. For gas and general purposes it commands a very large sale, and ihe fact of the great demand for smith's purposes of the slack made in working it, is a strong proof of its purity of character. For some time a considerable proportion of the workings at the Albion Mines has been in a district on the same Hide of the Eii^t Biver an your property is situated ; and I am enabled, from a recent official visit, to assert the excellence of its quality there. Respecting this seam, I may add, that the shaft sunk by the Mon- treal and Pictou Compaqy passed through thirty-seven and a half feet of coal of the following thicknesses and order of succession, viz.: 10 ft. 6 in., 9 ft., 2 ft. 6 in., and 15 tt. 6 in., which are separated by strata varying from nine to twenty-three feet in thickness. Whilst some change in the thickness of the different portions forming this aggregate may be probably found in different parts of this coal field, I do not anticipate much change in this respect in your western area. It may be reasonably inferred too that the underlying seams, as proved at the Albion and Acadia Mines, will also be found on this side of the basin. These are five in number, and vary from four to twenty feet in thickness. About three quarters of a mile to the south-east of your western boundary, a seam has been opened in " Coal Brook " by adit, and partially worked. It varies in thichness from four and a half to five feet, and is of very fair quality. On the " Marsh," situated about two miles south-east of this, trial pits have been sunk to a seam which has been opened by slope on the adjoining property near the south-west boundary of your east area, by Mr. McKay. The thickness of this i am and of one overlying it — proved by trial pit — is at present four f'^et, it dips to the north-east. The quality of the coal is very good, portions of it being remarkably pure and fine. Further to the east I examined a seam opened by Mr. McBean ; it appeared to be from five to six feet in thickness, but owing to its being only partially opened I cannot speak of it with any degree of certainty, and only refer to it because the dip of the seam — to the north-west — probably indicates the position of the coal field in this locality. The preceding embraces all the points to which my attention was directed with respect to the number of seams on your property. The comparatively unexplored character of this district of the Pictou coal field renders it diflScult to assign at present their true geological posi- tion to each seam. The "Coal Brook" seem is doubtless an upper seam with respect to the main seam ; that the coal sunk to on your western boundary is one of the representatives of the latter seam is almost equally clear ; the seams on your eastern boundary, to the rear of McKay's slope, on the other hand, are so different in many respects from either the main seam or those underlying it that it is at present entirely conjecture whether they are distinct seams or not, A care- ful consideration of all the circumstances, however, leave no reason to doubt that the areas under license to work contain several millions of tons of coal. The proximity of your western area to the Nova Scotia Eailway and the town of New Glasgow, as well as the thickness of the seam opened on it, naturally point to that locality as the most suitable for 8 commencing operations. The angle at which the seam is lying Iin- poues to some extent a limit to the choice of the mode of ettectiiig a winning. The most effectual metbod of opening a seam lying at a small angle of dip is, to sink a shaft well to the dip ; this course, however, if adopted in this instance, would necessitate a very large outlay. For, though the angle of the dip would be much less in pro- ceeding from the crop, the heavy dip there rapidly places the seam at a great distance from the surface. The other mode of making a win- ning is by slope driven in the seam from the crop. This is attended with several advantages, the chief of which are as follows viz : a greater breadth of coal is more rapidly won, and the cost of winning somewhat lessened by the sale of the coal produced in the slope ; a less powerful engine is required for hauling than for hoisting. The latter method is, 1 am therefore of opinion, to be preferred under the circumstances above described. The position of the slope — which I recommend to be driven directly to the dip — must be regulated by the length it must be driven to win such a quantity of coal as will enable a large yield to be pro- duced for several years, and thus render unnecessary an early addi- tional outlay of capital in making a fresh winning. This slope should not be driven a less distance in the first instance than uOO feet. To effect this winning I recommend the erection of a steam engine of not less than 30 horse-power, to be adapted to haul and pump, and would advise that as soon as it is determined to commence operations, one of the earliest steps should be the putting of this engine into position, as the driving of the slope will be much facilitated thereby. To connect the CoUierv with the Nova Scotia Railway, a branch line will be re- quired. This will not, I think, exceed a mile in length. It would have enabled me to arrive at a closer approximation of cost had a route been fixed and the line been surveyed and levelled. I may state, however, that the surface formation is exceedingly favorable for the construction of a railway ; and as it will be over cleared land, and as it presents no engineering difficulties whatever, I am of opinion that the length of way required — which I have assumed to be a mile — will be made at a cost very considerably below the ordinary rate of forma- tion in this country. The cost of making a winning in the manner suggested, and to the depth of 300 feet, including steam-engine, sur- face erections, machinery, making a mile of railway, and placing the Colliery in good working order, I estimate at ^7600 ($80,000). I have not in this estimate included cost of workmen's houses, as from the nearness of the Colliery to New Glasgow any provision in this respect is, I consider, unnecessary. A usually expensive item in Colliery establishments is thus saved. Nor does this sum include any outlay for shipping places, which will have to be provided in addition The preceding suggestions and estimate have reference only to a winning on your western Area. The distance of the eastern area from the . Nova Scotia Bailway will probably prevent an immediate opening to any extent in that locality ; I have not therefore deemed it necessary to give any consideration at present as to the position for a winning or the cost thereof. I would, however, recommend the re- opening of the shaft referred to in Mr. Kirby*s report, and a continu- ance of the drift, in order to prove the coal to a greater extent, as in all probability the seam will be found increased in thickness to the dip. The cost of working a saam lying at such an angle as that on which a winning is recommended to be made, is depender*^^ on many circumstances which are variable in character — ^siich as firmness of roof and floor of the mine, freedom from water, &c. The limited space for examination is scarcely suflScient to allow of an opinion on these points ; but so tar as my observation guides me, I see no reason to anticipate any diflSculty from these causes, and I estimate the cost of working and putting on board ship at $1.50 (one dollar and fifty cents) per ton. 'rr::A -'. m! I am, gentlemen, . <. t- s,,.;. > ^j;.;, !-. ,, / ' Tour obedient s'^rvant, '"' '' JNO. BUTHERFOED. r. ,/■•! ,(•;«, 1,^., . •^ ■>>,/ REPORT OF CHARLES ROBB, ESQ., ,, Xinlng Engineer of Hontreal, Canada. ■.' ;/ nHi i in ll ■!, I I'l'' -■v.: .>: ' {..t -'1,7 •i I' M.v Vi.ii,; !■ /.'-t'l I.. i<:'l -■ \\'AV.'i..H".\'< hi' •\o^>\ .<■'"> !:».■;>' \.,\ • (J GENTLEMEN,- On a recenfc occasion I visited and inspected your extensive coal- mining property, situated in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, and in compliance with your request, I now beg to submit the following remarks, embodying the results of my observations. J^*" « ^ O*' ' ' You have already received professional reports upon your property from John Eutherford, Esq., Government Inspector of Mines, and from Y/m. Barnes, Esq., Mining Engineer. These reports have been submitted to, and careAilly studied by me, and are so full and explicit as almost to render further details on my part unnecessary. Both from personal acquaintance with these gentlemen, and from their well- known high character, scientific and practical attainments and experi- ence, I am satisfied that the utmost reliance may be placed on their statements, which have been, for the most part, verified by my own observations, and need not here be recapitulated. I shall, therefore, on the present occasion, confine myself to a few general remarks, and to a statement of such additional facts, bearing upon the subject, as have transpired subsequently to the date of the reports referred to The property comprises three square miles, or 1920 acres, of land, held under license to work from the Provincial Government, and in- cluded in one irregularly shaped block, as denoted by the red tint 10 on the accompanying Plan. It is situated on the east side of !Slast River, in the immediate vicinity of the town of New Glasgow, and towards the centre of the great Pictou Coal Basin. The boundaries of the property, in the northerly direction, have been determined and de- fined mainly by the lines of the outcrop of the principal coal seams of the district, which will be found to occur within and near to these boundaries, and dipping to the south, so as to underlie the whole property. Your areas also include a narrow strip, fifty yards wide, and two and one-half miles in length, formerly a government reserve between two adjacent areas, but now acquired by you, and which is known to overlie some most valuable seams higher in the series than those above referred to. li? <<^ ■-, i The evidences of the value of these lands as a coal-mining proper- ty, consiat, — first, In the facts of the actual discoveries of coal made upon them ; secondly. In the results of the working upon adjoining properties in similar conditions, and from which a like success may be reasonably inferre4 on yours ; and, thirdly, In the knowledge which has been acquired by excensive and costly explorations of the whole structure of the Pictou Coal Basin, and which places it beyond a doubt that your property is included within it. Near the western extremity of your property, a trial shaft, marked No. 1 on the Plan, has been sunk to the depth of about 50 feet ^pc^nj th« crop p^ thq njiaiiii ^«<¥^i whicl^ i^ust sjtir^ yQur northern boundry throughout its entire extent, with a southerly dip. The re- sults of this work, and the inferences legitimately deducible therefrom, have been fully set f>rth by Mr; Rutherford ; and, fincJiug them en- tirely in eonfor»iiity with my own observations and judgment, need not here be repeaiked. Since that gentleman's report was made, the works referred to by him at the Montreal and Pictou Company's ISitines, about a inile and a half to the west, and upon the same outcrop, ^ave been prosecuted to a considerably further extent, shewing a gradual and very marked improvement io the quality of the coal as it is fol- lowed in depth. ^" Prom the known structure of that part of the coal-field under- lying your property, as well as from the results of actual observations and trials, it is ce tain that, on trying this outcrop to the east, the dip will become lore moderate, and the coiidition of the coal-fields in all probability, proportionately improve. Besides the main seam, which at the Albion Mines is 87^ feet in thickness, it is most reason- able to infer that, although not yet discovered, the other great under- lying reams found there will also occur on your part of the Basin ; in which casQi, the quantity of coal underlaid by your areas will be enor- mous and practically inexhaustible. Overlying the main seam, at a distance of about one-third of a mile horizohtally, the GoaUbrooJc seams have been developed upon a property immediately adjoining yours to the south (openings marked Nos 2 and 3 on the plan). These seams, so far as hitherto dis- covered, are two in number, of the thickness of 5 feet 6 inches and 4 11 feet respectively, and not over 60 or 60 feet Bpad vertically. They have been tested to a considerable extent, and found to yield, even at the crop, a very fair merchantable article of coal, about 200 tons of which haxe been extracted and sold. These seams must underlie a great extent of your property at a very moderate depth ; and their attitude being nearly horizontal, will be cheaply and easily worked, and at a distance not exceeding a mile and a half from New Glasgow. A' similar set of seams, probably overlyine, and 'still higher in the series than those last referred to, has been discovered and partially worked (at Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7) towards the south-west boundary, and near the middle of the length of your property. These consist of two workable seams of most excellent coal, the lower being 4 feet 2 inches thick at the crop, and the upper about 3 feet 6 inches ; and dipping about north 45 ' east, or directly on to your property at an angle of 12 ° . On an adjoining area, and within 9 chains from your south-west line, this seam has been worked by a slope (No. 4) 116 feet deep, and a gallery 176 feet in length, and from 1000 to 2(»00 tons of coal extracted and sent to market, where it is reported at least as valuable as any in the district. At No. 6, on your strip of land before referred to, the same seam has been cut by a trial-shaft 37 feet in depth, and 50 tons of the same excellent quality of coal extracted. At No. 6, upon another adjoining area, but very near to yours, both seams have been found in good condition, and having been intersected more to the deep, have shown a decided increase in thickness, as well as improvement in the quality, which are certain to continue as they are still further worked in depth. The overlying seam at the crop is from 8 to 4 feet in thickness, and somewhat sulphurous ; but where cut in the shaft at No. 6 is thick and of much better quality. Other promising seams have been exposed at this part of the property, but not having been worked upon, I have no positive details to communi- cate. A thick seam of excellent oil «oa!, yielding upwards of 60 gallons of crude oil to the ton, also occurs here, and must under- lie, at a moderate depth, a considerable area towards the south-east part of your property. Towards the same direction, and at no great distance outside of your limits, two other most important seams have been discovered, and opened a little at the crop. The first of these, marked No. 8, called the McBean seam^ shews a thickness at the crop of 7 or 8 feet : the quality of the coal seems very excellent, and the dip being to the north-west, at an angle of 20 ° , will carry it a moderate depth under your property. The other called the Haliburton seam, still nearer your boundary, (No. 9.) shows a thickness of not less than 10 feet ; its dip is ambiguous, being somewhat disturbed at the crop, but from the general structure of the coal-field, there can be no doubt that they also will, to a greater or less extent, underlie your property, on the surface of which, near this point, great quantities of drift coal have been found, probably owing their origin to this seam. The true geolo- gical position of the McBean and Haliburton seams is as yet undeter- mined. 12 The above facts, aud the additional details communicated by Medsrd. Uutherford and Barnes, will make it abundantly evident that you possess a coal-mining property of very great value. The estimate made by the latter gentleman of the total thickness of workable coal which may be expected to be found upon the property is, according to my observations, and to the best of my judgment, a correct and safe one ; but as you actually possess three square miles of mining property, instead of two, most of which may be expected to prove equally valuable, it would appear, at a rough estimate, that the total amount may be increased by about one-third, making 64 instead of 48 millions of tons. The advantages possessed by your property, as regards facilities for working, proximity to shipping ports, etc., are amply set forth in the other reports referred to. For the west and middle parts of the pro- perty, the most convenient outlet will be New Glasgow, to which there are already good roads traversing it in all directions. A short rail or tramway, in the construction of which the pi'oprietors of adjoining coal-mining areas would probably combine, will greatly facilitate and cheapen the transportation to that point. The East Biver, at New Glasgow, is navigable for vessels drawing nine feet of water, and could probablv, with little expense, be made to accommodate vessels of much greater tonage. The Nova Scotia Railway passes through New Glasgow to Pictou Harbor, on the one hand, a distance of only seven miles, and to Halifax on the other, distant about 100 miles : and will afford convenient means of transportation at all seasons. This railway being controlled by government, every encouragment, in the way of low freights, etc. , will doubtless be extended to the coal-mining interests of Nova Scotia. I understand that the tariff of freight for coal has been fixed at the low rate of one cent and a half per ton per mile. In reviewing all the facts ^which have been established in connec- tion with this property, 1 beg lO state that a considerable proportion of its area, towards the north and east, is only partially developed ; auil in that part the evidence for the existancc of the great seams of the Albion mines, in a good and workable condition, is only inferential, although in the highest degree probable. On the other hand, the two sets of seams of most excellent coal occurring at the Coal-brook, and at the south-west part of the property, amounting in the aggregate to 1 8 feet in thickness, must, without doubt, underlie a very large area on the lands owned by you, and are sufficient of themselves, inde- pendently of the others, to establish its great value, as forming the basis of a very extensive and highly lucrative coal-mining business. .vm:im .q<^->'^ : j ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ <.^ ^e, i?'^^«« -'^ q'^ ^;; ■ ■ . ■ ' » Gentlemen, 'i^mi ! Tour most obedient servant. 4 <■ !t. i.-v .UH CHARLES ROBB. ^v Mining Engineer. ;|3 ■ V • ? • ■■ '. \K ,>--\<.i.; . ij- ;'! ',..!! 1. #s Beport of Government Inspector of Mines, E. Gilpin, Esq. .'i-UW. (copy.) u i ! Halifax, Nov. 12, 1879. TheHon'ble. " :' ,, ,;. > , ,^ . Mb. JuSTIOU JOHNSTOITB, ,,., ,,,i, Presidmt Merigomish Coal Minting Co. Sib: In accordance with your request, I beg leav» to hand you the foUowing report on the property of the Merigomish Coal Mining Company. The area contains three square miles areas, or 1920 acres, besides a strip 50 yards wide and 1 jnile long, formerly a Government reserve between two adjoining properties, but now leased to you. The area of the Company extends from a point near New Glasgow, in a South-east direction nearly to Sutherland River, ^"^.e Company mlso (iwn land in fee simple, a water lot in Pictou Harbor, and a lot at Bedford, in Halifax Harbor. In my report I will not go at all minutely into details of the openings, etc., made on the seams at various times, both on your property and those contiguous to it, but will confine myself to a sum- mary of the seams, etc. The accompanying plan, enlarged from the map or the Pictou Coal field, engraved under the supervision of Sir W. Logan, late Director of the Canadian Geological Society, will show the various Seams, Bailwavs, etc. It is only within the last few years that a clear knowledg has been gained of the structure of the Pictou Coal field,— and my report will notice only those seams actually found on your property, and those whose presence is assured by the explorations carried on in neighbor- ing areas within the last year or two. I will now briefly describe, in descending order, the coal seams of the Merigomish coal area. The first to be noticed is the Mash group ; the foUoing is its section as opened and tested on your area : - ^^--' "'-^"t' , >^.:--..--- ft. in. Captian Seam 4 Shuta. ft. in. do. Millracedo 3 8 120 52 1 I 'Ulftf|iJl*5 Geo. McKay Jo 4 The George McKay is the only soam of this series that has been tested to any extent, it having been worked formerly on a small scale for laud sale some years ago. It is a firm, bright coal, burning with 14 leas smoke than any other of the Fictou coals, and givii g a moderatety, long, white flame. It has been tested for steam raising, and found tojiye-eyery satisfaction. ^ . ,., .^ . . ,. ^t The following analysis are from Sir W. Logan's U6p., p. 184 : I. II. Hygroscopic Moisture none. none. .e?Hr\ Volatile Combus. Matter 29.72 29.98 Fixed Carbon 62.28 62 15 . , Ash ,,. 8.00 7.87 ' '■ 100.00 100.00 "A trace of sulphur was found , but being probably under one-half of one pel' cent., was not eptimated." ■jii The uoal from the other two aeamb is said to be similar in character to the Geo. McKay ; but I have seen weathered samples only of tnese coals. As for as can be judged from the samples submitted to me, they are of the same character and uniformity. Site Foot Seam. — This sebm has been opeited only on the Vale area, adjoining your property, and underlies the Marsh group about 500 feet. It is a coal of excellent quality. I have no hesitation in pro- liouncing it the best steam and forge coal in the district. It burns with a clear, white flame, and gives a very hot fire. Its roof is formed by a 4-inch band of clay iron stone. The McBean 8 foot Seam, underlying the six foot seam about 800 feet comes next. It is now successfully worked at the Yale Colliery, and forms a very pure and easily-worked coal, the round, nut, and culm being all merchantable. The seam is free from any partings of clay, slate, etc. '^om^f I am in a position to state that this coal is equal, if not superior, to any other soam worked in the district for steam and house use. The ash is light and does not form clinker. It has been satisfactorily burnt in locomotives, the Gulf Fort boats, and in the steamers of the Allan linle. The foUowing analysis of the coal is from Sir W. Logan's report, p. 134: !• n. ■iff < Hygroscopic Moisture 2. 22 3. 00 ^ ' , "oi; Volatile Comb. Matter 80.23 29.61 Fixed Carbon. 59.70 69.51 jftq,- pjr~ Ash (white) 7.86 7.88 M vi 100.00 100.00 Sulphur present.only as a trace. Underlying the MqBean Seam about 90 feet, is the Moore Seam, varying in thickness from 3 to 8^ feet. This coal has a more bitu- minous appearance than thei others, and approaches more closely the typical Cfape Breton Coals than any others I have seen from this district ; and as far as can be judged from phyiscal properties, should prove a good gas and coking coal. ^ ': > The follow'ing analysis is from Sir W. Logan's report, p. 137, and represents it as found on what is considered the Western out-crop : Hygroscopic Moisture 76 ■ Volatile Comb. Matter 38.84 , . ; "t.,) j 1 Fixed Carbon 56.81 ,,, ,' -j, ,,, , Ash 5.09 ;,,.,:;„;, ..fu,i -,:;,>:;. u,yi,i--i-h;'^ '■'■■ii '■■..■ iP0i.00 ,,.. ,....:\ Sulphur, no trace by ordinary tests. The coal is firm and bright, and its appearance is much in its favor The above analysis are confirmed by my own analysis and investiga- tions into the Fictou Coals, contaihed in my work on the Composi- tion and Uses of Canadian coals now in the hands of the Newcastle (England) Institute of Mining Engineers. As a means of comparison, I give the TheoreticpJ Evaporative poweQs of the coals analysed as above side by side with the results of the British Navy trials from which it will appoar that the Fiotou ooal^ compare well with any of them : Moore Seanji 7.65 McBcan do 8.19 .u G.McKaydo 8.$3 ,.iv Av. 8 Samples Scotch Coal 7.70 o; >i4 " 28 " Lancashire do 7.94 .« : > "17 " Newcastle 8.87 In papers communicated to the Newcastle Institute referred to, I have discussed fully the Geological reasons which show that the Albion or Main group of seams, containing 100 feet of coal, as worked op the West 8id6 of the East Biver extend over thie Eastern district; in which your property lies. I may mention that Mr. Rutherford has offioifkUy stated his opinion that they form an important Item in tho value of your property. This now is concurred in by other mining experts, and confirmed by me as already stated. ' I iriiiy state that a bed of oil shale passes continuously from^ the EulHng mill on McLellan's brook co the centre of yotir property. I have mislaid my measurements of its size on your prop^rty^ but re- membeir being told that it was about the same size is on the East Biver property, where Dr. Dawson, of McGill College, Monti:eal, stated ic to be 7 feet thick, and to yield over 60 gals, oi oil per tbn, and io he adapted for a gas enricher. From the preceding notes it will be seen that your property is under- laid by valuable seams of coal, equal in quality to any now worked in the district for general purposes ; and some of the seams are supsilior for flteain land forge work. The Vale Colliery Bail way passes through the southern poition of, and close by, one of thie pits opened on yout property, and directly over the seams running through the areas ; and I am informed that the Vale Colliery Company are willing to grant running powers on very reasonable terms over their road ; and a branch line | of a mile '-'' - 16 .liikfiimv-.»;ft'i vr-v