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Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 NATIONAL LIBAASY CANADA BIBLIOTIiKQtJE NATION A LB ^^ [Published by authority of the Surveyor-Genercd of Newfoundland.'] HAND-BOOK OF NEWFOHIHIAND: .•«»»^'' OOMTAININO AN ACCOCIIT OT ITS AGRICULTURAL AND MINERAL LANDS, ' ' ITS FORESTS, AMD y. ^ OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES: ■U.' WM^ a pap jof % Islantr. \.' >.., :, . BOSTON: PRINTED BY DOYLE AND WHITTLE 1886. / i»- ¥: I CANADA NATIONAL LIBRARY BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE [Atd^tVted 6y authority of the Surveyor-General of Newfoundland.'] 7 HAND-BOOK ^-^// or NEWFOUNDLAND: CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT Or ITS AGRICULTURAL AND MINERAL LANDS, ITS FORESTS. AMD OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES. UKrtfe a gtap of tfee Jslanb. BOSTON: PRINTED BY DOYLE AND WHITTLE, 1886. ■u •';'■ PREFACE. TiiE want of a Hand-book, containing full sind accurate information regarding the various natural resources of New- foundland, has long been felt. In the Crown Lands' Depart- ment constant inconvenience is caused by the vrant of some authoritative compendium, adapted to popular use, con- taining information regarding the Crown Lands, the Forests, and Minerals of the Colony. The absence of such a manual suggested to mo the com- pilation of a small volume containing the latest and most trustworthy information on these subjects. I'ortunately I prevailed on the Rev. M. Harvoy to undertake the prepara- tion of this Hand-book. His knowledge of the subject, as evinced in his various works on Newfoundland, is a sufficient guarantee that this work will be safe in his hands, and will be found accurate and adapted for general circulation. He has condensed within a moderate compass the whole of the information regarding the extent, the Mituation, and character of the lands adapted to agricultural purposes, which had been accumulated for years, but was inaccessible to the general public. Ho has also given full information regard- ing the lumbering and mining districts. An abstract of the PREFACE. amended Crown Lands' Act is also furnished, togotboi with other important information. Such a compendium can hardly fail to prove useful in promoting the settlement of the country and the develop- ment of its natural resources. J. O. FRASER, Surveyor- General. St. John's, Nbwfodndlamd. Oct. 2, 1886. r "thor with useful in develop. CONTENTS. ^eral. Pm GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Causes which have retarded the Settlement of the Island and the Culti* vation of the Soil. — Bad Laws. — Monopolies. — French Treaty Privileges. — Prevailing Delusions regarding the Sterility of the Soil and the Severity of the Climate CHAPTER I. A General Survey of the Extent of the Agricultural Lands. — Valleyi of the Exploits, the Gander, and the liumber. — Extent of fertile Soil in each. — Smaller Sections of good Land. — Total known Quantities of Land suitable for Settlement. — Opinions regarding the Agricultural Capabilities of the Country 16 CHAPTER II. The West Coast as an Agricultural Region. — Superiority of its Natural Resources. — The Codroy Valleys. — Geographical Description. — Authorities cited as to Soil, Timber, etc. — Mr. Murray's Survey. — Mr. J. P. Ilowley's Township Survey of Codroy. — Statements of Monsignor Sears and Others. — St. George's Bay, its extensive fertile Lands. — Geographical Description. — Mr. Murray's Surveys. — His Subdivisions of the Areas.— His Account of the Soil, Timber, Minerals, etc. — The Rivers. — Valleys. — Hill Ranges. — De- scription of Port-a-Port. — Mr. Howley's Township Surveys of St» George's Bay. — His Report of the Soil, Forests, Mineral Deposits, Coal-beds, Gypsum, etc. — Dr. Bell's Opinion of the Region. — Mr. Howley's Account of Port-a-Port. — Bay of Islands. — Descrip- tion of the Humber River and Valley. — Mr. Murray's Report. — Extent of good Soil. — Timber. — Marble Beds. — Herring Fishery in Humber Sound. — Country between the Hu r and Notre Dame Bay. — Great level Plain across the Island. — Mr. C. J. Harvey's Road Survey of 1878. — His Report of the Soil and Timber. — Prospects of Settlers, etc 21 CHAPTER III. The East Coast. — Valleys of the Exploits, Gander, and Gambo. — Geograpliical Description of the Exploits River and Valley. — Mr. Murray's Survey. — Extent of good Lands. — Forests, etc. — Mr. .. Howley's Survey of the Upper Valley of the Exploits. — The Gander River, Lake, and Valley. — Vast Extent of Agricultural ■ Land. — Immense Pine Forests, etc. — Fertility of the Soil. — Mining Prospects. — Gambo River. — The smaller fertile Belts . 60 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. Pass Bfr. C. J. Harrcy's Township Surveys In tho Peninsula of Avalon, along tiic Lino of Railway. — His Reports of 1883 and 1884. — Ex- tent of Agricultural Lands. — Tinibt-r, etc. — Big Barren Pond, Hodge Water. — Goulds Brook Valley, Colinot Valley. — Dildo.— Qcncral Character of tho Region. — Census of 1874. — Extent of Agricultural Operations at that Date. — Advance of Agrirulture during the last Eight Years. — Returns. — Statements of good Authorities as to tho Soil, Climate, etc GO CHAPTER V. The Forests of the Island. — Varieties of Timber. — Tho Gander Country as a Lumbering Region. — Mr. Murray's Report. — Mr. Howley's Report. —The Exploits Valley. — Its Forests. —Tho Ilumbor. — Its Capabilities for Lumbering. — Extent of Forests. — Quantities of Pine Timber 69 CHAPTER VI. Climate. — Salubrity of the Climate. —Fogs, their Cause, limited Ex- tent. — Temperature as sliown by Observations. — Frosts. — Rain- fall 78 CHAPTER VII. Mineral Resources. — Discovery of Mineral Deposits. — Progress of Copper Mining. — Tilt Cove, Betts Cove and Little Bay Mines. — Export of Copper Ore. — Geological Report of the Mining Region. — Favorable Indications. — Mode of Occurrence of the Ore. — Tho Serpentine Development, its great Extent. — Lead and other Ores. — Gold discovered. — The Auriferous Quartz at Brigus. — Gypsum. — Marble. — Roofing Slate. — Coal Areas. — St. George's Bay. — Huniber River and Grand Lake Coal Fields. — Coal Scams discovered. — Borings for Coal near Grand Lake .... 79 CHAPTER VIII. The Crown Lands' Acts of 1884 and 1885. — Abstract of Enactments as to Lands, Forests, and Minerals. — Provision for Securing Home- stead Rights. — Licenses for Gold Mining . * ... 95 APPENDICES. I. Returns of the Mines to latest Date. — Value of all tho Ore exported «... 103 II. Table of Postage Rates . 103 III. Tables of Distances . . '. 109 IV. Census of 1884. — Abstract 118 V. Roads, Railways, Steam Commnnication 114 YI. Customs' Tariff • . 115 CO GENERAL REMARKS. 69 FALSE IMPRESSIONS OF THE SOIL AND CLIMATE. Up to a comparatively recent period the belief was almost universal that the island of Newfoundland was utterly barren, and its natural resources of the poorest description. Most people had the impression that it was a dismal, fog-enveloped country, and that its eavage climate and poor soil precluded all attempts at agriculture. Its only resource was supposed to bo the fish in its encompassing seas ; while the island was regarded as a barren rock, on which a limited number of fishermen might obtain a precarious subsistence by catching and curing fish. The interior was pictured as a howling wilderness of swamps, bogs, and rocks. Its forest-growths were represented to be of the most wretched and stunted description ; while the idea that it might contain some valu- able minerals was never entertained. How did these erroneous and unfounded impressions arise ? The island is England's oldest colony. It has been inhabited for more than three hundred years by an English- speaking race. How came it, then, to be so long misknown and misrepresented ? CAUSES OF THE UNFAVORABLE IMPRESSIONS. A number of circumstances combined to create these un- favorable impressions regarding the soil, climate, and natural resources of the country, and to retard the development of its capabilitiea. Strange to say, the immense fish-wealth of 8 GENERAL REMARKS. its surrounding seas was the principal cause of the resources of the land being overlooked and neglected. The first comers were attracted by the productive and inexhaustible fisheries around the shores and on the Great Banks. . These fisheries were at first carried on by capitalists living in the west of England,, who sent out fishing-vessels and fishermen early in the summer to prosecute this industry, and to return on the approach of winter, bringing with them the produce of the season's toils. This fishery, which was mainly one for catch- ing and curing codfish, proved to be very lucrative. Speedily, a large amount of capital was invested in it ; great fortunes were built up, and it gradually ibll into the hands of a num- ber of wealthy and powerful monopolists. MONOPOLISTS AND THE FISHERIES. I'L was their interest to retain the fisheries entirely in their own hands, and to keep the shores of the island clear of all in- terlopers, for the exclusive use of their own servants, the fish- ermen from England. Their grand aim, therefore, was to prevent the settlement of the island, and to compel the fisher- men to return homo when the fishing season was at an end. Should a resident population spring up, they might become formidable competitors with the " merchant adventurers," as they were called, and greatly lessen their profits. Their whole policy, therefore, was directed to the one object of preventing colonists from taking up their abode in the island. UNJUST LAWS. In this they were wonderfully successful for a long period. Being an influential class of men, they we're able, by their representations, to persuade the British Government to enact laws which prohibited any one from occupying and cultivatr- ing the land, under heavy penalties, and even from erecting houses, except such as were absolutely necessary in carrying on the fisheries. The captains of the fishing-vessels were obliged to give bonds to bring back to England each year as GENERAL REMARKS. <0 resources 'st comers ! fisheries 3 fisheries e west of 1 early in rn on the ce of the br catch- speedily, fortunes fa num- ■ in their of all in- thc fish- was to le fisher- an end. become ers," as Their Tject of 5 island. inany fishermen as they carried out. The successive gov- ernors were forbidden to make any grants of land or to permit the erection of dwelling-houses, or to grant any privileges which might encourage persons to remain in th» island. THE FISHERIES A NURSERY FOR SEAMEN. It may seem strange to us in these days that any govern- ment should be induced to pass such laws. The considera- tion which the monopolists pressed upon the English legis- lators was, that these fisheries were the grand nurseries for training hardy seamen to man the navy ; and that, if any number of them settled in Newfoundland, their services would be lost to the nation. Further, these selfish men never ceased their efforts to discredit the country as a place for settlement. Their agents sedulously endeavored to im- press the belief on the English people, and on successive English Governments, that the island was hopelessly barren, and utterly worthless except as a fishing-station, and that its clinxato forbade any attempts at agriculture. The people, themselves, who visited the island, saw only the rocky sea- margin, and never penetrated the interior ; and they, too, got impressed with the belief that the whole country was of the same character as the narrow strip on which they dried their fish. In this way it grew up to be a settled and almost universal belief that NewfoundUnd was worthless and irre- claimable, — a repulsive region, which could never be a home for civilized man. period. )y their Lo enact ultivat- rectin;? irrying s were year as FIRST SETTLERS. But curiously enough, as years rolled on, in spite of all the efforts of the monopolists, people began to settle in the island. The attractions of the country were such that they set the laws at defiance ; and, notvvithstanding all the harsh treatment they received, they determined to mak» homes for themselves here. These sturdy settlers increased in num- bers, fought out the battle of freedom against the monopo- • 10 GENERAL REMARKS. lists, and finally conquered them. England at last discov- ered her mistake, and repealed the obnoxious laws which prohibited settlement and the cultivation of the soil. But it was a long-drawn conflict, lasting for more than one hundred and fifty years. Only eighty-five years have elapsed since it became lawful to erect a dwellinar-house, and enclose and cultivate a portion of land. It is necessary to mention these facts in order to account for the erroneous impressions re- garding the soil and climate which have prevailed so exten- sively, and to explain how it is that the agricultural and other economic resources of the country are still so largely unde- veloped. While in the neighboring provinces the British Government spent large sums of money in promoting coloni- zation and aiding settlers, in Newfoundland settlement was sternly forbidden by law, and the cultivation of the soil was a penal ofience. FRENCH TREATY RIGHTS. Even these did not constitute the only discouragements. By treaties with the French, the British Government gave them fishing-privileges along the whole western, northern, and .1 portion of the north-eastern shores of the island. Though no territorial rights were conveyed to the French by these treaties, yet the practical result was that the people of Newfoundland were excluded from nearly half the island, and this by far the best fittefl for agricultural pursuits. They were cooped up chiefly around the shores of the peninsula of Avalon, where the soil is poorest. They were thus led to M look solely to the sea for their subsistence, and became a race of fishermen, without any inclination or aptitude for other employments. Farming, lumbering, and mining never entered into their calculations. Knowing nothing of the in- terior, they imbibed the current belief that it was barren and worthless. How could it be otherwise, when the first road, nine»miles in length, from St. John's to Portugal Cove, was not constructed till 1825, or only sixty years ago ! GENERAL REMARKS. u 4 I I FIRST ATTEMPTS AT AOniCULTURE. From the timo when the first land grants were legalized, the settlers began to enclose and cultivnto small patches of soil around their fishing-hamlets, wherever any was found fit for cultivation. Their experience proved that wherever judicious industry was expended on the land, even in spots which seemed peculiarly unpromising and difficult to clear, the soil yielded excellent returns. Those who were wise enough to combine fishing and farming became the most prosperous and independent of the working-classes. Year after year the cultivation of the soil extended, in the neighborhood of tho various settlements sprinkled around the shores, and good crops were raised. The country around St. John's, though containing naturally almost the poorest soil in the island, was gradually covered with smiling farms and com- fortable homesteads. Oats, barley, hay, potatoes, turnips, and other root crops were found to flourish luxuriantly. In 1874 the census showed that 3G,000 acres were under culti- vation, which, with the cattle, sheep, and horses, which tho land sustained, were valued at $2,000,000. The annual produce was valued at $612,350. This extent of cultivation has, no doubt, considerably increased during the last ten years. And it must bo remembered that this is tho result of the limited efibrt made by the people, in this direction, around tho various settlements, on the shore where the soil is poorest, and the harsh winds, blowing over tho ocean, aro most felt. The limited extent of land yet cultivated, in an island one- sixth larger than Ireland, having a temperate cli- mate, and, as we shall see presently, immense tracts of fertile land, is sufficiently explained by the various circumstances already mentioned. What has been done in agri^lturo proves that, so far from the soil being intractable and Iwfrren, it yields, on cultivation, rich and abundant crops in great variety. Tho population of tho island now approaches 200,000, and the greater part of all the food they require is still imported from the United States and Canada. Millions 12 GENERAL REMARKS. Ill of dollars arc expended in the purchase of this food in the neighboring countries. In 1880 the value of agricultural produce imported was I $2,800,000. Wore there an agricultural population settled on the fertile lands the greater part of all that is required for consumption could be raised on the island, where a profit- able market Avould bo found among those employed in gath- ering in the harvests of the sea. To say nothing of lumbering dnd mining, an agricultural population, numbering hundreds of thousands, might find comfortable homes, and a profitable outlet for their industry, in those unoccupied fertile lands. In mines and forests many thousands more might find remunerative employment were these natural resources developed. That these are not mere random assertions or exaggerated statements will be abundantly evident from the various authorities which will bo quoted in these pages, and the array of facts by which these conclusions will be sustained. The principal evidence which will be submitted on this subject will bo derived from the reports of the geological survey of the island, and from the reports of the various Government surveyors who, for some years, have been en- gaged in surveying and mapping the crown lands. THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. The geological survey was commenced in 18G4, under the direction of Sir William Logan. He selected Alexander Murray, F.G.S., who had been for twenty years his col- league in conducting the geological survey of Canada, to take charge of the survey of this island. It is needless to say that Mr. Murray's wide experience and high reputation as one m the foremost geologists of the day amply justified the selection. For nearly eighteen years he prosecuted the work, having had for a good portion of that time the able assistance of Mr. James P. Howley. GENERAL REMARKS. 18 the ANNUAL REPORTS. The results of their joint labors were embodied in annual reports which have been reprinted in a single volume en- titled, " Geological Survey of Newfoundland. By Alexander Murray, C.M.G., F.G.S., Director, and James P. Fowley, F.G.S., Assistant. London : Edward Sandford. 1881." It contains a valuable record of a survey which has com- pletely banished the old delusions regarding the barrenness of the soil and the poverty of the natural resources of the island. Newfoundland now standi, before the world as a country having very great agricultural resources which only require the strong arm of labor for their development. Not onl}'^ so, but its forest wealth is shown to be great, and its mineral deposits of immense value. Scientific explorers of the highest character have put all these facts beyond doubt. Representations, founded on ignorance and prejudice, which had so long retarded colonization and progress, have been completely disproved ; and it can no longer bo disputed that the natural resources of the island are of a very high char- acter, requiring only capital, skill, and labor to develop them into great and important industries. BARREN REGIONS. Of course, in making such statements, it is not at all meant to convey the impression that the whole island possesses a productive soil, or even that the greater part of it is a region of fertility. On the contrary, there are wide tracts irre- claimably barren, such as the southern portion between the head-waters of the Exploits River and the sea, which is a dreary waste, almost entirely devoid of vegetation, and for months each year enveloped in fogs, more or less, — a cold, gloomy. unattractive region. There are other large tracts covered with boulders. It is also true that there are extensive areas in the peninsula of Avalon, in the great central plateau, and also in the great northern peninsula, the surface of which is covered with marshes, and what are called by the people, T T 14 GENERAL REMARKS. not inappropriately, " barrens." So numeroua are the ponda and lakes that fully a third of the surface of the whole island is occupied by them, But, just as in Canada and +.he United States, there are fertiio belts in various localities, which, when united, presei.^, an immense area of agricultural lands. These fertile tracts are found mainly in the valleys through which the principal rivers run, and around the heads of the great bays which penetrate the land deeply. Nearly all the valleys are well wooded, and all abound with level and fertile tracts, often of immense extent. Here it is that an agricultural population will find abundant room, and farming is likely to become a great and important industry. In the same valleys are the great forest-growths of the island. The mineral lands, which for the most part present a barren, repulsive appearance on the surface, are found in broken, hilly regions, where the formations have been greatlj disturbed by upheavals and depressions. , OBJECT OF THE HAND-BOOK. It is the object of these pages to point out the position, extent, and character of these fertile belts, as ascertained by the geological and other survc3's, so as to enable those who are disposed to invest their capital in lands suited for settle- ment, to discover the most desirable localities, and also to aid those who may be desirous of settling on the unoccupied lands, as farmers, in finding such a soil as may repay their industrious efibrts. The forests and mineral lands, as well as the other economic resources of the country, will also receive due attention. ■■:>-'; M- ■ 'II. 'vm> I ' '■ • '-■ ">m }\ iii^i ipii)_i>j«ii tc ponds to island ) United , which, il lands, through s of the / all the id fertile bundant oportant •growths resent a ibund in 1 greatly i I position, niued by lose who ir settle- l also to occupied Day their s well as i receive V .^' '€ ■..•i.-j ■-%£( riS«.; '"^ ^•'•V ^ \"-^. P-, ? ' * , * X .NEWFOriSULAiS n>«^ffVF«v r W I. IN Uii Ai> u -*« V ""^4 '•>!- -•■iiira^r-- HAND-BOOK ov Tm EESOURCES OF NEWFOUNDLAND. CHAPTER I. GENERAL SURVEY OF TUE AGRICULTURAL LANDS. < GOOD LANDS. There are three great rivers in the island, — the Exploits, the Humber, and the Gander ; and it is in the valleys through which thoy and their tributaries flow that the largest areas of fertile land are to be found. But along the valleys through 1^ which the smaller streams run good land, of greater or less jxtent, is also found, sometimes of considerable extent and jreat fertility. The same holds good regarding the heads )f the bays, where level tracts of good soil are found of variable extent. EXPLOITS RIVER AND VALLEY. The largest of the three main arteries is the River Exploits. It rises," says Mr. Murray, " in the extreme south-western angle of the island, and within twelve miles of the southern coast, near La Poile, and^ flowing in a north-easterly direc- tion, terminates in the Bay of Exploits, Notre Dame Bay. The distances from the sources to the outlet measure very nearly 200 miles in an air-line. The upper waters flow in 16 HAND-BOOK OF two minor brnnchcs, tho Exploits proper and tho Victoria branch, of about eqiml size, both of which empty into Red Indian Luke, which itself is upwards of 3G miles long, with an average width of about two miles, and very deep ; whence flows tho main stream for 72 miles to tho sea. The normal surface of Red Indian Lake is 408 feet above tho sea, and its total area is GO square miles. There are numerous tribu- taries to this great river, some of which might with justice bo termed rivers themselves ; and tho whole area drained by the Exploits valley is nothing under 3,000 square miles." Wo shall presently see what proportion of this great valley is available for settlement, and what is the character of its forest-growth. HUMBER RIVER AND VALLEY. The next largest river is the Iluraber, falling into tho Humber arm of the Bay of Islands, after draining an area of 2,000 square miles. The main branch of tho Ilumber rises about 20 miles inland from Bonne Bay, and, after a circuitous course, falls into Deer Lake. The other branch rises north of Sandy Lake and flows through it into Grand Lake ; thence, by Junction Brook, it joins the main branch, six miles above Deer Lake. From this lake, which is 16 miles long, tho Humber flows majestically into tho Bay of Islands. The scenery of the Humber is among the grandest in tho island. The agricultural lands and the forests of this large valley will be described in their proper place. GANDER RIVER AND VALLEY. The Gander is the third •f the large rivers of the island, and drains an area of 2,500 square miles, falling into Gander Bay. Its principal branch rises near Bay D'Espoir, on the southern coast, and running north-easterly, falls into the great Gander Lake. The other, after a winding course, falls into the same lake, whence the united stream runs northerly for 31 miles into Gander Bay. Gander Lake is 33 miles long, and has an area of 44 square miles. ., ^ ' ■ 'x' T NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 17 the SEATS OF PUmiB AaRlCDI.TURAL SETTLEMENTS. Tlicso, then, are tho thrco main arteries of the island ; and in their valleys are found tho largest and best stretches of fertile land. These are destined to be the greut seats of agricultural* colonies. But tho smaller rivers also present considerable areas of good land along their l^anks. Terra Nova Eivcr is a considerable stream, noted for its rapids, falling into Bonavista Bay. Tho Garabo also discharges here. Colinet and Rocky rivers fall into St. Mary's Bay. The Codroy River rises in the Long Range of mountains, and flows through a valley containing the finest land in the island. Tho rivers discharging their waters on the southern coast have short courses, and, for the most part, rush in turbulent torrents to the sea. The principal of these arc Bay D'East River, Bay Do North River, Little River, White Bear River, and La Poile River. Tho rivers and brooks which discharge on the south side of St. George's Bay inter- lock with the tributaries of the Exploits, taking their origin amons: the mountains of the Long Range; after leaving which they flow in a westerly course, through a wide expanse of level country, to the sea. Along these valleys opening out along the shores of St. George's Bay are some of the finest and most desirable agricultural lands, capable of sus- taining a large population, if duly cultivated. EXTENT OF FERTILE LANDS. Before going into details, it may be desirable to. present a general outline of the extent of agricultural lands contained in these valleys. Mr. Murray, the geological surveyor, states in his reports that the regions near and surrounding St. George's Bay, including the Codroy valleys and Poi-t-a- Port, contain 730 square miles, more or less suitable for set- tlement, "the most favored tract being the coal-measure districts, where the surface is often flat or gently undulating over a great many acres." Bay of Islands, including the valley of the Humber, Deer Lake, and Grand Lake country, 18 HAND-BOOK OF contains 600 square miles suitable for settlement, — being a total of 1,330 square miles in this single district of land "perfectly capable of being reclaimed, and converted into fairly productive grazing and arable land." ** These valleys," says the report, "are well wooded, producing, in many in- stances, large pines, juniper, or tamarack (the latter a species of larch) , fine yellow-birch, and other valuable timber. In the valley of the Humber this is especially the case, where a large area of country appears to be provided with all the necessary material for ship-building in a remarkable de- gree." LAND IN THE GANDER COUNTRY. Passing now to the Gander country, on the eastern coast, — on the Gander River and Lake, with the tributaries, and including the Gambo and Terra Nova valleys, together with the tracts at the heads of the bays, there are, according to Mr. Murray, 1,700 square miles available for settlement. The Exploits valley and Red Indian Lake, together with the lands surrounding the estuary of the Exploits, contain 1,620 square miles. Thus we have' a total, in these great valleys alone, of 4,650 square miles, or 2,976,000 acres, fit for set- tlement, and capable of sustaining a very large population. SMALLER TRACTS OF GOOD SOIL. It must be obs'^rved that the foregoing comprise only the more extensive tracts of fertile land at present known. In addition, however, there are many smaller portions of excel- lent soil around the heads of all the bayy, along the margins of the smaller rivers, and on several of tlie islands, such as Random Island, Trinity Bay. These when united form no inconsiderable area. The Salmonier Arm and River may be named as a district where there is a very considerable extent of good soil, but little of which is yet under cultiva- tion. The peninsula of St. Mary's, the north side of Smith's Sound, in Trinity Bay, Goose Bay, in Bonavista Bay, are also fertile districts. Along the railway track. NEWFOUNDLAND RESOUBCES. 19 between Holyrood and Harbor Grace, surveyors have been at work for some time laying off the lands in townships. Here, too, at intervals, small areas of good land are found, on which a considerable number of farms may be cultivated, having the great advantage of proximity to the railway. When we add to these the land already under culture around the various settlements, and the immense tracts of land throughout the peninsula of Avalon which are admirably adapted for cattle and sheep raising, the area of the whole can scarcely be under 2,000,000 acres. Thus we have close on 5,000,000 of acres which are known to be well adapted to agricultural or grazing purposes. The more carefully the surface of the country is explored, the more numerous are found to be the reclaimable portions which industry could convert into productive farms or valuable cattle runs. i MR. Murray's opinion of the soil and forests. Such being the agricultural capabilities of the island, it is not surprising to find the geological surveyor, Mr. Murray, using the following words : " In round numbers the total population is about 200,000 souls, supported almost alto- gether in provisions by the Dominion of Canada and the United States. While I have no hesitation in affirming that, were the island treated like any of the maritime provinces of the Dominion, where mining, lumbering, and agriculture are duly encouraged, the time need not be far distant when the numbers of the inhabitants might be reckoned by tens or hundreds of thousands, and eventually by millions."* JOINT committee's OPINION. To the same effect we may cite a report of a Joint Com- mittee of the Council and House of Assembly, made in 1880 : "Our agricultural industry, though prosecuted to a valuable extent, is yet susceptible of very enlarged development. Vast stretches of agricultural land, extending from Trinity Bay, north, along the heads of Bonavista Bay, Gander Bay, 20 HAND-BOOK OP and Exploits River, as well as on the west coast, need only the employment of well-directed labor to convert them into means of independent support for thousands of the popula- tion. . . . The inquiry is further suggested whether this colony should not become an exporter oi live stock ; and we have little difficulty in affirming this position. For grazing purposes we have large tracts that we believe cannot be surpassed in British North America ; and when we regard our proximity to England, and the all-important consideration of a short voyage for live stock, the advantages we possess in this connection are too manifest to be the subject of ques- tion or argument." * ■r'T^'^ ^.-..T-. f^- NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 91 CHAPTER n. THE WEST COAST AS AN AGRICULTURAL REGION. — COD- ROY VALLEYS. — ST. GEORGE'S BAY — BAY OF ISLANDS. Having thus obtained some general idea of the extent and position of the agricultural lands, it becomes necessary to go more into detail, and furnish some account of the character- istics and capabilities of each district separately. THE WEST COAST AS AN AGRICULTimAL REGION. Wo begin with the west coast of the island, because, in an agricultural point of view, it is by far the most important, having, in addition to a large extent of fertile soil, valuable forests, coal-fields, marble, gypsum, and limestone beds, while the climate is by many degrees superior to that of the eastern and southern shores. There is also reason to believe that it contains valuable mineral deposits. Here is a wide field for settlers, in which farming and cattle and sheep raising could be carried on upon an extensive scale. The superiority of its soil arises from the fact that a large portion of it belongs to the carboniferous formation, which is not found to be developed in any other part of the island. The superiority of its climate is caused by the fact that it is out of the range of the fogs which so often envelop the south and south-eastern coasts, to which the}'^ are largely confined ; and also because the cold easterly winds, plowing over the Atlantic, are modified before reaching the west coast. On these accounts this part of the island seems destined to become, in the near future, the seat of a large agricultural industry ; while on the east coast the great valleys of the Gander and Exploits will witness a similar development in farming and lumbering. 22 HAND-BOOK OP THE COD ROY VALLEYS. CODROY RIVERS. A glance at the map shows us that the Great and Little Codroy rivers, which have but short courses, fall into the sea about 16 miles north of Cape Ray, and six miles south- easterly from Cape Anguille. Their mouths are but a few miles apart. The valley which they drain, though of no great extent comparatively, is one of the finest agricultui'al districts in the island. It is bounded on the south-east by the Cape Ray mountains, rising, rugged and barren, to a height of 2,000 feet. The Cape Anguille range forms its northern boundary ; and these, says Mr. Murray, present a soft and gentle outfine, while the higher elevations attain an altitude of 1,000 to 1,300 feet, richly covered by forest trees nearly to the summits." CODROY VALLEY. The lower part of this valley, between the two ranges of hills, gives an expanse of low, flat land, the breadth of the valley being about 12 miles. In the upper part of the valley the hill-ranges converge towards each other, and "the valley gradually becomes more and more contracted in width until shut in nearly altogether, where the main stream at the end of the survey becomes split up, among the moun- tains of the Long range, into a succession of small turbulent mountain brooks." surveyor-general's opinion. More than thirty years ago, when this valley was almost uninhabited, the Surveyor-General who then held oflSce visited Codroy, and in his report gave the following account of the region : " The extent of land between the Great and Little Codroy rivers, and on the north side of the former, may, from the examination made, be estimated to contain an area equal to 70,000 acres. The whole of that space consists of a rich loam, capable of the highest degree of culti- NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 23 vation, and fit for the production of any description of crop. Limestone is readily obtained, and can with little trouble be made to contribute to the support of the land where it is so abundantly found. Timber of the most serviceable descrip- tion covers, for the most part, the tract here referred to. Birch trees, measuring from five to seven feet in circum- ference, were found within a quarter of a mile of the shore, while others of a larger growth may be readily procured at a short distance from it. Among the birch are mingled spruce and fir of all sizes, suitable either for the erection of houses or the construction of vessels. From information obtained at Codroy, little doubt exists that coal may be procured, and that without much difficulty, toward the eastern end of the river. Lying to the northward of the valuable tract of land referred to is found a range of hilly ground, admirably adapted for grazing, its natural produc- tions consisting of herbage, which, early in the summer, attains a height of between two and three feet. In closing the remarks on this river it is doing no more than justice to say that it would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful or picturesque scene than the whole presents ; and whether with reference to the soil around it, to its fisheries, or to its geographical situation, forming., as it does, part of the Northern Head, and therefore commanding the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a more desirable or important place for a settlement could scarcely be found." MR. MURRAY ON CODROY. Mr. Murray, in carrying out the geological survey, visited Codroy in 1866, and his report in regard to the soil fully sustained that of the authority just cited. He says : " The area occupied by level or gently undulating land in the valley amounts, by rough measurement on the plan, to about 75 square miles, or 48,000 square acres, a very l^rge proportion of which is available for settlement. For the most part the country is well wooded with stout mixed timber, consisting chieflj'^ of spruce, balsam firs, yellow birch, frequently of u HAND-BOOK OF large size, white birch, and tamarack ; but there aie also fre- quent spots of barren or spongy marsh, entirely void of tim- ber, or only maintaining a very stunted growth of evergreens, or small tamaracl? bushes. The islands and flats of the lower part of the Great Codroy River yield a luxuriant growth of wild grass, affording an ample supply of admirable fodder for cattle. Along the sea-coast, between Trainvain Brook and the little village of Codroy, the country is partLally settled all the way, the attention of the settlers being about equally divided between the cultivation of the land and fish- ing operations ; but up the Great Codroy River, which is more or less occupied on citbei" side of the estuary, the call- ing of the inhabitants appears to be more purely agricultural, and it may bo fairly stated that, notwithstanding the very rude process by which the land is cultivated, the crops pro- duced, of grass, grain, and roots, highly testify to the excel- lence of the soil in which they are grown. Cattle and sheep are raised upon most of these small farms, producing most excellent beef and mutton, besides dairy produce of the very best description. " The greater part of the Anguille, and some portions of the lower slopes of the Capo Ray range, also are capable of im- provement, and if cleared of timber and sown in grass, would afford grazing land not easily surpassed in any country." MR. IIOWLEY 8 SURVEY OF CODROY. In the year 18K 3 Mr. James P. Ilowley, Assistant Geological Surveyor, spent the summer months in making a complete topographical survey of these valleys. He triangulated the region, and blocked off the lands into townships, so that grants can now be issued to all apfjlicants. In his report he says : " The number of farm lots in actual possession on the coast-line and shores of the estuary of Grand River, located und laid off, was 93 in all ; having an average of 163 a. 1 r. 38 p., or a total of 15,204 a. 3 r. IS p. A further amount of 2,121 a. 1 r. has been applied for or otherwise claimed on the Grand River. On the Little River estuary and coast NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 2ft southward about 8,9G0 acres arc occupied or held in posses sion. As yet only twelve applications for the latter district have been made. There arc 27 vacant lots between the two rivers, and on the outer coast, having an acreage of 3,530 a. r. 28 p., or an average of 130 a. 2 r. 39 p. " The upper and unoccupied portion of the Codroy valley was estimated to contain a total area of about 42 1 square miles, or 27,040 acres. About one-third of this area is occu- pied by extensive barrens and marshes, while probably one- quarter of the remainder is cover'^d by inferior soil, and a small stunted growth of timl)er. This would reduce the available agricultural land in the upper valley to about 13,421 acres. "From the foregoinj? fiojures it will be seen that the total o o o area of the valley of the Codroys is as follows : — A. Area occupied on the estuary of the Grand River and coast outside .... Area claimed on the estuary of the Grand River and coast outside .... Area occui)ied on estuary of Little River and coast southward .... Vacant lots between rivers Vacant lots on Upper valley R. 15,204 3 18 2,121 1 8,9r,G 3,530 28 27,040 Total 56,8G2 1 6 " The general character of the country has been so fully and faithfully described in Mr. Murray's report for 1866 that nothing can be added thereto. Though his survey of that year was undertaken for purely geological purposes, and did not present the same opportunities for acquiring a thorough knowledge of the whole region as ours of the past seas( . nevertheless his estimates are very nearly correct." MR. HOWLEY's plan OF SETTLEMENT. Mr. Howloy suggests that a further subdivision of the still available land in the valley be made, and that each lot f i se HAND-BOOK OF should be numbered, and either sold to intending settlers at an upset price per acre, or be regulated according to the position and character of the lot ; or that otherwise grants in fee for fifty acres, with a right of preemption over the re- maining fifty, be given every actual settler upon the per- formance of certain conditions within a stated period. The terms, he thinks, should be made easy, and payment taken in kind, so as to facilitate the settlement of the land by poor but industrious persons. Th( CONDITION OF CODROY SETTLERS. Regarding the condition of the present settlers, Mr. Howlcy says that " of late years much has been done towards improving their condition. The best possible return has been given for the small annual outlay on roads ; but the non-completion of the main line to Port-au-Basque is still a great detriment to the advancement of the settlement. It is very much to be regretted that some means cannot be devised whereby this line could be completed with as little delay as possible, and its extension to St. George's Bay vigorously pushed forward. The completion of such a line of road would open up an immense tract of the best land in the island for settlement, and I feel confident that the effect which would be produced in the course of a short time upon our markets here, and along the whole southern coast of the island, would be of a highly beneficial character." MONSIGNOR SEARS ON CODROY. It may be interesting to quote the opinions of others, in addition to those already cited, in regard to this valley. The late Very Rev. Monsignor Sears, an ecclesiastic of high character, who spent many years in Codroy, and was the pioneer of civilization both there and in St. George's Bay, says : " As you ask in particular for the Codroy River, suffice it here to say that the range of good land along its banks is sufficiently broad for all purposes of forming good farms. The ' interval ' is from a mile to two miles in width. NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 27 The valley of the Codroy is in most places computed at from ten to twelve miles wide, mostly composed of excellent land. The length of the valley is about forty miles. There are, of course, some marshes and some plots of stony ground, but nothing to impede farming operations on an extensive scale. In the 'interval,' and even the major part of the good upland, there are scarcely any stones. The wood is abundant and of excellent quality. The birch, which is plentiful, is an excellent article of fuel, besides its well- known use for ship-building." high A FARMER'S OPINION OP CODROY. An intelligent Prince Edward Island farmer, who a few yecrs ago spent a winter in this valley, on his return home gave an account of his experience in a local newspaper, from which the following is an extract : " You may judge of the richness of these Codroy lands by the fact that at the home- stead where I passed the winter, a farm of not more than fifteen acres of roughly cultivated land, supported a stock of twenty head of cattle and thirty-five sheep wholly upon hay. Along the ' intervals ' I passed over rich fields where clover had been grown luxuriantly for more than thirty years, with- out manure, and with no sign of decay or loss to the soil. Even the neighboring uplands seem equally inexhaustible in fertility, giving no sign of wearing out, though they have been cropped year after year, without manure, since they were settled. Indeed, the manure-heaps are considered an encumbrance by the farmers there. Observing large and unsightly heaps of stable manure, which had been accumu- lating for thirty years, as I was told, I asked one of the farm- ers why he did not turn the manure to account. He replied that their hay-fields had no need of manure, and as for their potato lands, any manure on them would choke the potatoes with clover. Indeed, these uplands are so rich that there seems no doubt that they are of volcanic origin." 28 HAND-BOOK OF A TRAVELLER ON CODROY. A traveller from Capo Breton, who visited the region a short time ago, says: "The land is scarcely surpassed hy any in the Lower Provinces for its fertility. We travelled about twenty-four miles above this beautiful and romantic river. There is a range of good upland extending some nine miles above the settlement. This is studded with birch, spruce, and fir. Then commences what is called 'the Big Interval.' This great tract of rich land I travelled for about fifteen miles cither side of the river, some places extending over a mile in width. The extent and appearance of this splendid ' interval ' struck me so forcibly that I stopped to examine carefully the nature of the soil. I could see along the banks that the soil was exceedingly good, and four feet in depth, while the grass, balsam, and balm of Gilead trees, and tall alders, gave proof of its surpassing fertility." COAL m CODROY. Mr. Murray's reports show that Codroy possesses other resources besides its rich soil. "The coal rocks," he says, " were perceived to be distributed along the base of the Cape Ray mountains wherever visited from Trainvain Brook to the upper forks of the Great Codroy. . . . Gypsum abounds in the lower part of the carboniferous system, and is largely developed on the coast near Codroy and in Bay St. George. The vast masses which come out in the clifls between Codroy Island and the Great Codroy River can hardly fail to prove, some day, of great value and importance. . . . Admirable building stone is found on Codroy Island and on the Great Codroy River." Limestone beds he also describes as " occurring on the coast near Codroy, and thence cropping out at intervals near the right bank of the Great Codroy River." NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 29 region a S8ed hy ravelled omantio ig some h birch, the Big lied for places )carance that I I could od, and jalm of •passing !S other le says, le Cape rook to ibounds largely jrcorge. •etween ' fail to '• • • • and on scribes opping I!odroy « ST. GEORGE'S BAT. PROSPECTS OF ST. OEOROE'S BAY. There can be no doubt that St. George's Bay is destined to become one day the seat of a large agricultural, mining, and lumbering population. When we take into account the extensive tracts of fertile lands around its shores, the ex- cellence of the timber, the coal-beds and mineral treasures, indications of which are abundant, and add to this the superior climate it enjoys, it seems every way likely that it will yet become the garden of Newfoundland. Towns and villages will yet dot its shores, and a prosjjcrous population will occupy its valleys and hills. ST. George's bay. ♦ St. George's is a noble bay, — more properly it might be called a gulf, — being 40 miles wide atwts entrance, and 50 miles in length. It is long and tapering, and receives at its head and along its southern shore numerous streams and rivers. A long low tongue of land runs out at the south side of the bay, forming an excellent harbor. THE surveyor-general ON BAY ST. GEORGE. More than thirty years ago the Surveyor-General of the day, paid a professional visit to this region, for the purpose of reporting on its capabilities. In his report he said that it was capable of supporting more than 100,000 inhabitants in comfort. "The soil," he said, "is deep and rich, and when the trees and stumps are removed from it, no further obstacles exist to prevent the land being at once brought under the plough ; while the husbandman has at hand lime- stone and gypsum sufficient for the most extensive farming operations, and in addition to which, kelp, a most valuable manure, may be collected to almost any extent, the clear- ing of the land would not cost more than 40 to 50 shillings an acre." 30 HAND-BOOK OF MR. MURRAY ON ST. GEORGE's BAT. In his report for 1873 Mr. Murray says: "The Long range mountains, which terminate in their southern course at Cape Ray, run in a north-easterly direction, and in a moderately straight line, towards the head of the Grand Lake, and oh to the IIuralDer River below Dear Lake ; their north-western flank forming the boundary of the area to which the attention of the survey has been chiefly directed during the late season. The whole region, roughly es- timated, contains an area of about 1,824 square statute miles, and may be thus subdivided : — Bq. Miloi. 1. Area: South-east side of St. George's Bay, in- clusive of the Codroy valleys . . . 816 2. Area : Country between the west coast and the Long Range mountains, south of the Bay of Islands to tfce north shore of St. George's Bay^ 720 3. The Port-a-Port peninsula 288 1,824 TOPOGRAPHY OF THE REGION. " The main coast-line of St. George's Bay, between the Little Barachois in Flat Bay and Fishel's Brook, is for the greater part composed of abrupt banks of modern drift, rising to an elevation which varies at certain points from 100 feet to upwards of 180 feet in height. Farther south the drift-banks are interrupted by sections of the carbonif- erous rocks jutting out through them, still maintaining great uniformity of elevation ; but south-westward of Crabb's Brook the rocks almost exclusively occupy the coast to Cape Anguille. Between this south-western part of the coast and the Great Codroy River the character of the country differs essentially from that farther to the north- east, in being mountainous, forming a range which derives its name from Cape Anguille at its western extremity. | fo This range is shaped somewhat rudely to resemble an NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 81 10 Long courso ind in a i Grand ; their area to directed jhly 03- statute Sq. Milei. 816 e >f 720 288 1,824 I'oen the 3 for the •n drift, its from er south arbonif- otainingf v^ard of upy the jrn part acter of e north- derives tremity. able an isosceles triangle, the base of which is the coast between Cape Anguillo and Codroy, while the apex reaches to a point midway between the coast and the Long range mountains, and within about three miles of the course of Crabb's Brook, where it is locally known as 'The High- lands ' of 8t. George's Bay. The highest summits of the Capo Anguille range reach an elevation of 1,200 feet or more, and are in many parts abrupt, and even precipitous ; but they materially differ in their contour and general aspect from the rugged masses of the Long Ilange, by being smoothly rounded in form, and carrying more or less vegeta- tion to the highest parts. Innumerable small streams, which take their rise from lakes and lakelets among these moun- tains, pour their waters in picturesque cascades over the lofty cliffs which bound St. George's Bay ; while many more flow- ing in the opposite direction join the waters of the Great Codroy Kiver, or fall into the sea between its outlet and Codroy Island." rORESTS OF ST. GEORGE'S BAT. " North-eastward from the terminating point of the Cape Anguille mountains the whole country between the coast and the Long Range is of a flat or undulatory character, densely covered with forest trees, except in such parts as have been swept by fire, or occasional tracts of marsh. The trees of this forest consist of white and yellow birch, spruce, and balsam fir, poplar, and tamarack, or larch. There is, however, little or no pine. The only parts where that timber was observed to grow were on a few spots near the banks of the Flat Bay Brook, and an occasional spot in like manner in the valley of Fishel's Brook. Much of the timber of this great plateau is very large. Trees of yellow and white birch are frequently met with, and particularly on the river flats, having a diameter of three feet, and even more, many of which are tall and straight, resembling the hard-wood forest trees of Canada; spruces, balsams, poplars, and tama- racks also reach a maximum size, and seem to be of excel- 12 HAND-BOOK OF lent quality. The ground is often densely covered by a creeping bush, a species of yew, generally known as ground- hemlock in Canada, where it abounds ; all amply testifying to the excellence of the soil upon which they grow." RIVERS OF THE DISTRICT. The rivers which drain this district are the Little Bara- chois and Flat Bay brooks, the Fishel, Robinson's, Middle Barachois, and Crabb's brooks. "All these streams," says Mr. Murray, "take their rise among the barren wastes of the Long range mountains, but the lower reaches of each, for distances varying from 12 to 20 miles, flow through richly wooded and fertile vaiieys intersecting the plateau just de- scribed. These valleys, and much of the higher lands, now primeval wilderness, appear to be, in nearly every respect, well adapted for ar^ricultural settlement. By deducting the tract occupied by the Cape Anguille range of hills, amount- ing to 25() square miles, which is too high and too steep for ordinary tillage, although well suited as runs for sheep or cattle, the remainder of the block, viz., 560 square miles, is certainly to a large extent reclaimable, and there can be but little doubt that the construction of roads, which must ueces- sarily be the consequence of occupation, together with the clearing of the forest, will lead to mineral discovery of vast importance to the colony. " Water-power, for the purpose of driving machinery, could be obtained at almost any point desired ; the low- lying flats ofl'ering every facility for building or mill sites." SECOND AREA OF THE BAY. Of thfi second geographical area named above, Mr. Mur- ray says that a large portion of it is mountainous, but he adds : " Tracts of considerable extent upon the coast, and nearly all the valleys of the principal streams, bear a soil of the most fertile description, which is even already shown by the few and rudely cultivated spots here and there, where the productions in grass, green crops, and even cereals, are all T NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 33 first class, both in quantity and quality. And this in a country where there is no evidence of the existence of a plough or harrow, or a wheeled vehicle of any kind whatever." COUNTRY NORTH OF THE GRAVELS. At no great distance from the coast north of the Gravels is a ranffo of Silurian mountains averasrin^'OOO to 1,000 feet in height. From these numerous streams How. "Our time," says Mr. Murray, " would not permit us to make surveys of any of these rivers ; but, from the evidences visible at their outlets, and such information as could be derived from the inhabitants, there can be little doubt that large tracts of extremely fine land extend up their valleys for many miles. The richness of the soil at this [)art of the coast is probably due to the calcareous material derived from the adjacent mountains, together with the disintegration of the trnppean rocks of which the subsoil is composed. We were surprised to perceive that the little Fox Island lying out in the bay, which, as seen at a distance, w'as conceived to be a mere barren rock, was covered over three-fourths of its area with a soil of the richest description, and that the gardens of the two families of poor fishermen who inhabited it were producing crops of potatoes, peas, and hay, which, for luxuriance and vigorous growth, could hardly be sur- passed, although the mode of culture was of the very rudest." RIVIERE BLANCHE. Of Riviere Blanche, a river falling into St. George's Bay, near Indian Head, Mr. Murray's report says : " This river was measured about six miles up its course. A block of rich flat land, supported on members of the carboniferous series, is shut in, as it were, by the Silurian mountains on the north and west, and by the Indian Head range on the east, which is chiefly drained by the Riviere Blanche and Romaine's or Kippen's Brook. The area of the block is between 30 and 40 square miles, or about 22,400 acres. The whole of this 34 HAND-BOOK OP area (excepting the small clearings at the mouths of the streams) is densely covered with forests of large and vigor- ous growth, with abundance of yellow birch, spruce, fir, and other trees, but scarcely any pine." Harry's brook valley. "The valley of Harry's Brook, above the western fork, is rugged and barren for the greater part, and much of it hilly or mountainous. Below the junction of Spruce Brook patches of good land begin to appear, chiefly on the right bank ; and back from the lower reaches on the same side there is a broad tract of very good country. The islands and low banks near the outlet are of the best soil for grass meadows. To the south-east of Spruce Brook nearly the whole country is spread over by vast marshes which extend up to the flanks of the hills on the south-west side of the Grand Lake." port-a-port peninsula. Of the Port-a-Port peninsula the report says much of it is high and hilly, but " there are numerous patches of very fine land, and particularly around the shores of Western Bay. . . As the mineral indications observea seemed to favor the probability of the peninsula becoming a mining district in course of time, these patches of available agricultural land can scarcely fail to become of great value." ROOM FOR TWENTY THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND FORTY SETTLERS. " The vast importance of these regions as an agricultural country, setting its probable mineral value aside altogether, may in some degree be understood by supposing the whole available area to be blocked ofi" in lots of 100 acres each, and each lot to be occupied by one person ; there would then be 3,584 settlers on the south-east side of St. George's Bay ; 224 on the Riviere Blanche and Romaine's Brook block ; and 320 pt least upon all the remainder. If we further suppose NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 35 that each settler has a family of five members, there would then be a population of 20,640 souls." To this we may add the numbers which would find employment in fishing, lum- bering, mining, and various trades, as well as in farming, and we can form some idea of the population the shores of this bay is capable of sustaining. At present there are but a few farms along the coast on either side of the bay. MR. HOWLEY'S township SURVEY OF SOUTH SIDE OP BAY ST. GEORGE. In 1884 Mr. James P. Howley spent the summer months in laying off the large tract of land on the south side of St. George's Bay into townships of 36 square miles each. He was accompanied by a duly equipped surveying party. He included the whole of the available land here in nine townships. REPORT OF SURVEYOR. His report states the total area for the whol# tract to be 330 square miles, or 211,200 square 'acres. Mr. Howley says : " Probably one-third of this great area would have to be deducted as unfit for settlement, owing to the prevalence of barren and marshy land, which would still leave 220 square miles, or 140,800 square acres available. The character of the soil spread over so extensive a surface is, of course, very diversified ; fully one-half in four of the townships is occupied by extensive barrens and peat bogs of little value, except as runs for sheep and cattle. In the remaining townships the good land preponderates, and the soil in many places is of superior richness, especially in the vicinity of the large rivers, where much interval land occurs. The prevailing character is a deep red or yellowish sandy loam ; but the alluvial interval deposits partake more of the character of a rich dark, sometimes nearly black, mould. The fertility of these latter soils is well attested in the quality of the timber they support. Yellow birch (witch-hazel) , white birch, balsam poplar, maple, large spruce, and fir are the 38 HAND-BOOK OF > I prevailing varieties. But considerable tracts are frequently covered with a dense growth of large aiders, intermixed with elder and white-wood, which are certain indications of a rich, moist, alluvial soil." The soil which covers the lower carboniferous formation is invariably good ; and when the characteristic red of the sandstones and conglomerates of this formation is seen, soil well adapted to agricultural pur- poses may be looked for. This is the case in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton. Mr. Howley remarks : "The cause of the fertility of such soils is readily accounted for in this way : nine-tenths of the superficial deposits spread over any tract of country are composed of the debris of the rock formations immediately underlying them. When, as in the case of the lower carboniferous, the bulk of the forma- tion is composed of soft sandstones, shales, clays, marls, limestones, and gypsum, an intermixture of these various ingredients must naturally result in soil of a superior char- acter. On the contrary, where the underlying rocks are chiefly crysttiline, silicious, or feldspathic, containing little or no lime, the resulting soils are usually poor and hungry, requiring a constant supply of fertilizing agents to render them at all productive. The question, then, of the superiority, or otherwise, of the soil over any tract of country, can at all times be determined upon geological grounds, when the rock-structure of the country is known." M COAL AREAS OP ST. GEORGE's GYPSTBI DEPOSITS. In addition to this extent of good soil and valuable timber, St. George's Bay contains a coal-field which Mr. Jukes, the eminent geologist who visited it in 1840, estimated to be 25 miles wide and 10 miles in length. Seams of this coal have been found cropping out in two places, — on Eobinson's Brook, and on the Little Barachois River. Further account of it is reserved for the chapter on the mineral wealth of the island. Of other economic resources, Mr. Howley says in the report already quoted : " The immense gypsum deposits, so frequently met with throughout this region, cannot fail to become of NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 87 i considerable economic importance in the future, especially as nmch of it partakes of the character known as alabaster. Its value as a fertilizer, should the counUy become aettled with an agricultural population, can hardly be over-estimated. Many substances of minor importance, such as building- stones, limestones, brick-clays, grindstones, whetstones, etc., occur in abundance. Tho Laurentian hills, in the rear, give promise of considerable deposits of iron ores, boulders, and fragments of which are found plentifully distributed along the beds of the principal streams. These and other less known resources, combined with the greatly superior quality of tho soil, must in tjme render the district of St. George's Bay one of the most flourishing and prosperous in the island of Newfoundland." MONSIGNOR SEARS ON ST. GEORGE S. The late Very Rev. Monsignor Sears, who labored inces- santly for the improvement of this region and its inhabitants, says of tho St. George's Bay : "As the soil here is surpass- ingly productive, especially in the growth of various grasses, I believe there is no country in our latitude to surpass it for grazing sheep or cattle. . . Wherever tho trees arc ;i'cmoved by fire, wind, or other causes, a spontaneous growth of grass springs up." He tells of meadows which he has known giv- ing hay for the last nineteen years, "and the nineteenth crop is better than the first. . . The wood is abundant and of ex- cellent quality, especially the birch, for fuel and ship-build- ing. There is another tree here called the balm-tree. It grows so luxuriantly on tho ' Long Interval ' tracts of the river margins that, viewed from a distance, this fine-look- ing tree reminds one of the oak forests of the Old World, or the maple groves of the neighboring colonies. Tho timber is very light, something like that of tho aspen, and is as soft to cut as the cedar. For inside work it combines the fA^^s or polish of hard-wood, with the facility of being worked or dressed peculiar to pine. It covers hundreds of acres, and grows to a size of three or four feet in diameter." 38 HAND-BOOK OP 1 1 S DR. BELL ON ST. GEORGE's. Ono more testimony regarding this region may be referred to, that of John Bell, M.A., M.D., who visited the west coast, and described it in the " Canadian Naturalist " for 1870. He says : "Along the river flats, in the valleys, and on the * barrens,' when these are drained, and the country is a little more cleared, there will be room for thouj^ands of farms, and the hills will afibrd walks for immense flocks of sheep, and pasture for countless herds of cattle, the surplus of all which will find a ready market at the ports and fishing- stations, at the lumbering, manufacturing, and mining estab- lishments, which ere long will make this old and neglected colony one vast scene of active and profitable industry. The climate of the island is favorable to the development of its agricultural resources of every kind. Instead of the cold, foggy atmosphere which is generally supposed to hang over the island, quite the reverse is the case. The air is clear and warm, and the temperature during the year remarkably equable, the mercury in winter seldom falling below zero of Fahrenheit's scale, or in summer rising above eighty degrees, while the mean temperature of the year is about forty-four degrees. I never saw finer weather than during the two months I was on the island. It is only on the south-west corner that fogs prevail to any extent, from the proximity of that part to the Gulf Stream." * FISHERIES OF ST. GEORGE's BAY. f ■I In connection with the settlement of this region we must I add the valuable fisheries of St. George's Bay, from which | the present scanty, population derive a good part of their | sustenance. This bay is one of the great seats of the herring- I fishery. Herrings are so abundant that every man takes as | many as he thinks he can cure. Cod, salmon, and smelt are | also abundant. All these resourcescombinedpo.it out St. j> George's Bay as the seat of a large population in the future. NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 89 I I MR. HOWLEY ON PORT-A-PORT. The following extract from Mr. Howley's report for 1874 regarding the peninsula of Port-a-Port shows that its agri- cultural capabilities are far from despicable : " It was esti- mated that there may be in the peninsula alone nearly 100 square miles of area available for agricultural purposes. In the region surrounding West Bay, a tract extending over at least 45 square miles, is level, densely wooded, and is inter- sected by several brooks of good size. At some abandoned clearings near the sea-shore the rank luxuriance of the grass that grew there was most remarkable, while the timber pro- duced over the other parts of the area was of good quality, consisting chiefly of white spruce, balsam, fir, and yellow birch (commonly known as witch-hazel). Pine was not observed, and, if it exists, is scarce. " The valley of Benoit's Brook contains an area of about 60 square miles, at least one-half of which might be re- claimed ; but there is a great deal of marshy ground over the remainder. The country is well timbered with the usual variety of trees. " The whole area of the valley of Serpentine River is about 58 square miles. Much of these lower lands are of good soil, more especially on the banks of the river and along the base of the mountains, where the surface is gen- erally level and dry. In addition to the usual varieties, pine and tamarack may be enumerated among the indigenous timber. These latter trees, although less abundant than the others, are nevertheless in considerable quantity, r.nd some of the former reach a great size. I measured one pine which had a circumference of twelve feet, and there are many varying from two and one-half to three feet in diameter. BAY OF ISLANDS. CHARACTER OF THE REGION. — TOPOGRAPHY. About 50 miles from the north head of St. George's Bay the Bay of Islands opens, being 15 miles wide at its entrance, ,i;!i I I I f 40 HAND-BOOK OF where it ia studded with lofty islands. This fine region, only second in importance to Bay St. George in regard to its agricultural capabilities, its fisheries, and its mineral and | timber wealth, contains as yet but few inhabitants, who are | scattered alon^r the banks of the Humber Sound and River. I The bay is spacious and easy of access, its depth being | about 15 miles, and the anchorage safe and ffood on the southern side. There are several arms extending from the eastern side ; but the most important is that known as the \\ ' Humber Sound, extending from the south-eastern part of i| the bay about 28 miles easterly into the country, with a jl width of more than two miles. At its head is the mouth of li the Humber Eiver, the second largest river in the island. A i| ! range of hills, called the Blow-me-down Hills, from 800 to ;i 1,000 feet high, rises to the south of the Sound. On approach- I ing the Humber their height and abruptness gradually level I ' down until, on the banks of this fine river, they do not rise ' higher than 300 feet, while they present to the eye a rich clothinif of the most varied foliao^e, w^hich goes down to the water's edge. This, however, does not hold good on the ' ! first or lower course of the river, which passes through a I narrow gorge, nearly three miles in length, having on each '": i side lofty crag3, which in some places shoot up perpendicu- larly from the water's edge to the height of 1,000 feet. In li I flowing through this gorge the river is in some places pent i! I up to less than a chain in width, the current being deep and ' strons:. Three miles from the mouth of the river a slight rapid is met which is easily passed at high spring-tides. I Above this rapid the Humber opens out wide, flowing through a beautiful and picturesque valley from three to seven I miles in width, with fine flat land on either side. Within a j i mile of the lower end of Deer Lake, which is 12 miles ,j j from the mouth of the river, a second rapid is met, consider- I ably stronger than the first, over which a boat can be readily I taken by tracking, and which presents but a slight impedi- j i ment to the safe transit of rafts of timber from the lake to NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 41 10 region, regard to inenil and , who are lid River, pth being •d on the from the wn as the 1 part of ^, with a mouth of land. A m 800 to ipproach- ally level 3 not rise IQ a rich ^n to the d on the trough a on each 'pendicu- Peet. In ices pent deep and a sliifht ng-tides. flowinjr to seven Vithin a 12 miles jonsider- 3 readily impedi- I lake to the Sound. The rise from the sea to the level of Deer Lake Mr. Murray found to be only 10 feet. Deer Lake, through which the Ilumber flows, is 15 miles in length and 3 in breadth. Around it, especially to the east- ward and northward, is a fine ex[)anse of flat, rolling country, reaching away in the former direction towards Grand Lake. "The land surrounding Deer Luke," says the report of the Surveyor-General already quoted, " is of the most fertile description, bearing on its surface pines meas- uring fi'om three to four feet in diameter, with birch of hardly inferior dimensions, and both these kinds existing in great quantities, and with such water-power within reach as would seem to invite the establishment of saw-mills, and, at the same time, to insure success to such an enterprise." These remarks, it must be observed, describe the region as it was thirty years ago. Much of the timber referred to has been cut down long since. COUNTRY ABOVE DEER LAKE. In his report for 1866 Mr. Murray says : " Above Deer Lake the flat country is of great breadth, more particularly above the forks ; the mountain range which bounds it on the west side pointing in the direction of Adie's Pond at the head of the river on one hand, while on the other it extends to the base of the low-wooded range west of Sandy Pond ; and this level tract extends upwards on the river's course to the western bend, which is said to be less than ten miles distant from the head of White Bay. By a rough measure- ment of this large tract of country made upon the plan, there would be an area of about 420 square miles, or 274,560 square acres, at least one-half of which is probably well adapted for raising almost every kind of agricultural produce." TIMBER AND OTIIKR RESOURCES. "Independently of its agricultural capabilities this fine tract of country seems to present inducements for other C" p '«. 42 HAND-BOOK OF branches of industry and enterprise, in the quality of the timber, much of which is excellent. Tamarack, or juniper, ia not rare ; yellow birch, of largo dimensions, is abundant ; white-pine and spruce grow in the greatest profusion, fre- quently of a size and quality not greatly inferior, if not equal, to the best that is now largely brought into market in Gaspe, and other parts of the lower province of Canada. The natural facilities this part of the island presents for communication from shore to shore are also very great ; the valley is easily accessible by water from the Bay of Islands to the Grand Lake forks ; while the country farther north is well adapted for laying out roads, and a road of Tess than ten miles from the northern bend would open up the whole from the head of White Bay." WATER-POWER. " Water-power to drive machinery is everywhere obtain- able, either in the main river, on the upper part of the stream, or in the numerous brooks that fall into Deer Lake and the lower reaches." COMPARISON WITH CANADA. "Thousands of square miles of country have been laid out in townships, and already partially settled, in Canada, either for purposes of lumbering or farming, on the northern shores of Lake Huron and many parts of the lower province, far inferior, in most respects, to this region of Newfound- land, which there can scarcely be a doubt is capable of sup- porting a very large population." RESOURCES OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. The River Huraber is about 114 miles in length ; and there cannot be a doubt that the fertile tract of country through which it flows will one day be converted into a tine agricult- ural and grazing region. The difficulties presented to the navigation of the Humber, by the rapids already referred to, could be easily overcome were the country once settled ; NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 43 1^ of the juniper, )undant ; iion, fre- if not larkct in Canada. ents for ■cat ; tlio i" Islands north is CSS than le whole ) obtain- : of the eer Lake )cen laid Canada, northern province, 3wfound- 3 of sup- ind there through agricult- d to the referred settled ; i and if this were done vessels and steamers of considerable size could reach Deer Lake. All visitors to the Iluniber district speak highly of its resources. The soil is deep and fertile, and capable of yielding excellent crops of all kinds. Limestone is easily procured, and to any extent, for agricult- ural purposes. It contains some of the finest timber in the island, which will bo more minutely referred to when the forests come to bo noticed. Marbles of all kinds occur on the shores of the Bay of Islands ; and evidences of the existence of coal seams have been discovered in the neigh- borhood of Grand Lake. Even these do not constitute the whole resources of the district. The Bay of Islands is the seat of one of the finest herring-fisheries to be met with, the quality of the herrings being equal to that of those taken on Labrador. This fishery is prosecuted during the winter months, when the herrings are taken in immense quantities by cutting holes in the ice. Cod and salmon are also abundant. BONNE BAT. North of the Bay of Islands another fine bay opens, named Bonne Bay, the scenery of which is very fine. It has not yet been surveyed, and is but partially known. Casual visitors report a large extent of good land, especially suit- able for grazing purposes, but also yielding good crops on cultivation. Here also there is a fine herring-fishery, and on that, with cod and salmon, the inhabitants chiefly subsist. In regard to the more northern bays little is known ; but casual visitors concur in declaring that at the heads of all these western and northern bays there are large stretches of good land, well adapted for settlement, and possessing natural advantages of great value. CLIMATE OF THE WEST COAST. ADVANTAGES PRESENTED. The climate of Western Newfoundland is greatly superior to that of the eastern shores, being free from fog and from 44 HAND-BOOK OP the influcnco of easterly winds. In the rej2;ions ah-cady described — Codroy, Bay St. George, Port-a-Port, Bay of Islands, and the Ilumbcr district — there is an immense extent of good land awaiting the axe, the plough, and the spade. The climate is highly favorable to health and indus- trial occu[)ati()ns of all kinds. The character of the district is such that a variety of occupations can bo followed by settlers, — farming, lumbering, mining, shi[)-building, fish- ing, etc. The difficulties to bo encountered here arc L " fewer than those encountered by the hosts of emigrants who pass by these shores and. travel thousands of miles to the prairies and forests of the far West. com of dan uuu THE COUNTRY BETWEEN THE NUMBER AND NOTRE DAME BAY ON THE EASTERN COAST. GREAT PLAIN ACROSS THE ISLAND. From the Bay of Islands on the western coast to the shores of Notre Dame Bay on the eastern coast a level plain extends across the whole island, the greatest height of land not exceeding 130 feet. This plain presents admirable facilities for establishing intercourse, by road or railway construction, between the Ilumber district, with its fertile soil and valuable timber, and the mining regions around the shores of Notre Dame Bay. There is a fine stretch of country between these two points, the land being in many places excellent and of considerable extent, the timber abundant and of largo size, and the mineral indications at several points of a very prom- ising character. From 5,000 to 10,000 people could find comfortable homes along this great plain. A chain of small lakes, with rivers flowing from them, extends from Hall's Bay to the shores of Grand Lake, with only one portage a mile wide. By following these rivers and lakes a journey across is greatly facilitated. From Grand Lake the route lies across a portage of nine miles in width, and then the Ilum- ber llivcr is reached, flowing through Deer Lake into Ilum- ber Sound. The scenery along this route, especially at the Birchy Ponds, is very beautiful, and for picturesqueness will NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 4.'3 IS already t, Bay of iminenae It and thu ind iudus- Iie district lowed by ling, lisli- c arc ^.— rants who OS to tile NOTRE st to the 3vel plain f land not ! facilities struction, I valuable of Notre een these nt and of ii'go wize, ly prom- ould find i of small )m Hall's )ortage a journey the route he Hum- ito Ilum- \y at the ness will compare favorably, at several places, with the lake country of England or Scotland. Game of various kinds is abun- dant, and deer, at the proper season, are met with in largo numbers. ROAD SURVEY. C. J. HARVEY. In 1878 Mr. C. J. Harvey, civil engineer, was sent to survey a road through this valley from east to west. His report, which was printed in the Journal of the House of Assembly for 1879, contains some very interesting informa- tion regarding the character of the region traversed, in re- gard to its soil, timber, and mineral indications. The terminus of his road, which started from the head of the South-west Arm of Green Bay, Notre Dame Bay, was on the shore of Ilumber Sound, Bay of Islands. The total length was 99 miles. EASTERN SECTION OF ROAD. The eastern section of the road includes the country from south-west arm to the water-shed between Indian Brook ■ and Birchy Ponds, the distance being 25 miles. The height of this water-shed above sea-level was found to be 85 feet, or an average of 3.4 feet to the mile, — a proof of the facility of road-construction, the grades being very easy. Of the re- sources of this section, Mr. Hai*vey's report says : " There is a very fair extent of land available for farming purposes at the head of South-west Arm and at South Brook. The land in the valle^' from South-west Arm to Indian Brook, in many places, is of an excellent character, having a good soil and tolerably large timber. There are several marshes, which are not deep, having a solid bottom at the depth of two or three feet, and these, if drained, would make very good meadow land. On both sides of Shoal Pond the soil is a rich sandy loam. From the west end of Shoal Pond along the line there is a soft, wet marsh for a distance of a little over a quarter of a mile. Then good dry soil is reached which extends to Indian Brook. The timber is principally 46 HAND-BOOK OF such varieties as white and black sprace, Canada balsam, white birch, juniper or tamarack, and white pine. Tha pines are rather scattered, but are pretty numerous on the ridge on the north side of Shoal Pond. Although this part of the eastern section cannot be called a good country for lumber- ing opeiatioils, yet it contains a very large amount of tim- ber, available for coopers, farmers, and ship-builders. The size of the timber varies from six inches to two feet in diam- eter." INDIAN BROOK VALLEY. " The soil of the portion of Indian Brook Valley over which the line passes is really very rich as far as a point about 19 miles from South-west Arm. It then changes its character and becomes poor and rocky. As for the portion of the valley from Indian Pond east to Hall's Bay, I only passed through it on my way back to St. John's, and cannot speak so confidentlv of its character. But I saw enouijh to con- vince mo that there is a large extent of very fertile land in this section, and that there is still some good lumber left standing, although lumbering operations have been going on here for a long time, and fire has devastated the whole length of the valley from the water-shed, — distant 44 miles from the mouth of the brook. The soil is a rich sandy loam, very easily worked. Unfortunately the timber in Indian Brook Valley has all been burned, and, although left standing, it gives the country a desolate appearance. The area of land available for farming purposes in the valley cannot be' less than 50 square miles, or 32,000 acres." This would give 80 acres each to 400 families. The report states the area of timber-bearing land at 100 square miles. The timber is principally white pine, white and black spruce, whito birch, and var. The pines vary from one foot to three and a half feet in diameter at the butt. " There is still a considerable quantity of timber available for lumberers, and a very large quantity suitable for farmers and builders. . . . The great advantage of the Eastern Section is its proximity to the min- NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 47 ing regions of Green Bay." A large population will one day find employment in the mines, and thus a ready market would be found for. any produce that might be raised on the lands in the Eastern Section. MINERALS OF THE REGION. " There is a probability that copper may be found in this Eastern Section. The chloritic slates, which are so rich in copper on the sea-coast, are found in several localities on this route, and traces of copper and iron pyrites were observ- able at a point about two miles in from the South-west Arm ; also about four miles in, and at the east and west extremities of the Indian Ponds. CENTRAL SECTION. "The Central Section extends from the height of land between the waters flowing cast and west as far as the cross- ing of the River Humber, a distance by the surveyed lino of about 39^ miles. " This section contains many tracts of good land, but they are so scattered and undefined in area that it is very difiicult to form an approximate estimate even of the total extent of land available for agriculture. . . . From the crossing of Main Brook to the Humber River there are innumerable patches * of good land, all covered with fair-sized timber. There are a great many marshes in this region, and these, if drained, could be converted into extensive meadows. . . . The Central Section may be looked upon as an extensive lumber- ing region. Along Birchy Ponds and Sandy Pond there is a great quantity of timber of good size and quality. The varieties are white pine, white birch, white and black spruce, var, and juniper. It may be mentioned that ash-trees grow on some portion of the river between' Seal Pond and Sandy Pond. The pines are very numerous on the shores of Sandj' Pond. . . . There is a very extensive growth of timber in the country between Main Brook and the Humber." .'^ 48 HAND-BOOK OF COAL. " There is another important consideration about this dis- trict. In going from the crossings of Main Brook to that of the Humber River, the^road would cross the broadest portion of what is shown in Murray's valuable geological map as the coal-bearing region of our island." Coal has been found in small seams on Coal Brook, which empties into Grand Lake. The largest seam was 17 inches in thickness. WESTERN SECTION. " The Western Section includes that portion of the Hum- ber Valley below Seal Pool and along Deer Pond, and the Lower Humber down to the seaboard, at a place called Wild Cove, on the Humber Arm, a distance of 34 miles . . .. From what I saw myself I am fully convinced that the Humber I Valley, and the country in its vicinity, is extremely fertile, f and contains a great quantity of valuable timber." | " I met a very intelligent Nova Scotian, named George | Nichols, who has been living on the banks of the Humber I for six years. His house is situated about a mile from the east end of Deer Pond. He has {* few acres of land cleared near his house from which he raised ail kinds of crops which grew remarkably well. The luxuriant vegetation of his gar- •den I never saw surpassed except in Manitoba. Ho consid- ered the soil in the Humber Valley superior to any he ever saw in Nova Scotia, and the climate warmer and more free from frosts which would injure plants. Since h*? has lived there he had no crops of any kind nipped by fronts. He considered the soil admirably adapted to raise cereals, viz., wheat, barley, oats, and even buckwheat." EXTENT OF GOOD LAND. " Enough has now been said to prove that the area of the Central and Western Sections includes very highly produc- tive land, with excellent timber on it. The total extent in these two together cannot be much less than 250 square NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 49 -his dis- to that )ioade8t ological loal has :ies into ickness. 5 Hum- and the id Wild miles, or 160,000 square acres of good agricultural land. This would make a grand total of 300 square miles, includ- ing the Eastern Section." FACILITIES FOR A RAILWAY. " A railway would decidedly be tl e most advantageous way of opening up the country and inducing people to settle in the interior ... A narrow-gauge railway could be very cheaply built across the island, and would answer all the re- quirements very well. « " The climate of the west coast and of the interior is equal to that of any part of Canada, and superior to that of Mani- toba." lumber fertile, George lumber om the cleared 3 which lis gar- cons id- le ever )re free s lived 8. Ho 3, viz., of the )roduc- tent in square 60 HAND-BOOK OF CHAPTER m. TnE EAST COAST. VALLEYS OF THE EXPLOITS, GANDER, AND GAMBO. There now remain the two great fertile belts opening on the eastern side of the island to be described, namely, t the Valley of the Exploits, and the Gander and Gambo country. BAY OF EXPLOITS. — TOPOGRAPHY. The Bay of Exploits forms a deep bight on the south coast of the great Bay of Notre Dame. It has numerous arms, the greatest being the inlet which leads to the entrance of the Exploits lliver. There are several islands in this arm, the principal being Thwart Island, on the eastern side. "The water," says Mr. Murray's report for 1871, "is deep, and there is no impediment to navigation for vessels of any size until reaching Peter's Arm, where there is a good anchor- age . . . The entrance to the Exploits River is at Wigwam Point, in lat. 49° 5' N., long. 55° 19' W., nearly at the south-western extreme of the long arm already indicated. Immediately opposite this entrance is Norris Arm, stretching for about six miles a little north of east, with an average width rarely exceeding half a mile, at the head of which another considerable stream falls in from the eastward. Taking its rise near the south-western angle of the island, and within a moderate distance of St. George's Bay, this magnificent river, with its numerous tributaries, drains an area of nearly 4,000 square miles." LOWER VALLEY OF EXPLOITS. Except at the mouth of the river, and on the arm, where a few settlers are found, there arc no inhabitants in all this great valley. The river flows through Red Indian Lake, 37 NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. • 51 miles in kngtli, and distant from the mouth of the river be- tween 70 and 80 miles. The lower valley of the Exploits, between the lake and the sea, is capable of sustaining many thousands of inhabitants. "The soil," says Mr. ]\Iurray, ''is equal to the best parts of Lower Canada, with little swamp, unencumbered with boulders, the hills wooded to their tops, and from two to live miles wide." The root-crops grown by the settlers — potatoes, turnips, parsnips, etc. — ho pro- nounces " tho finest ho ever saw." The timl)cr is in many places still abundant, consisting of pine, Avhite birch, very largo spruce, and tamarack. Lumbering operations arc car- ried on here on a small scale, but might be largely increased. The river and its tributaries afford water-power to any extent. The facilities for stock-raising are unrivalled, while railways or common roads could be easily constructed, tho valley being for the most part a dead level. FALLS AND CHUTES ON RIVER. " The ascent of the river by canoe or light boat although not difficult is tedious, as there are so many strong rapids to encounter, and several falls and chutes, over which port- ages have to be made. The first of these obstructions is at the Bishop's Fall, of 19 feet, above which, but particularly for six or seven miles above tho junction of tho Great Rat- tling Brook, the river is more or less rapid all the way to tho Grand Falls. The Grand Falls consist of a succession of chutes (one of about 30 feet) and v.olcnt rapids, some- what over a milo in length, and sjivinj? altosethor, from bot- tom to top, a rise of 145 feet. At a short distance above the Grand Falls there is an abrupt chute, and above it the river continues to be rapid and turbulent, till reaching tho smooth waters of a lake-like expansion at tho mouth of llushy Brook." TRIBUTARIES OF THE EXPLOITS. Below the Red Indian Lake eight considerable tributaries pour their waters into the Exploits, the largest being Great 52 HAND-BOOK OF Rattling Brook, Chute, Sandy, and Badger Brooks, while there are four large and important streams which discharge into the lake itself. The smaller tributaries are very numerous. i, I'lM VALLEY OF THE EXPLOITS. — SOIL AND TIMBER. " The main river valley from Red Indian Lake downwards is nearly for the whole distance a level or gently-undulating country, broken only by occasional abrupt hills or rocky eminences, and densely wooded for many miles back, from either bank of the stream. . . . The forests of the Ex[)loits Valley consist of pine, spruce, balsam-fir, tamarack, white birch, and poplar. . . . The quality of its spontaneous productions may fairly be taken as indicative of a fertile soil. The width of this fertile belt of land varies at difierent parts of the river ; but, taking its average about two miles on either side (and it probably is much more), there would be an area of reclaimable country of about 280 square miles, or 179,200 acres." This estimate, it should be noted, refers only to the lower reaches of the river, and does not include the country around Red Indian Lake, or that around the arms of the bay. The report adds : "At the mouth of the river the reclaimable land extends to the northward for about five miles, terminating with the northern arm; and there are large tracts around Norris Arm, and in the valley of the Great Rattling Brook, which are capable of cultivation. The fertility of the soil at tbis part of the region is amply testified wherever cultivation has been , attempted, producing roots, potatoes, grass, and other crops of the finest description, while as a grazing or stock-raising country it can hardly be surpassed. The surface-soil is gen- erally of sand or a sandy loam, which at the upper part of the valley is underlaid by a drift of clay and gravel, while at the lower parts the subsoil is tenacious, bluish, or drab- colored clay, which is occasionally slightly calcareous." NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 56 )ks, while discharge are very JER. ownwards indulating or rocky jack, from !sts of the tamarack, ity of its indicative It of land its average ly is much ountry of (stimate, it f the river, [Ian Lake, idds: "At nds to the 10 northern 'm, and in capable of •art of the has been )ther crops ock-raising soil is gen- per part of avel, while h, or drab- ous." RESOURCES OF EXPLOITS VALLEY. " No observant person visiting the Valley of the Exploits could fail to be impressed with the manifold advantages it presents for the prosecution of industrial pursuits, such as lumbering and agriculture. With a splendid river, abundant timber, and a fertile soil, the region that is now a wilder- ness might, by energy and enterprise, be soon converted into a thriving settlement, maintaining a large population." I Is UPPER VALLEY OF EXPLOITS. — MR. HOWLEY'S SURVEY. In 1875 Mr. Howley made a survey of the upper valley of the Exploits River, in continuation of that of Mr. Murray in 1871. Above Red Indian Lake he found that the river is divided into two branches, — the main river, or Exploits proper, and the Victoria branch. The former rises •not more than 12 miles from the sea-coast, flows through King George IV. Lake and several smaller ponds. " From this lake the course of the river is remarkably straight in a north-easterly direction, till it joins the Red Indian Lake at th lake and the main river, and a great extent of country on the north-west side ^ of the latter, as well as on the south side of the lake, and for some distance up the south-west branch, is thickly grown over by magnificent pine and spruce, I cannot conceive any better possil)lo plan for gradually improving the surfiice of the country, and pre- paring it for regular settlement, than bj' encouraging the introduction of capital to be applied towards utilizing these splendid forests of timber. Nor is the value of timber the solo consideration, for it will, most assuredly, be found that the opening up and settlement of the country will primarily be brought about by the operations of the lumberer, legiti- mately or otherwise ; and many of those employed in clearing the forest will be found among the very first permanent occu- piers of the soil. With the timber trade, cattle, horses, and sheep will speedily be introduced ; grain, grass, and roots will be cultivated ; while labor will be in such demand 72 HAND-BOOK OP that there need not bo an unemployed hund throughout the year, from one end to the other of the colony, and beggary ought to utterly disappear from the land." THE EXPLOITS AS A LUMBERING REGION. Though not nearly equal to the Gander country ii. forest wealth, the valley of the Exploits contains a largo quantity of pine and other valuable timber. Near the mouth of the river a steam saw-mill has been successfully at work for many years, and no difficulty is experienced in procuring a large sui)ply of material. In his report for 1871 Mr. Murray says : " The forests of the Exploits Valley consist of pine, spruce, balsam, fir, tamarack, white birch, and poplar. On the lower reaches of the river and tributaries, below the Grand Falls, pine is or has been abundant, some of it appar- ently of good quality for conversion into ordinary lumber ; but there are extensive ar3as, especially near the Great Rattling Brook where the timber has been completely swept away by fire. Moreover, on the more accessible parts of the region, many of the most valuable trees have disappeared, having been cullqd out long since to supply logs to a saw- mill which was formerly in operation near the outlet of Peter's Brook into Peter's Arm. . . . Between the Grand Falls and Badger Brook, at many parts, on both sides of the main river, pine was observed to flourish luxuriantly, much of which appeared to bo of excellent quality, being often of fair dimensions, straight and tall. These reaches also display a fine growth of other varieties of timber, and at some parts, especially about the forks of the Sandy Brook, white birch often attains a very large size ; this being one of the few localities where the Indians procure bark capable of being used for the construction of canoes." " Above the junction of Badger Brook the surface of the country is exceedingly level over a wide area on both sides of the river, up to the Grand Falls, and is densely covered by forest of the usual varieties ; but the trees at this part are NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 78 mostly small, being tho immature successors of the ancient forests, entirely destroyed many years ago by fire." FROM THE FALLS TO RED INDIAN LAKE. Of the country between tho Upper Falls and tho Red Indian Lako Mr. Murray says : " The whole region is still densely wooded, and good pine and other timber are not infre- quent, being remnants of tho old forest which had escaped the groat conflagration. On the flats near tho northern mar- gin of the Red Indian Lako, particularly at tho outlets of the larger brooks, pine and spruco trees of largo size, straight and tall, wore frequently observed ; but back from tho lake the timber is of stunted growth and of little value, scattered in detached woods over the surface of tho great marshes and barrens. Tho southern side of tlie lake is densely wooded to the water's edge ; and the country inland appears to bo all forest for many miles back, broken only by occasional marshes or swamps which occupy the lower grounds be- tween tho ridges. The Indians who have visited tho Victoria Lake state that good pine and spruce arc abundant on the lower reaches of tho brook." In other reports Mr. Murray says : " From tho Victoria River to the head of the Red Indian Lake the country is well timbered throughout. . . . Tho southern side of the Exploits presents an unbroken dense forest, in a series of gentle undulations, as far as tho eye can reach. . . . With a splendid river, abundant timber, and a fertile soil, this region is m rked out for a prosperous settlement." THE IIUMBER VALLEY TIMBER. The valley of the Humber is another district richly- wooded, where lumbering operations have been carried on for many years on an extensive scale. A report of the Surveyor General, made between thirty and forty years ago, stated that " the hardwood found hero consists chiefly of the dif- ferent descriptions of birch, the yellow, called witch-hazel, within a quarter of a mile of the shore, was found measur- J 74 HAND-BOOK OP ing, at six feet from the ground, from five to (^even feet in oircumfercnce ; and softwood, as pine, spruce, birch, etc., arp to be had with as little difiiculty, the whole consisting of tt size sufficiently lai'ge for any kind of building, and in quantities abundant enough to become an article of export." MR. Murray's feport. Mr. Murray's report fur 18G6 says: "Independently of its agricultural capabilities, this fine tract of country seems to present inducements for other branches of industrj'^ and enterprise in the quality of its timber, much of which is excellent. Tamarack, or juniper, is not rare ; yellow-birch of large dimensions is abundant ; white pine and spruce grow in the greatest profusion, frequently of a size and quality not greatly inferior, if not equal, to the best that is now largely brought into market in Gaspe, and other parts of the lower province of Canada." MR. MCLEODS REPORT OF THE HUMBER. Since Mr. Murray's survey was made, in ISGO, the ex- tensive luniberin<; oiierations on the Humber have very considerably reduced the quantity of good timber in the neighborhood of the river. In 1875 Mr. McLeod, a civil engineer, was sent to the ^ nber for tiio purpose of running a mcridianal base lino from a fixed point, for the purpose of locating timber limits both here and in the Gander country. In rejrard to the amount of timber still available for lumber- ing purposes on the Humber, Mr. McLeod's report says : " To give a rou2;h estimate of the extent of fine timbered land from the mou^h of the Humber to the Grand Pond Brook, I should say that in all there is not less than 20 square miles, which would on the average, yield five trees of from 1,000 to 2,500 superficial feet each to the acre. This would give 3,200 trees to the square mile, which, at an average board measure of say 1,500 feet, gives, per square mile, 4,800,000 superficial feet. This multiplied by 20 gives 90,000,000 feet as the quantity of standing pine yet NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 75 on the Humbcr. There may not be half this and there possibly is much more. To pretend to give an accurate esti- mate, no matter how true the data upon which it may be based, for any one limited area, would be quite absurd, so wide are the limits of quantity, as well as quality. And, where «the question of quality arises, I may say that there our only available information is from those by whom it is wrought, and from its relative standing in the market. The verdict of the former I need not record ; that of the latter seems to say that the timber of this district is rather above the ordinary market run." TON-TIMBERING. " I ci^nnot end this discussion of the timber of the Ilumber without expressing my entire disapproval of the system of ' ton-timbering ' as carried on here. Not one-fourth of the timber cut down is removed ; that is, three-fourths, more or less, of the timber felled is allowed to rot on the ground, which, if taken to the mill, would yield excellent 'sawn stuff.' Further, only the very best trees are available for 'ton- timbering ; ' so that the district over which th'.se operations extend is, although not all thorougJihj cut out, rendered uninviting to the mill-men, or, as they are called, ' loggers.' " These are the principal lumbering regions, but, as already stated, the valleys around St. George's Bay and the Codroy valleys contain a fine growth of mixed forest timber, — pine, spruce, birch and fir. On most of the smaller streams, both on the western and eastern coasts, there are also groves of pine and various other trees, while the same holds good regarding the heads of many of the bays. It is thus evident that, in regard to forest wealth, Newfoundland holds no des- picable place. " It is very remarkable," says Mr. Howley, " that no species of cedar, beech, elm, or oak, have been met with in this country, although they are all common on the continent, and some of these varieties are known even to exist at Cape Breton." 76 HAND-BOOK OP CHAPTER VI. CLIMATE. Taken as a whole, the climate of the island is more tem- perate, and more favorable to health than that of the neigh- boring continent. The fierce summer heats of Canada and of tlic United States are unknown, as is also the intense cold of their winters. It is but rarely, and that only for a few hours, that the thermometer sinks below zero in winter; while the summer range rarely exceeds 80 degrees, and for the most part docs not rise much above 70. Like all insular climates that of Newfoundland is variable and subject to sudden chanircs. The Arctic current exerts au unfavorable influence along the eastern coast; but, ay a compensation, it brings with it the enormous wealth of cod and seals which has rendered the fisheries the most productive in the world. The Gulf Stream, which creates the fogs, modifies the cold ; and if, at times, it darkens the skies, it paints the cheeks of the people with the rosy hues of health. The salubrity of the climate is evinced by the robust, healthy appearance of the people. Their clothing in winter does not require to be mucli warmer than that worn in Britain at the same season of the year. Open fireplaces are sufficient to warm the houses, and free exercise in the open air is attainable at all seasons. IOG8. The fogs, of which so much has been written, arc, for the most part, confined to the southern and south-eastern sea- board, and seldom penetrate far inland. They arc generated on the Banks by the meeting of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream with the cold Arctic current, and are wafted shoreward by southerly winds. This occurs only at certain seasons of the year, when the winds blow in that direction ; but, during three-fourths of the year, the westerly winds _ NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 77 cany the vapors across the Atlantic, and the British Isles get the benefit of their moisture. In his journey across the island, in 1822, the traveller Cormack experienced but four foggy and drizzly days during two months ; forty-one were bright, and only eight rainy days. Mr. Howley, whose experience of the climate of the inte- rior extends over fifteen years, says : " I have spent, more than once, four months in the interior without experiencing a genuine foggy day until reaching within twenty miles of the southern side of the island. During the entire months of July and August the weather in the interior was delightful, while fogs prevailed at the same time along the southern coast." delany's observations. Observations taken at St. John's, by Mr. E. M. J. Delapy, C.E., from 1857 to 1864, inclusive, showed that the average mean temperature for those eight years was 41.2 dejyrecs ; the averasfe maximum hciajht of the thermometer 83 degrees ; the average minimum height of the thermometer 7 degrees ; average number of days on which rain fell during those eight years was 105. The highest range of the ther- mometer was on July 27, 1857, when it reached 89 degrees ; the lowest was on February 11, when it marked 2 degrees. comparative climates. The following tables show the comparative climates of the places named : — Mean Temperature for 1874. St. George's Bay, Newfoundland Windsor, Nova Scotia .... Toronto ....... Winnipeg, Manitoba ..... Total Days of Rain in Four Months. St. George's Bay Toronto ....... Winnipeg * - Truro, N.S. . . . . . . Dcgrcofl. 43. S 42.7 44.3 30.8 34 47 52 68 1^ 78 HAND-BOOK OF From these tables it appears that the average temperatures for the year of Bay St. George and Toronto are almost equal, that of Manitoba being 13 degrees below Newfoundland. The number of months in which the thermometer did not reach the freezing-point was in Newfoundland four, in Toronto four, in MarJtoba three, and in Nova Scotia four. This fact goes to prove that the danger of vegetation being injured by frost is less in Newfoundland than in Manitoba, and no greater than in any part of Canada. NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 79 CHAPTER Vn. MINERAL RESOURCES. DISCOVERY OF MINES. It was not till a comparatively recent date that Newfound- land was known to contain mineral treasures of immense value. For many years the late Mr. C. F. Bennett was the pioneer of mining enterprise, and he stood in a minority of one as a believer in the existence of minerals in the island. To Mr. Smith McKay belongs the honor of discovering the first considerable deposit of copper ore. His discovery was made in 1857, at a small fishing-hamlet called Tilt Cove, on the north shore of Notre Dame Bay. In 18G4 mining operations were commenced here under the joint direction of Messrs. Bennett & McKay. These went on, with more or less activity, and with such marked success that, in 1879, it was found that Tilt Cove mine had yielded close on 50,000 tons of copper ore, valued at $1,572,154, and nickel ore worth $32,740. In 1875 another copper mine was opened at Betts Cove, about a dozen miles south of Tilt Cove. Under Mr. Francis Ellershausen operations were carried on here with extraordinary activity ; and in 1879 the quantity of ore exported from Betts Cove and two other localities amounted to 123,556 tons, valued at $2,982,836. Even this success was eclipsed by the discovery in 1878 of a much larger deposit of copper ore at Little Bay, which is believed to be one of the most valuable copper mines in the world. It has been worked up to the present date with success ; but the low price of Copper ore in the market has caused operations to languish somewhat during the last two years. The depression, however, will only be tem- porary ; and, with improved prices, mining operations will probably be resumed on a large scale. The returns of the ore exported from Little Bay will be found at the close of 80 HAND-BOOK OP this chapter. Up to 1879 the total quantity of ores exported from all the mines had reached £1,000,000 sterling in value. This placed Newfoundland sixth among the copper- producing countries of the world. ^ PROGRESS OF MINING INDUSTRY. The success of these first enterprises led to the outbreak of a " copper-fever," and a rush to secure mineral lands took place. Speculation ran high ; and along the shores of Notre Dame Bay, an extent of country nearly one hundred miles in length, and five or six in breadth, was speedily covered by mining licenses and grants. Numerous discoveries of copper ore were made at various places, and the metalliferous char- acter of the whole region was established beyond a doubt. The speculators, however, for the most part, were not persons possessed of sufficient capital to carry on the expensive operations required in working a copper mine. Most of the claims, therefore, remain undeveloped, and now await the arrival of skilful and enterprising mining capitalists, who alone can carry out such extensive undertakings and render them remunerative. The "copper-fever" has long since subsided ; and now copper-mining will be prosecuted as a steady industry by skilled capitalists ; and gradually, as the country is opened up, it will be extended, and will furnish employment to a large number of the population. SERPENTINE DEVELOPMENT. The geological survey shows that the area of the serpen- tine rocks, in which the ore is found, exceeds 5,000 square miles. This may be regarded at present as the known ex- tent of the mineral lands of the colony. Over this immense area copper and other ores may be searched for with a probability of success. It is not, however, in the serpentine that the ore is found, but immediately associated with a chloritic slate, very ferruginous, which occurs both above and below the serpentine. Where the serpentine appears there is always a possibility that this ore-bcaring-chloritic slate NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 81 may be found, so that the serpentine becomes a guide to prospectors. Where no serpentine shows itself it is vain to look for copper ore. In one of his reports Mr. Murray says: — HOW THE ORE OCCURS. "The ores of copper, usually sulphurets, are found dis- seminated, or in layers, with iron pyrites in the chloritio slates and dioritic beds ; but the more solid and valuable ores are concentrated in the folds and dislocations, particu- larly in the magncsian portion, by which the formation has been affected. The ores are also of frequent occurrence in white quartz veins near the same horizon. The surface rocks where these deposits exist are usually of a reddish, rusty- brown color, scored by remarkable minute reticulations, which weather in relief, giving a marked and peculiar aspect, which once seen is easily recognized, and may serve as a trustworthy guide to explorers in making preliminary exami- nation of the ground." LAUZON DIVISION OF THE QUEBEC GROUP. The largo development of serpentine rocks in the island must, therefore, be regarded as a fact of primary importance. These serpentines belong to what, in Canadian geology, is termed the Quebec Group of the Lower Silurian Series. "This group," says Sir William Logan, "may conveniently be separated into three divisions, the middle one of which has proved rich in metalliferous deposits in its course from the Southern Atlantic States of the American Union to Canada, and through Eastern Canada to Gasjle." This middle division, called the Lauzon division, is the one which is developed in Newfoundland, and in which all the copper mines are situated. " The Lauzon division," says Sir Wil- liam Logan, " was at first united with the Levis division, but has been separated from it on account of its great minera- logical importance and distinctness, it being the metalliferous zone of the Lower Silurian in North America. It is rich in copper ores, chiefly as interstratified cupriferous slates, and is accompanied by silver, gold, nickel, and chromium ores." 82 HAND-BOOK OF EXTENT OP SERPENTINE DEVELOPMENT. It is a most important question, therefore, in connection with the future of the island, " What is the extent of these ore-bearing serpentine rocks in the island ? " The geological map which Mr. Murray has published enables us to answer that question with some degree of accuracy. Commencing at Cape Norman, the extreme northern point of the island, we find serpentine developments of considerable extent from Pistolet Bay to Hare Bay, while another spread extends along the coast to Canada Bay. At Cape St. John begins the great serpentine development in which are situ- ated all the existing mines. The whole shores of the gi'eat Bay of Notre Dame, together with its clusters of islands, are of the serpentine formation. This belt may be estimated at a length of 40 miles, the breadth being yet undetermined, without taking the islands into account. The greatest spread of the serpentine rocks is in the Gander country, where, as yet, they are unexplored. Round the shores of Bonne Bay and Bay of Islands there are also large developments of ser- pentine. Indeed, there are strong reasons for believing that the serpentine formation runs across the whole islaiyl ; and as the interior is yet to a considerable extent unexplored, it may come to the surface in many places far inland. MR. HOWLEY'S ESTIMATE OF SERPENTINE. Mr. James P. Howley, Assistant Geologist, gives the fol- lowing trustworthy estimate of the areas of the Serpentine Series in Newfoundland : — , Bq. Miles. Between Hare Bay and Pistolet Bay . . . 230 North from Bonne Bay ...... 350 South from Hare Bay . . . . . .175 South from Bonne Bay . . . . . .150 South from Bay of Islands 182 Surrounding Notre Dame Bay .... 1,400 Gander Lake and River Couiitry . ... 2 -310 Bay d'Est River Country 300 Total 5,097 NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 83 MR. Murray's opiniox of the mining region. After a careful survey of the mining region, Mr. Murray thus speaks in his report for 1875 : " I feel bound to state that the experience of the late investigation convinces me more than ever that many of the northern parts of this island, and the great Bay of Notre Dame in particular, are destined to develop into great mining centres, should capital and skilled labor be brought to bear in that direction. The frequent repetition of the mineral-bearing strata, associated with ser- pentine, chloritic slates and diorites, maintaining a nearly uniform character throughout their distribution, and in- variably exhibiting metalliferous indications, all seem to warrant the expression of such an opinion. . . . In addi- tion to the ores of copper, ores of nickel, magnetic, chromic, and specular iron, lead and sulphur ores have been found in abundance, and traces of the precious metals have occasion- ally been found, always near the same horizon. The usual form of the nickel ores is that of arsenical or copper nickel ; but also occurs as millerite, or nickel pyrites ; and as cloan- thite, or an allied species, which is of a steel-gray or pale ruby-red color." OTHER ORES BESIDES COPPER. Copper is by no means the only ore found in the country. In the lower geological formations, which are largely repre- sented, the existence of ores of various kinds, and of other valuable economic materials, has been ascertained. Magnetic iron ore has been found, though not yet in large masses, in the Laurentian ; the presence of the precious metals is indi- cated in the Cambrian ; while lead ore has been found in workable quantities in the Huronian and Louver Silurian. Coal has been found in pretty extensive beds in the carboniferous. Thus, while the great beds of serpentine hold the copper treasures, present indications warrant the belief that the Huronian rocks contain the precious metals. Extensive and valuable deposits of lead ore have been found. The whole 84 HAND-BOOK OF island, therefore, may bo fairly regarded 03 more or leas metalliferous, while the west coast, as wo shall seo presently, contains coal areas of much promise. GOLD. AURIFEROUS QUARTZ. Mr. Murray, in his reports, has repeatedly expressed his belief that the equivalents of the gold-bearing rocks of Nova Scotia arc developed in Newfoundland. Mr. Selwyn, Director of the Geological Survey of Canada, is of opinion that the auriferous rocks of Nova Scotia are the representa- tives of the Cambrian and lowest members of the Silurian system. It was not till 1880 that any discovery of aurifer- ous quartz was made. In that year certain discoveries were made near Brigus, Conception Bay, which induced Mr. Mur- ray to visit the locality. lie tested one spot with the fol- lowing results, as described in his report : *' By the lirst blast from two to three cubic feet of rock were removed, all of which was carefully broken up, washed, and examined ; which operation finally resulted in the display of 10 or 12 distinct "sights" of gold. In one fragment, about five pounds' weight, largely charged with dark-green chlorite, tho gold shows itself in threo places distinctly, while many small specks are perceptible by means of a good lens. The fracture of a fragment of milky white and translucent quartz, which was broken off the large piece, revealed two patches of gold, both of which together, if removed from the ma- trix, would probably produce about one pennyweight of tho metal ; while several small masses or nuggets were found adhering to the small broken fragments of quartz at the bot- tom of the pail in which the rock was washed, the largest of which contained about 10 or 12 grains of gold. . . . That a large area of country, in the regions referred to, is auriferous there can scarcely be a doubt, although nothing short of actual mining and practical experience can possibly prove what the value of the produce may be, or whether the ai la NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 85 prospects of obtaining a rcrauncrativo return for the nccos- 8ary outlay arc favorable, or otherwise." His report con- cludes in the following words : " The indications of gold in this country, then, arc certainly sufficiently favorable to merit a fair trial. And there are good reasons to hope and expect that ample capital applied to skilled and judicious labor may bo found remunerative to future adventurers ; while a new industry will bo added to give employment to the laboring population of the island, and possibly bring this despised and but little-known colony into more prominence and con- sideration abroad than it hitherto has enjoyed." CONFIRMATIONS OF MR. MURRAY'S REPORT. It is satisfactory to know that Mr. Murray's anticipations regarding the auriferous quartz at Brigus have been con- firmed. Samples of the quartz have been submitted to skilled analysts, and have been found to yield from four dwts. to thirteen dwts. of gold per ton. An average of eight dwts. per ton would give a handsome profit. Eminent mining engineers have examined some of the localities and recommended the prosecution of the enterprise. The quantit}'^ of quartz is very kirge, and nmch of it is favor- ably situated for mining operations. It is to be hoped there- fore that the work will be vigorously prosecuted hero. LEAD. IS »g LEAD ORE. Whatever the future may disclose regarding gold there is no doubt that the island is rich in lead ore. This ore is not confined to any one formation, the presence of that metal having been observed as low as the Laurentian and as high as the coal measures. Lead was first discovered at La Manchc, near the north-eastern extremity of Placentia Bay. The vein which was worked here is from three to six feet, and is chiefly of calc spar. The ore is distributed irregu- larly through the whole thickness of the vein, and sometimes ^ ^ T^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I 1.25 £ m 1^ 2.0 1.8 1-4 il.6 III \ The law which regulates the sale or leasing of crown lands, for agricultural, lumbering, and mining purposes, is of the most liberal character; and well calculated to promote the settlement of the country and the development of its natural resources. ACTS OF 1884 AND 1885. The Crown Lands acts of 1884 and 1885 (a copy of which may bo obtained by application to the office of the Surveyor-General) amend all former land acts, and con- solidate all former statutes relating to crown lands into one elaborate and compendious enactment. TOWNSHIP SURVEYS. These acts first provide for the laying off of crown lands in townships containing 3G sections of one mile square each. Each section is to be divided into quarter sections of 160 acres. Provision is also made for grants of a half-quarter section, 80 acres, and of a quarter-quarter section, or 40 acres. The 12th, 15th, 16th, and 17th sections of the act regu- late the ordinary purchase and sale of lands. PURCHASE OP LOTS. The 12th section provides for the purchase of lots at an upset price, to be in no case less than 30 cents per acre, the grants being subject to certain conditions, such as the clearance and cultivation, within five years, of a proportion equal to ten acres in every hundred acres comprised in the grant. 96 HAND-BOOK OF LICENSES OP OCCUPATION. The 15th section provides for the issue of licenses of occu- pation of crown lunds on payment of a fee of $5.00 for each IGO acres, and for not more than G,400 acres, subject to the condition that the licensee shall, within two years, settle upon the land one family for each 100 acres, and for a period of live years cause to be cleared at least two acres per year for every 100 acres so licensed, and continue the same under cultivation, and continue the same families thereon, or others in lieu thereof, for a period of 10 years from the expiration of the said live years ; upon the perform- ance of which conditions the licensee shall be entitled to a grant in fee of the said land. LICENSES ENTITLING TO GRANTS. The IGth section provides for licenses which shall eventu- ally entitle the holder to a grant of 5,000 acres, upon terras to be imposed by the Governor in Council, which conditions shall in all cases include that the holder of the license shall within two years from the date of the license clear and have ready for crop at least 1 per cent, of the area comprised in the license; within three years, 2 per cent.; within four 3^ears, 4 per cent. ; within five years, 7 per cent. ; within six years, 10 per cent. ; within seven years, 13 per cent. ; within eight years, IC per cent. ; witnin nine years, 20 per cent. ; and within ten years, 25 per cent. ; and shall settle upon the hmd at least one family for every 320 acres. FIFTY acres' LICENSES. The 17th section provides for the issue of licenses of occu- pation for quantities not exceeding 50 acres, entitling to a grant in fee persons who shall continuously occupy for live years, and shall have cultivated two acres. NEWFOUNDLAND RESOUBCES. 97 • WATEB-POWER LEASES. ' Then thoro arc provisions iov leasing the water-power of Inkcs and rivers, gunrdod with conditions for preventing the water being reduced below certain levels, or being ren- dered noxious or deleterious. FISH-BREEDING. In the 19th section it is enacted that, for encouraging the breeding of fishy i\io right to use ponds, lakes, and rivers may bo leased by the Government, together with such quan- tity of land adjoining as may be necessary for such puri)oses. Sections 24 to 41 (inclusive) provide for Homestead- Rights. Any head of a family or male of the ago of eighteen may, by paying a fee of $10, obtain a location ticket for any quantity not exceeding IGO acres, for the purpose of securing a homejtead right. To secure a grant in fee for such homestead, the holder of the location ticket must com- mence clearing within six months after its date ; must build A house of certain dimensions, and clear and cultivate not less than three acres within two years, six acres within three years, and reside continuously upon the land for three years. These conditions being complied with, he is entitled to a grant in fee with homestead rights, and can obtain a license > to occupy an adjoining IGO acres, or less, of crown lands, for which he will obtain a grant in fee at the expiration of three years nt the price of 30 cents per acre. ;,i IMMIGRANTS IN COMMUNITIES. Provisions are also made for the settlement of immigrants in communities, and of homestead settlers in groups of not less than 20 families, should such desire to settle together in hamlets or villages. In such cases the Governor in Counoit \ may at discixstion vary the requirements as to residence, but not as to cultivation of each separate quarter seeticHi as ^ a homestead. \\ w :?5i:: ; HAyD-^pOK Of ; ^ i n TIMBER AND TIMDEU LANDS. Sections 50 to 58 (inclusive) rogulato tho leasing of tim- ber lands, subject to such roseryations as are necessary for tho purposes of tho fisheries. ' * • ■> * ' '' ' ' ' '* »■ • / rrii LICENSES TO CUT TIMBER. Licenses to cut timber upon any forest tracts may be issued for any period not exceeding 21 years, sub- ject to tho payment of a l)onu9 per square mile, varying according to the situation and value of the limit, and also of an annual ground-rent of $2.00 per squuro mile, and a royalty at the rate of 50 cents per 1 ,000 feet board measure on tho tree cut down. For tho other conditions attached t» timber licenses tho act itself must be consulted. •'•- f*i MINERAL LANDS ' ' SEARCH FOR MINERALS. — FREE RIGHT. With regard to mineral lands, the Act of 1884 (amended, in 1885) provides that it shall bo lawful for all persons to search and prospect for minerals upon all lands in the colony without first obtaining a license to search therein. To this regulation, however, gold is an exception, and to search for it a license must first be obtained. MINING LEASES. In case a person shall discover a vein, lode, or deposit of mineral, and desire to obtain a lease, he must mark the loca- tion with posts, in a prcscril)ed manner, to an extent not exceeding one square mile. Then ho shall give notice to the Surveyor-General, in writing, of his intention of apply- ing for a lease, and also a description of the location. On paymcpt of a fee of $50 this notice is to bo duly recorded in tho office of the Surveyor-General, and will give a priority of claim over any other applicant for the same land. Within a year from the date of putting down the postjj the discoverer is then to apply for a lease, having firvt caused an accurate survey of the ground to be made and filed in the Office ,o£ NEWFOUNDLAND RESOURCES. 99 tho Surveyor-General. Such application being mudo en- titles the applicunt to a lease of tlio mines unci minerals con- tuincd in tho location, for a term of five years, together with 50 acres of unoccupied surface land, subject to tho condition of expending on tho working of such mines and minerals $800 per annum for the first four years, and tho fifth year tho sum of $2,800 ; failure to do so entailing forfeiture of lease. GRANTS IN FEE. At any time within tho period of five years a grant in fee of the mining location can be obtained upon proof being given to tho Governor in Council that tho sum of $0,000 has boon expended on tlio working of the mines and minerals. GOLD. LICENSES OF SEARCH. The G5th section provides that licenses to search for gold over an area of half a square milo for a period of one year may bo obtained on payment of a fee of $25, which license shall bo renewable tor another year for a fee of $50. OOLD-WORKINO. • Leases to mine and work gold over an area of one-fjuartcr of a square milo for a period of 21 years can bo issued to tho bolder of a license to search on payment of a foe of $50, subject to tho payment of a royalty of three per cent, on the amount of gold mined. If tho sum of $500 per annum be not expended on the working of such gold mines, during tho period of 21 years, tho lease shall be forfeited. SnEEP-RAISINO. In 1884 an act was passed for the encouragement of flheep-raising by which it is made competent for three-fourths of tho electors resident within the boundaries set forth in their petition to apply to the Governor in Council for a proclamation prohibiting tho keeping of dogs within the described urea. l!^! i fVt-' i4«!;»vv.! '. -v';--/.^., ,«;. .jf»,' ^yvV , . ;:,^;v:;»'. ■ .'■* . i. ;*;: J .V ■ -y i APPENDICES. IP !i i r : ■• , r ^ f • /. ■'% .7 •'.?': T-fA ,SiA.-r'-.ir«^' •- i / I ■; vw< APPEISTDIX I » I Memoranda showing^ the Quantities and Yalae of Copper and Nickel Ores Exported from the Island of Ne^rfound- land in the undermentioned Years. < 1 I Tmts. 1854) to [ 1864 j 1875) to [ 1879 J 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1876 1870 1877 1878 1879 1876 187C 1877 1878 1878 1879 Ports cleared from. St. John's. Total. Union Mine, Tilt Goto 41 (I It 4< << ti ti l( Australia j Austria f | Azores t > Algeria § j For a Letter. 1 For Book Packet* and Parcels. N O ts a . a i § o 1 2 as M 2 a Is 1 •i.S >l o I, I. u § >. . •s n °l o 8 8 u o a t- 3 t^ t i** >.«• U a SO i^o >M a < H u^ U H fa ■A C/j. Ctt. CIS. Cts. Cti. CIS. Cts. Cts. 10 20 10 8 8 4 ) 8 IG IC 12 24 12 8 8 1° 12 24 24 6 10 6 1 2 4 8 8 I Cts. 106 APPENDIX. Postage HatOS. — • Continued. Bcyrout t Belgium t Belize (Honduras) .... Bermuda Borneo Brazil Buenos Ayres Bourbon (Isle of )§ . . . . Belgrade t Caniida Cape de Verds f Cap^of Good Hope. . . . Ceylon Canary Islandsf Chili (a) Costa Itica (a) China Constantinople Cuba Cape Breton Dardanelles t Denmark, via Belgium Eeuador (o) Egypt Falkland Islands Fernando Po France § Germany t Galatz t Galipoli , Gtunbia Gibrultart Gold Coast , Gray Town (a) Gautemala (a) "Greece t Halifax Hayti (a) Ho'lhmlt Hong Kung For a Letter. 8 t! 1 si < Oil. Cts. 6 10 8 IG 8 IG 10 20 5 10 5 10 15 80 10 20 5 10 8 16 10 1:0 5 10 8 IG 6 10 5 10 8 IG 6 10 10 20 6 10 5 10 10 20 5 10 10 20 5 10 , 10 8 IG 5 10 10 20 Cl8. 10 5 6 15 10 5 8 10 5 8 5 8 5 10 5 10 5 10 n 6 8 5 10 'A £ Cls. }l For Book Pnckcta and I'ackcts. }'' a a O I H a Cis. 2 4 4 2 1 a « OS Cls. §3 Cls. 8 IG IG 8 4 IG IG 8 IG 8 8 4 IG 8 IG 8 IG 8 IG 8 4 IG 8 "o C:s. 8 IG 8 IG IG 8 4 IG IG 8 10 8 8 4 8 IG 8 IG 8 IG 8 IG 8 4 K 8 IG •^3 Cls. 5 6 6 5 6 5 6 5 6 fi 6 6 6 5 6 6 S 6 APPENDIX. 107 Postage Rates. — Continued. Italyt InJia Ionian Islands !.••.• \ Jassy J Labuan \ Liberia / Larnica f Madeira! \ Malta t f Mauritius \ Mexico (a) / Moldavia t | Mytelenc (a) j Montevideo (a) Natal ) New South Wales [■ New Zealand j New Brunswick 1 Nova Scotia v Norway t j Panama "j Penang I Peru (a) J Poland! Porto IJico Portugal t Prince Edward Island Queensland Rhodest \ Russia t J Reunion § Sanisoun f ) Salonica f >• Scutari f j St. Helena (a) St. Croix ) Sierra Leono f . • [• Surinam j Fw a Letter. f .a For Book Pockets and Parcola. 8 s t 'A 1. ■a N 1 i 1 o 1 q t3 1 S O a O 9 t s e a oS >W Cts. cts. Cts. C/5. Cts. C^s. c<«. Cts. 6 10 6 1 2 4 8 8 10 20 10 8 4 8 16 16 5 10 5 I 1 2 4 8 8 10 20 10 I ^ 4 8 IG 16 5 10 fi 1 2 4 8 8 u 10 5 }• 1 2 4 8 8 10 20 10 } ^ 4 8 16 16 5 10 5 } 1 2 4 8 8 10 20 10 8 8 4 8 16 16 12 24 12 3 ■ G 12 24 24 6 10 6 1 1 2 4 4 2 4 8 8 2 10 20 10 2 4 8 16 16 6 10 C 2 2 4 8 8 8 1(5 8 1 4 8 16 16 5 10 6 1 2 4 8 8 6 10 5 1 1 2 4 4 12 24 12 8 6 12 24 24 6 10 5 1 4 4 8 8 10 20 10 2 8 16 16 4 6 10 5 > 2 4 8 8 15 80 ID J 8 ■ 4 8 16 16 10 20 10 8 j 4 8 16 16 Cl$. ^ i ?] !i m APPENDIX. Postage Rates.-- Concluded. ForBookPnckctennd! PurceU. Sm5Tna f Spnin t Stros f Singapore Swollen, via Dcnmarkt- • > Switzerland, tta Belgium t '1 Symf (a) ° ' • f Sydney, C.B '' St. rierrc and Mlquelon lasmania Tchcsme f Tenedos f Trebizond f Tulteha f Tunis t.. Turkey in Europe United Kingdom United States "Varna f Venezuela (a) .... Victoria, Australia West Indies, via Bermuda - Union * Local. Foreign. .' ; Inland Postage. Xc«ers.— 3 cents per half ounce. ' BooJcs and Parcph o «,>.,+„ thereof. ^ "'"^ P^"^ ^""^'^^^ P^"nd, or fraction liegistration 3 cents Toff«..„ # t- ' Commercial Papers. — 5 cents un tn o r. weight u Boo. .to. No m^^ZnVZZZi:!'''' """ APPENDIX. APPENDIX III. From St, John's to Tilt Cove, — 317 Miles. 109 St. John's to — 1 * J, 47 Old Perlican. • Si ; 1 1 C8 21 Trinity. 1 '' 1 i^ 87 40 Ifl Catalina. 1 Il 107 GO 39 20 Bonavlsta. ll \ t 1 IIG G9 48 29 9 King's Cove. 148 101 80 Gl 41 32 Greenspond. ' "l i 214 IG7 14G 127 107 98 GG Fogo. 1 232 185 1C4 145 125 IIG 84 18 Twillingate. ' 1 24 J) 202 181 1G2 142 133 101 35 17 Exploits. i 1 284 237 21C 197 177 1G8 I3G 70 52 35 Little Bay Island. 293 24 G 225 20G 18G 177 145 79 Gl 44 9 Little Bay. 30G 259 238 219 199 190 158 92 74 57 22 13 1 dipper's Harbor. I 1 309 2G2 241 222 20:^ 193 IGl 95 77 GO 25 IG 3 Betts Cove. t 317 270 249 230 210 201 1G9 103 85 G8 33 24 1 1 8 Tilt Cove. ! 1 1 Tilt Co vo to Battle Harbor, — 177 W [iles. Ij Tilt Cove to — -I 1 1 1 32 Coachman's Cove. ! 1 i I . -I 82 50 1 Conche. 1 .' I . 118 8G 3G!= 1 st. Anthon}-. 1] V ■; I . 1 ■ , ' 1 ■ 133 101 51 1 5 Griguet. 1 • . v 177 145 95.' »9 44 BMtle Harbor. ■■' ■-' -:, ! I : Jl no APPENDIX. 1) B bo >-4 o O o C3- o a c o 4) n o a a o d o CO o u H s 00 t^ u t>> (N 1^ eo «o o CO t>» rj* vj "it «o >. Ci CO • • C3 rH a ca O a o "•J* •.o a Cj 00 l>1 rH rt x; rH (M 3 CJ o !>• r>. r^ (N CD rH Ci Ci CO • o T^ e^ Si (Hi £ •^ •-H »-H tn o rH CO »— 1 o ■^ ' rt i-H 'M (N 6 ^ Ci o o o rH h ET CO ■^ « ■^ "«t< 00 , 01 s rH (N (M I a o •-5 o; -f-i CM t>. r-( 00 00 OI CO u o ^9 A fH . 'M o CO CO l>. 00 «-l Ov| 00 (M CO o CO o> o rt l-H y—l tH o Ci « o o rH g ■e Ov| ■* 1-4 ■<4» »o l>. »f5 '-O Ci • ^ 1-i tH »-H (N CO CO 0> O) a; 00 CO 1-. CO S 00 1-H o »-H 00 o rH S •4^ I-H l-H r^ — ( (M ■<*« H rH o l>« (M o 00 o ep Ci CO "^ o •^ CO l>. I-H I-H rH (M (N • 00 (N !>• o •ft t>. . 00 •ij o o 'M o l>. CO !>• en o 00 l>. i-< (?< « o CO 00 o »« ffj V) o o o CO 00 o CO CO o T-l ©5 rH o »r5 L APFENDDL 111 From St. John's to Carbonear,— 02 Miles (by Rail). St. John's to — 15 Topsail. 18 3 MaDUcls. « 22 7 4 KcUigrcws. 27 12 9 5 Seal Covb. 33 18 15 11 G Holyrood. 3G 21 18 14 9 3 Harbor Maia. 89 24 21 17 12 G 3 t Salmon Cove. m 32^ 29^ 25J 20J 14J Hi 8J BriguC' Junction. 57.1 m 39J 35J 30^ ^2^ 21i 18J 10 Harbor Grace Junction. CG^ 51J m 44^ 39J 33i 30J 275 19 9 Broad Cove. 74 GO 57 53 48 42 39 3G "27^ I7i n New Harbor Road. 79 C5 G2 58 53 47 44 41 32^ 22^ \H 5 Tilton. 84 70 G7 G3 58 52 49 4G 37i m 185 10 5 Harbor Grace. 92 78 75 71 GG GO 57 54 45^ 355 265 18 13 8 Carbonear. 112 AVFESDVX, 9 i, es Q o •*» a o a CO a o I U e 1 3 • • Ct » e 1' 8> t < IQ to fc ■ ,v «-♦ .tS 1 Island. rnavick 1 Cape ] \ £§ 2^H- ; ! 11 1° sis •-- •« . '^ ^ ^ ^J^ ^^ J.^ ^ e; T s CO 00 00 ?5 C .5 > iS CI W I- i . O «-t d,i5 I 00 ^ •^ -3 pS -*< 1- CI CI \ 11 K 2Po o :i 30 00 *^ .CJ — M '-'5 »0 O O W -H g « CI CO « « -2 t .O d .^ ^^ |-^?c ~ CI CS •O C5 *» I"- 1^ .i eo CO ISO w cs Si ">»• Mirt ..^ us ■— 1 be « 00 O — O 00 CO CO 1 CQ ^ ;5 I- o o »o I — ^^ j e,«'''0*>'»»''^'--''*'C»« 1 1- 5.* c « -"T >.0 C3 ac O C «0 h5 jJ 00 -r V. „" CO <«• o CI o o r; CI 1^ 1- • c 7i i-oooooo^f'TCs txJil -^ .-* 1.^ .-H .1 . 5 CO -^ 1- ^^ -< O '•'5 CO 10 C>l 00 ffl <0 O O o ;;ciO — coow-^ H .^ ^^ 1— » ^^ ^^ ^^ g t- O 00 -t O o ao « *» 00 o t- eo !>• O iO «o 1 M^taeiOO-T-^oi^oo^o 1 F^ — -4 ^ — -. (N ri CI 1 i; c 3 §o >s 30O00 wc^oooi- rj i-o«o "O 1 , S>2 Sci c>i 1- ■* o « o -< ^ 13 IS 1^ 00 — — C3 1 r-4 -^ -< — — -^ ■-> CI CI *» 1 O t- O 00 -*• O M C5 'O s: *l 1^ 1- gw:^>'-^« is o 00 »- r> CO ti « 00 C5 CI ri 1- . "Q .22 2 « O o >n 00 i.-s or « ?• CO o 1- « 1- o u-s o 1 u ii V X CI CO -T o I- 00 iM CO CO 1-- 1- o o o ;■•: 00 1 o^B'-i ^-, — _ — ^•Mririn 1 ckle. larles. tie Harb Spear li 12Fra 27 15 35 23 47 35 57 45 72 CO CO o CO -< I'. CO <0 CI CO M ».0 O 3 1 »C»O-^-i'i0 00OOS'l-TOO 1 f- « p-^ .— 1 — • — — CI Tl CI CI CO 1 O *■! i?.i CO O IS 1^ -f S T — CI «■! 1 O O "I lO »3 W « O CI CO 10 C3 -^ 1 ^^ ^1 — »— • — — CI CI CI CI CI CO ~'-'^«'Meo-*oooo 1^ ^ l,. o 'H 1- O O CI O C5 -♦• -♦< C fH CA O 1- 1- o — CO -f v: I- CI ^ CI CI CI CI CI CI CO 2 ffo 00 c »o CO IS m o CO o CO -1 1- CO O M 30 CI o o o c« i-ieo>«.iowi-c» -« CI CO 1- 1- 00 — CI CO iO 1 - 00 CO — CI CI CI CI CI CI CO 3.S;f? -<.ci ^ rtSeot^eo>Ot-iNONCit- 1- -^ 1^ 10 -• 1- O » CI « c; ■+ -*• — CI CO •- 00 00 — CI -r 10 I"- 00 CO 1 -^ -^ -^ —< "-» ^ C» CI CI CI CI CI CO O r- o ao -♦< O CI CS lO C5 CI 1^ 1 - O CO CO lO v; cs CI -*• I j.car?»-i.-ie>ico'*«oi^oocjococoi.oooc5 S"0 l-H Ci CI C» CI CI CI CI CO • • (U 1^ N ■* -* »0 « t' 00 CJ O — CO 10 O I-. — 2' ^c^'«<«aoi-oocJC'— C'lei; loi-aocieo-* 1- CJ O CI u: o ■* I- c CI lo i; 00 o — CI 1- PS i CI c» CI CI M CO CO eo i-«15C»»0-r-*< ^ S 2 -♦•i~ooO"co-i'e> C4 CO t: o O M t— ( F^ ^H ^H »-H -^ — -HdciwMweocoeococo | ooeoooooooocoujiooeooeo — 1- CO 10 CI 00 C» O O Q • VO J5 O CI -f 10 O CI CJ Cl CO CO CO CO -*« o W»a«0l-b»00O.— *»S5'*<«300S5O-*-* o g _M ^H •> >^ fH ~ — -< CI (M CI ooeoooooooiocoi.otooeooro — 1- CO 10 CI 00 CI 10 o o I-l <-^ CO fo i^ CO OB a '- o\ n -^ >n 1^ « O — iO «0 » — . O -H CO "0 "J -^ •J •< F^ i-H ^^ — 1-^ •-• — *» CI IM N CI CI CO CO CO CO CO "* ^^ r^l:^.*l^«l^« — «-*taO — •^-^■^nco-ftmaci'nis-^-^ 1 O4eoeo«ofloc»oo — eo-rinoi-Ci — CI CO l>- 1- 00 — CI CO iO 1- 00 CO CO NNNWNC^eoeocosoeoco-* \^' AFFENDDL 113 CO GO o en e « Cm O c3 CC .a CO 00 coeoc4cocO'^maoin W CO * » O — -f •1 F-l» • o ■* s o 00 1^ 6 Ci 30 » Ct Ifl CO -J l-O O i-> OU3 i-i 1-^ 1- — Deoor-iiaoo-^ 1.^ c^ to « o CO o CO eo c 1- CO „ lO U5 1-: lO CO 00 M i.o ;i. O ■»r 71 00 -C Its *^ o M «l cieoeo'.fcoiooeoi-o «i c» N eo lO w rH -^ g un CI CO ko 00 cs U3 o ^ i-l 00 13 00 N CI u .^ !-(•* eo eo 5 1^ ».H • et eo « « :c o oi 00 — ?i . CO CO « •0 o 00 lO eo 2 . «ww-*-to ©^ i-i 1^ t-H »-» ^H CO C5 o to ^^ o 3 a — 15 U w o_ *^ c^ o ?i^ C5 1~- cs "-I eo cs w O ^ w rf oo'cfeo' ci-^ 1-1' rieo«CJN 'H 13 o o eo eo to -*• eo o i5 eo o Ci O n -<• — OJ o * »- w w eo eo rt -5 _ ^^ CI ?: »o "O eo O ir: ci — 1 sq rs i= 1^ o M o o 10 CO c ^ , Csr^i:-*CM— . Oo — us>->-«ry. iiOQO w ->■ V3 3DOiOeON7'ieOt--»l-.lO'^CS^'-iOO 1- 1- ■* N C5 I- -"i* 30 eo I- 1-1 »0 l-- 'H — i^ to a ujeo^etoo^ oooo ^^lous-* h- 1-1 a •^- 5- 43 •»»■ M O C'l » C5 30 -»< -n- -^ -O /. -^ -O Ci eo -^t" o :5 CO "— w 1^ 10 U5 •--**■•'*' f^ uj i~ 1-- o t» o eo 'i* " cs O " -r eo 1—1 1—4 ^^ I— I CO o « C5 00 I'. eM f-H » eo 5 o H JO CGOQhQ^ .3 Vi~ .jcja s 300 S t: 0)8-5 o •S ^ ."x c •= ^ • .2 — s " 9 2fe sc-g s ^ - * fl * 1/' 'V-^v 114 APPENDIX. APPFOT)IX V. Boads, Railways, and Steam Communication. Toe colony is fairly supplied with roads, to which every year additions are made. There are at present between 700 and 800 miles of i)ostal roads, and 1,700 miles of district roads, besides others laid out and in process of construction. The lono-est line of road is from St. John's to Holyrood, Salmonier, Placentia, and St. Mary's, a distance of over 100 miles. A line of railway is at present completed, and has been rimnintr for some time between -St. John's and Harbor Grace, a distance of 84 miles. It is projected to extend to Hall's Bay, the centre of the mining district. Tiie Allan line of steamers leaves Halifax on alternate Mondays for Liverpool, calling at St. John's, and on each alternate Tuesday leaves Liverpool for Halifax, calling at St. John's. During three months of the year these steamera run between Halifax and Liver- pool withoiit ^.-ailing at St. John's, and during this time coramuni- cation is kept up fortnightly by a mail steamer plying between St. John's and Halifax. During the open season excellent steamers ply between St. John's and New York ; also between St. John's and Montreal, calling at Tictou, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In addition two lotal steamers ply between St. John's and the settlements, north and south, carrying passengei-s, mails, and goods. In the summer season the steamer plying northward connects with the Labrador steamer at Battle Harbor. ■ •^W ''Wr :j^' \ )\ CUSTOBIS^ .i:>i 111 TARIFF, ion. every year 30 ami 800 ids, besides on2:est line .eenlia, and jen running a distance lie centre of te MMidays ,te Tuesday uring tliree and Liver- coramuni- elweeu St. steamers St. John's ce Edward St. John's el's, mails, northward \Reviscd according to Revenue ^icf, ^wss«(? 1880.] TABLK OF DUTIES. , . , Ale, porter, cider, and perry, llie gallon Animals, viz. : — Calves, pigs and sheep, each Horses, mares, i^c, each Apples, the barrel . Apples (dried), the pound Bacon, hams, tongues, smoked beef and sausages, the cwt Beef, pigs' heads, feet and hocks (salted and cured), the barrel of 200 lbs Biscuit and bread (not including sweet or fancy bis- cuit), the cwt Butter, oleo, and other compounds lepresenting but- ter, the cwt. Casks (empty), second-hand, under 45 gallons, each . Casks (empty), second-hand, over 45 gallons, each Cask slaves, second-hand, manufacluied, capable of making casks of 45 gallons, and upwards, per 100 Cask staves, second-hand, manufactured, caxtablc of making casks under 45 gallons, per 100 . Cheese, the cwt Chocolate and Cocoa, the lb Cigars, seven and a half per cent, ad valorem^ and theM. Coffee, green, the lb Colfee, roasted or ground, the lb Coals, imported or brought into the ports of St. John's, Harbor Grace and Carbonear, the ton Confectionery, not including confectioners' ornaments, the cwt Feathers and feather beds, the lb Fish, viz.: Codfish and haddock, salted, save as here- inafter exempt, the quintal of 1 12 lbs. Flour, the barrel Fruit, dried (excepting dried apples), currants, raisins, &c , the lb Indian meal, the barrel Lumber, one inch thick, and so in proportion for any greater thickness, the M Lumber, grooved, tongued or planed, 1 inch thick and so in proportion for any greater thickness, the M. Molasses, the gallon Oatmeal, the barrel of 200 lbs Oil (kerosene), the gallon Peas, the barrel Pork, the barrel of 200 lbs. ... . . Salt, in bulk, the ton Shingles and laths, the M ^0 15 30 2 65 35 01 2 50 75 18 1 40 45 1 45 5 75 I 40 I 75 05 3 00 004 OOG 30 4 50 06 1 50 25 2J 20 1 75 3 00 OOG 25 05 20 1 30 20 50 Spirits, viz. : — Brandy, and other spirits, not herein defined or enu- merated, and not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gal. 2 00 AH other Spirits of greater strength than forty-three per cent, overproof, shall be deemed to be undefined spirits, and bo subject to duty accordingly, the gal. 2 00 Ram, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon . 1 35 ■Gin, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon . . 1 50 Whiskey, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gal. 1 80 Cordials, shrub and other spirits, being sweetened or mixed so that the degree of strength cannot be ascertained, the gallon 95 Sugars, viz. : Loaf and refined, the cwt. . . . 3 50 Bastard, the cwl 2 50 Unrefined, the cwt 2 00 Tea, 10 per cent, ad valorem and the lb 06 Timber, including Lignum vilie, the ton . . . 50 Tobacco, manufactured, including leaf tobacco, strip- ped or partly manufactured, five per cent, ad valorem^ and the lb 16 Tobacco, leaf and stems, the lb 15 Tobacco, stems for snufi, the cwt 00 Vegetadles, viz.: — Cabbages, the 100 1 00 Potatoes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, beet, the bushel . 05 All other, including onions (canned or preserved ex- cepted) 10 per cent, ad valorem. Vinegar, the gallon 12i Wines, viz.: — Champagne, the gallon 2 50 Port and Madeira, the gallon 1 38 Claret, the gallon 35 Spanish Red. Denia, Sicilian, Figueira, Red Lisbon and Cape, LisDon Common 35 Malaga and Montilla, costing at port of sb.ipment 80 cents a gallon, and any other over that price, and Maiizanilla and Sherry, 12J per cent advalorem^ and the gallon 1 00 Malaga and Montilla, costing at port of shipment under 80 cents a gallon, the gallon 35 Hock, Burgundy and Light Rhenish Wines, the gal. 70 All other Wines, 12i per cent, ad valorem and the gal. 90 ■ Fresh meat, poultry, eggs, oxen, cows and bulls, '' tallow, grease and palm oil, the $100 . . . 7 50 Anchors, chain cables, copper and composition metal for ships, viz. : bar, bolt, sheathing and nails; bread- bag, bnn or bagging; canvas, sail cloth and tarpaulin canvas, for ships use; cordage, viz. : rope, hemp, coir and manilla cables ; corks and cork-wood, fishing tackle (except fishing tackle for anglers,) ; dories & dories' oars, hoop iron, iron of all kinds in bars, bolts, sheets, plates & pieces ; machinery and parts of machinery, including propellers ; nails, wrought; oakum, pitch, tar, resm, and raw turpentine ; oats, oleine oil, beef oil, neutral, lard stock, cotten seed oil, oil of sesamic, and other oils used in the man- ufacture of oleomargarine, or artificial butter; oranges, lemons, grapes, nuts, limes and olives; sheet tin, block tin, and solder ; worsted and wool len yarn of ail kinds, the $100 .... Bran, barley, Indian corn, and rice, masts pieces and spars (not manufactured), medicines, staves (un- dressed), the $100 Hay, leather, and cut nails, the $100 .... Cabinet wares, candles, carriages, waggons, sleighs and harness; casks, in which dry goods are im- ported, when fit to hold liquid ; manufactures of wood (except musical instruments); staves, manu- factured and dressed, the $100 22 50 Ready-made clothing, viz.: coats, jackets, trowsers, waistcoats, south-westers, mantles, dresses, cloaks andsacqnes; stockings, shirts and drawers (made by hand and not woven), the $100 . . . . 25 00 ■Goods, wares and merchandize, not otherwise enumer- ated, described or charged with duty, and not other- wise exempt, the $100 17 50 10 GO 12 50 15 00 TABLE OF EXEMPTIONS. The following articles imported into this Colony and its -dependencies shall be exempt from payment of duty : — Agricultural implements and machinery, imported by agricultural societies for the promotion of agriculture. Arms, clothing and provisions for Her Majesty's land and. sea forces. Articles imported for religious purposes, not intended for sale. Ai licles of every description imported for the use of the Governor. Articles for the official use of foreign consuls. Bait, bark for tanning leather, boiler plates. •i ,t iV- L ,H Coals when not imported or brought into the ports of St. John's Harbor Grace or Garbonear. ■; . Coin and bullion, cotton yarn, cotton (raw.) . ,^,, ,i ., ; Colve, co'.-n for the manuracturc of brooms. *, ; •. . , Crushing mills, for mining purposes. Donations of clothing, specially imported for gratuitous distribution by any chaiitablo society. Dye sluL's, hemp, hemp yarn, coir yaru, sisal, manilla, llax and tow, Fresh fith, inclndiug oys!ei's in shell. Fish of British calcli and curL', and oil the produce of such fish. Fruit, not being canned, bottled or preserved, and not otherwise enumerated. Hides, or pieces of hides, not tanned, curried or dressed. Household furniture and working tools and implements used and in the use of persons arriving in this colony. Junk, old iron, old copper and composition metal. Manures of all kinds. Materials for sheathing the bottoms of vessels, such as zinc, copper, and composition metal, together with nails and paper or felt, which maybe used for or under such sheathing, ■when used for sheathing the entire bottom of the vessel in wliicb the same is imported. Music, written or printed. Passengers' baggage. Pigiron, nail strips — whether of iron, zinc or brass — to be used in the manufacture of cut nails in this colony. Plants, trees and shrubs. Ploughs, harrows, reaping, raking, ploughing potatoe- digging and seed-sowing machines to be used in this colony. Printing paper, printing presses, printing types, and all other printing requisites. Printed books, pamphlets, newspapers, maps and charts. .. Refuse rice. Sand. Scientific instruments and apparatus, including globes^ when imported for the use of colleges, and scientific or literary societies. Seed for agricultural purposes. Specimens illustrative of Natural History. Steam engines, boilers, propellers, water wheels and saws,, when used in the original construction of steamboats built in this colony, and of mills and factories. Sulphuric acid, when used for the manufacture of manure. Twines, to be used in manufacturing nets and netting in this colony. Unmanufactured wool. ' ' ' Wheat. , . .. ^ Works of Art, viz.: engravings, paintings, statuary not intended for sale. D'f ■Ml i(.i:;,;:t»M'. ■i.'i/.. •t: U'lii '^Tr.'V!'-- APPENDIX. 115 APPENDIX VI. CUSTOMS* TARIFF. According to Revenue Act, passed 1883. TABLE OF DUTIES. Horses, mares, etc., each Pigs and calves, each . • • • Ale, porter, cider, and perry, the gallon Apples, the barrel . • • • nrpigsbeads, feet, and boota (salted and cnred), the brl of 200 lbs i,- * •«. \* Biscuit and bread (not including sweet or fancy biscmts) , the cwt Butter, the cwt Cut nails, 13 and 15 per cent. All iron for manufacture of nails . • • • ' Fruit- Prunes, dates, raisins, currants, and broadfigs (m frails) , per lb * * ■Rroidfio-9 (iu boxes) the lb. . • • • * ,v Other ch-ied fruit not mentioned (dried apples excepted) lb , * „ * 'u ' Cnsks - empty, second-hand, under 4o gallons, each . Casts - empty second-hand, over 45gallons, each . Seco d-hand cask staves (manufactured) capable of making casks of 45 gallons and "P--<1«' f ^s* The same, capable of making casks under 45 gallons, per 100 Cheese, the cwt Chocolate and cocoa, the lb. . • • Cigars, 5 per cent, ad valorem, and the M. Coffee, the lb. . • • * * inhn's Coal, imported or brought into the port of St. Johns, the ton . . • • * • $2 30 23 10 30 01 2 00 60 16 1 12 Free 02 04 04 45 1 20 5 00 1 20 1 50 04 2 64 03 26 I ! J 116 APPENDIX. Confoctlonery, the cwt Feathers auil feather beds, the lb. . Flour, the barrel Indian meal and peas3, the barrel . Leather, the 8100 Lumber one inch thick, and so in proportion for any greater thickness, the M. Molasses, the gallon .... Oatmeal, the barrel of 200 lbs. Kerosene oil, the gallon Pork, the barrel of 200 lbs. . Salt, the ton Shingles, the M. . Spirits, viz. : IJrandy and other spirits, not herein de fined or enumerated, and not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and so in proportion for any gieater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon All other spirits of greater strength than forty-three per cent, ovcrproof shall be deemed to be undefined spirits, and be subject to duty accordingly. Rum, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes* hy- drometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon Gin, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hy dromctcr, and so in proportion for any greate strength than the strength of proof, the gallon Whiskey, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon Cordials, shrub, and other spirits, being sweetened or mixed so that the degree of strength cannot be as certained, the gallon .... Sugar, loaf and refined, the cwt. . Sugar, unrefined, the cwt. . . . .' Sugar, bastard, the cwt. Tea, the lb. . . . . . . Timber, the ton Tobacco — manufactured, including leaf tobacco, stripped or partly manufactured, the lb. Tobacco, leaf and stems, the lb. . $3 50 05 20 15 11 00 1 00 OG 20 04 1 00 20 40 1 CO 1 00 1 20 1 50 80 3 50 2 00 2 50 05 80 14 12^ APPENDIX. 117 Vinegar, the gallon Wines, viz. : Champagne, Ihc gallon .... Port and Madeira, the gallon Claret, the gallon Spanish red, Dcnia, Sicilian, Figneira, rod Lisbon, and Capo Lisbon, common, the gallon .... Malaga and Montilla, costing at port of shipment under 80 cents a gallon, the gallon Hock, Burgundy, and light Rhenish wines, the gallon Malaga and Montilla, costing at port of shipment 80 cents a gallon, and any over that price, and Manza- nilla and Sherry, 12 J per cent., ad valorem, and the gallon All other wines 12.J per cent., ad valorem, and the gallon. Fruit, other than above enumerated, fresh meat and poul- try, oxen and cows, tallow and palm-oil, the 0100 . Candles, carriages and wagons ; ready-made clothing, viz. : coats, jackets, trowsers, waistcoats, and Boulh-westers ; mantles, dresses, cloaks and sacks ; manufactures of wood (except cabinet wj^res, musi- cal instruments, agricultural implements, and pack- ages in which dry goods are imported) , the 8 1 00 Staves, manufactured and dressed ; stockings, shirts and drawers (made by hand and not woven), the 0100 . Anchors and chain cables, copper and composition metal for ships, viz. : bar, bolt, and sheathing nails ; bread-bag brin or bagging, canvas and sail cloth for ships' use ; cordage, viz. : ropo and hemp, coir and Manilla cables ; corks and corkwood, hoop-iron, fish- ing-tackle, iron of all kinds, in bars, bolts, sheets, plates, and pieces ; machinery and parts of machin- ery ; masts and spars, medicines, nails, oakum, oats, rice, Indian corn, barley, bran, pitch, tar, resin, raw turpentine, sheet-tin, solder, block-tin, staves (un- dressed), worsted and woollen yarn of all kinds, the ClOO ' . . . . Goods, wares, and merchandise, not otherwise enumer- ated, described or charged with duty in this act, and not otherwise exempt, the $100 $0 10 2 00 1 20 30 30 30 CO 90 80 5 00 20 00 20 00 8 00 13 00 118 APPENDIX. LOCAL DISTILLATION. Brandy, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykos* hydrometer, nud so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon . $1 20 Gin, not exceeding the strength of proof b}' Sykes' hy- drometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon . 1 00 Whiskey, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes* hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon . . 1 Rum, not excoedii)g the strength of proof by Sykes' h}'- drometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, the gallon t^ In addition to the foregoing duties, there shall be paid 15 per cent, upon the amount payable as such duties in respect of the several articles above enumerated. 00 75 TABLE OF EXEMPTIONS. Agricultural implements and machinery, imported by agricultural societies for the promotion of agriculture. Arms, clothing and provisions for Her Majesty's land and sea forces. Articles imported for religious purposes. Paintings and statuary not intended for sale. Articles of every description imported for the use of the Governor. Articles iot the official use of foreign consuls. Bait, bark for tanning leather, boiler pj-xte. Coals, when not imported or brought into the port of St. John's. Coin and bullion. Coke, cotton yarn, cotton (raw). Corn for the manufacture of brooms. Crushing mills for mining purposes. Donations of clothing, specially imported for distribution gratui- tously by any char.table society. Dyestuff, eggs, hemp, flax, and tow. Hides, or pieces of hides, not tanned, curried, or dressed. Junk, old iron, eld copper, and composition metal. Live sheep, unmanufactured wool. Manures of all kinds. APPENDIX. 119 Materials for sheathing the bottoms of vessels, such as zinc, cop- per, and composition metal, together with nails and paper, or felt, which may be used for or under such sheatliing. Music, written or printed. Passengers* baggage. Household furniture and working tools and implements used and in the use of persons arriving in the colony. Philosophical instruments and a|)paratus, including globes, when imported for the use of colleges, scientific or literary soci'jties. Pig iron, plants, trees and shruLti. Printed matter, not intended to be written on. Printing presses, printing paper (royal and dem^), printing types, and all other priming materials. Pi'intcd books, pamphlets, maps, and charts. Refuse rice, sand, seeds for agricultural societies. Specimens illustrative of Natural History. Sulphuric acid, when used for the manufacture of manure. Stcam-cugincs, boilers, and propellers. Water-wheels and saws, when .used in the original construction of steamboats built in this colony, and of mills and factories. Twines to bo used in manufacturing nets in this colony. Wheat. Works of art, viz. : engravings, paintings, and statuary, not in- tended for sale. Vegetables of all sorts. Fish of all kinds, and oil of the produce of fish. Ploughs, harrows, reaping, raking, mowing, ploughing, and seed- sowing machines, to be used in this colony. It shall not be lawful for any importer of dried fish to ware- house the same in any of the ports of this colony or its dependen- cies, without the payment of the duty hereinbefore imposed ; and tho provisions of any act of this colony with regard to the ware- housing of goods on the first entry thereof, or to the allowance of drawbacks upon exportation, shall not ni either case apply to or be construed to apply to such fish : Provided, that the section shall not apply to such fish of Dritish catch and cure, unless other- wise declared by proclamation of the Governor, published in the Royal Gazette newspaper. All yachts, sailing under warrant of the Lords of tho Admiralty, or belonging to the Koyal Yacht Club, shall be exempted, on view of the said warrant, from ptlyment of all local duties whatsoever.