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 1 
 
 REPORT 
 
 -OH- 
 
 YAKOUN COAL FIELDS, 
 
 GRAHAM ISLAND, 
 
 OUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT. 
 
 Victoria, B. C, October, 1892. 
 
 Mk. 
 
 Wm. Wilson, 
 
 Sir, — As per instructions received from you, I left Victoria by steamer, the evening of the i6th 
 of March, with a party consisting of Mr. Robertson, myself, four white men and four Japanese to 
 explore and develop properties belonging to you, Mr. Robertson and others, on Graham Island, 
 Queen Charlotte Group, for coal. 
 
 We arrived at Skidegate, Graham Island, midday on Saturday, the 19th of March, and remain- 
 ed there over Sunday. On the 21st of March we obtained a large canoe and five Indians, and moved 
 to the mouth of the Honna river, about four miles from Skidegate, where we camped for the night 
 The following morning we started for Camp Robertson, which is on Section 20, Township 5, where 
 the coal outcrop discovered by Mr. Robertson is situated. 
 
 The trail from the mouth of the Honna follows the river north for 3j4 miles; it then leaves fte 
 valley and strikes north-west along the flank of a range of hills for 4^ miles, making the distance of 
 Camp Robertson from the mouth of the Honna river about 8 miles. The formation along the 
 trail is sand-stone; the only exception being at the highest point on the hills, where we met with 
 Conglomerate. 
 
 To place Camp Robertson in condition for work took us until the end of the month. 
 
 Mr Robertson here gave me the following instructions : — 
 „^ " You will use every effort to explore and develop the most easy and what will appear in your 
 txst judgment the best coal senms included in what is shown to you on the sketch map of that part of 
 Graham Island, Queen Charlotte Island District, marked inside the red lines. You will thoroughly 
 explore the different sections for oth^ outcropping, besides those already discovered, and when you . 
 hive good reason to believe coal can ht found with your present party's labor, you will do so if your 
 other work will permit, but develop the best and most easy first. 
 
 "Also examine the most advantageous route for a Railway from the coal fields to tlv: nearest 
 and best .shipping point, including the Skidegate inlet and Rcnnel's Sound. 
 
 "Report on c0.1l and formation, timber, soil nnd e/cry item of information that may be in- 
 t^'resting to capitalists who may be inclined to invest in or purchase the property. 
 
 "Keep a record of all work done and the men employed on the different points of the w<ork, ami 
 return siunc with your general report; .ilso account of men's time and their accounts. 
 
 (Signed) W. A. ROBERTSON, 
 "for self and other proprietors of the land in quMtion." 
 
 4. 
 
— 2 — 
 
 I have carried out the above instructions as fully as possible with the numucr of men at my 
 disposal I now report upon the result of the season's work : 
 
 COAL DEVELOPMENTS. 
 
 Camf Robertson.— Ov\ Section 20, Township 5, I opened first on Yakoun bed No. I, which 
 was discovced by Mr. Robertson. It was 19 feet in thickness, as shown by the columnar sections. 
 This bed on the surface is vertical. I sank a shaft 7x5- feet to a depth of 23 feet, and found the bed 
 gradually lightening off in dip. At the foot of the shaft the dip to the east wns about five degrees only. 
 I then started a gangway at about 1 7 feet from the surface, going east I drove this 26 feet, and at 
 the bottom wall the dip was 60° degrees east, the general strike north and south. 
 
 Thib coal, as we got under cover improved in quality, and is, in my opinion, as fine a coking 
 coal as the Connellsville bed of Pennsylvania. 
 
 It was tried by Mr. Robertson for smithing, and h; pronounced it equal to Cumberland. About 
 60 feet east of this shaft (Number i) I discovered an outcrop of another bed, which overlies No. I. 
 This I sank upon and found it, at the surface between 13 and 14 feet thick, as you will see on columnar 
 sections. At the foot of this shait (Number 2) 14 feet in depth, I drove across heading north 9 feet, 
 where I struck the hanging wall, and then drove east along this wall 1 2 feet, and found the bed 
 increased to 14 feet 8 inches, the upper bench increasing from 3 feet to 5 feet 7 inches. East of 
 this shaft I drove a drift in the same bed, but abandoned it on account of the top, which would have 
 required heavy timbering and caused some delay. 
 
 I then followed the line of crop about 40 feet cast, and opened a slope on the same bed, and 
 drove it about 12 feet on the dip and 12 feet east on a level. This bed No. 2 is of similar quality to 
 that marked Na i, but not so free from impuritie.s. Going further east about 120 feet, down the 
 south-east fork of the Yakoun river, which is hereabout 1 2 feet wide, I started a tunnel, intending to 
 strike bed No. i again. After driving 89 feet, not having found coal, I began to think the bed was 
 underneath the tunnel, so came back and sank a proving shaft, marked No. 3 on the plan, and at 4 
 feet from the surface struck coal. 1 uncovered the bed and found it to be j% feet in thickness, a 
 clean bed of coal from wall to wall This is somewhat of a freer burner than Nos. i and 2, but still 
 a good coking coal I came to the' conclusion that it was another bed overlaying No. 2. 
 
 Upon going back to examine the slope before mentioned, I found that about 8 feet above the 
 iianging wall there were strong indications of another bed. Upon investigation I found the crop of 
 bed No. 3 on the top of the slope, and this corresponded with the bed as shown in shaft No. 3. 
 
 I then went further up the hill to the east and sank shaft No. 4 to a depth of 1 3 feet 8 inches 
 and found the same bed again. You will see by reference to plans and cross-.sections that on con- 
 tinuing the tunnel about 14 feet I would have cut this bed, but the tunnel is on top of beds Nos. i and 2. 
 
 At the mouth of the slope the formation shows an anticlinal which evidently throws the coal in 
 ^ again on the south side of Yakoun creek and underlays the property south. 
 
 Camp Anthracite. — On Section 17, Township 5, I started this camp on the 23rd of April, 
 
 After having finished the cabin we commenced work on an outcrop and drove in a tunnel 
 about 40 feet I found the measures somewhat disturbed, showing that it would be necessary to sink 
 in order to get the bed in good condition. I started a shaft, on the bed, close to the mouth of tunnel 
 and sank it to a depth of 39 feet The condition of the bed was not altogether satisfactory, but still it 
 was in very fair shape. Samples are in your po.ssession of what was taken from this shaft. On ac- 
 OMint of not having the appliances at hand to sink deeper, I started the men to drive in on one of the 
 |;'|lMldies cut in the tunnel to the east along the wall. When we had driven 30 feet the scam had 
 from 2 feet at the entrance to 10 feet at the face. There is little doubt, in my mind, that if 
 HjibdUdk Wwe sunk to a greater depth, the bed would be found in excellent condition. 
 
 I r the ^^"^'^1 
 
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 on a ^^ 
 outcrop 
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 incViCS. 
 
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 I The strike is rc^jubr and the clip decreases from \citical on the suif;icc to ..bout 45 decrees ; t 
 
 I t'lc foot of the shaft. It shows in the tunnel to l»c 1 6 feet b ,'tsv. -jn the writs. The coal from here 
 [cm bo tal<cn, as shown by the plan, down the creek until it meets the Vnkoun river, and then along 
 
 the \'akoun river to meet the road from the tunnel driven east of Camp Robertson, 
 ' Cdoip Wilson. — On the 2nd day of June I started with a party of two white men and one Jap for 
 
 Camp Wilson to open up thj bed of coal known to outcrop on Section 36. Township 9, about 9 miles 
 inrth of Camp RoVjcrtson by trail. Wiicn discovered a drift was driven about 40 feet north on the 
 b:'(J, which ran into a ^Travel wash. It was very plain to see that it was an error of judgment to 
 have ever started this drift, .is the entire hill is a surface wash, the mc.isures standing on end and 
 t;ie drift onj half in coal and one half in gravel, as shown on the cross-section. As soon as I saw 
 it 1 knew a mistake had been made, so at once started a sh ift at the mouth of the old drift. 
 
 The bed was vertical at the surface, but at 17 feet the dip began to change. I then drove 
 south about 23 feet The bed increased from 1 3 feet « inches on the .surface to 17 feet 8 inches 
 at the fncc, with one bench of 1 4 feet of clear coal. 
 
 At the face the dip had fallen off to about 60 degrees east, the strike co4itinuing north and 
 south. I then drove north about ?.o fe.t and cross-sectioned directly underneath the point at which it 
 was cross-sectioned previously and found the bed had increased to .8 feet with one bench of 15 feet 
 10 inches of clean coal without a parting of any kind. 
 
 At this point the dip had Rattened to 50 degree.^ east .still continuing the general strike of nortli 
 
 and south. 
 
 This coal if of a later formation than that found at Camp Robertson. 
 
 It is a free burning bituminous coal of excellent quality, and burns with a clear flame, leaving 
 a very small percentage of ash, and requires but little draft. In my opinion it is superior for domestic 
 use to any coal being mined to-day on the Pacifi: Coast. After having thoroughly satisfied mysclt 
 that the measures were regular and the strike kept its course of nortli and south, I started to open up 
 on a small outcropping about half a mile to the north-west of the large bed 1 had been workmg. This 
 outcrop is about 200 feet south of the north-west corner post of section 36, township 8. This bed 
 showed one foot on the surface in a small creek. At the depth of four feet it increased to 2 teet 
 inches. Owing to the water from the creek and lack of pumping facihties i was unable to sink deeper. 
 The coal is of similar quality to that found at Camp Wilson, but is a bed underlying it 
 
 CONDITIONS OF THK MF.A--iURES AND COAL OUTCROPS. 
 
 From exposures and workin- it i^ evident that once we get below the .surface the formations 
 arc regular and broken at no point.' They flatten off with <Iepth and take a moderate dip to the cast 
 and north-east 
 
 Your property is well to the cast of the volcanic eruptions which have broken up the nrie-'sures 
 on the south-west shore of Skidegate Inlet and the west coast of the Island. One of the strongest indica- 
 tions I could find of the measures flattening as we get under cover, is on the creek about one mile 
 south of Camp Robertson, and onehMf mile e.st of the trail. At this point there .s a water fall w.th 
 a drop of nbout 80 feet over a fine grained blue sand stone form^<tion. lying in seams about two feet 
 in thickness. The upper seams have a heavy dip which gradually lightens off untd at the bottom the 
 dip is very slight towards the east. This is the largest exposure I could find on the property. 
 
 Another strong indication is the tunnel I drove at Camp Robertson. 
 
 You will notice on the plan that this starts on a level with the Yakoun River and .s driven 
 towards the east into th. aill a distance of 89 feet The face is underneath ^^c plateau "ponwh.^ 
 Camp Robertson is situated. The measures cut, dip about five degrees east, and at all the openmgs 
 
— 4 — 
 
 that were made show the dip to be heavy at the surface and gradually flattening as they get under 
 cover. All the exposures I could find show there arc no serious eruptions east of the mountains of the 
 west coast and certainly none on the property ' explored. I examined as thoroughly as possible the 
 entire property contained in the red lines of the blue print furnished me. 
 
 Leaving the mouth of the Honna River and going north we keep in the shale and sandstone 
 formations, until we reach the top of a mountain (height 1200 feet) four miles from the coast, here 
 there is an exposure of coa«-se pebbly conglomerate, the only conglomerate exposure I found east of the 
 west coast. From here we ascended geologically into the coirse sandstones of the anthracite formation 
 and found the first outcrop on Section 1 7, where ojienings were made. About 200 feet up the creek from 
 the tunnel at Camp Anthracite there is another outcrop, but I was unable to get the walls on account 
 of the surface wash and could not spare the men to develop it. From here we still go north, gradually 
 leaving the coarse sandstones, ar^d get into the sand .shales and finer sandstones of the other bituminous 
 formations. 
 
 The first outcrops found were on Sectic»n 20 (Camp Robertson). Here, besides the beds I devel- 
 oped, I discovered coal washings up the creek about 700 yards west of Shaft No. i. About 500 feet 
 down the creek from the tunnel I found a bed of 8 feet in thickness. This shows a number of sand- 
 stone partings I had no time to open it up. 
 
 I put a shot in one bench that measured 12 inches in the creek, and at the bottom of the hole 
 it had increased to 16 inches. All these coals; are of the oldest bituminous formation, and they are 
 rich in carbon and excellent gas, smithing iind coking coals. 
 
 About 8 miles further north on Section 36 (Camp Wilson), we get into the darker shales and 
 lighter fine sandstones of the later bituminous formation. 
 
 Here I developed two beds, as shown on the columnar sections. The coal is an excellent 
 free burning bituminous; has a lai^e percentage of carbon, and is a good .smithing and coking coal. I 
 also discovered another bed in the creek, about 200 feet above the large bed, showing 10 feet of clean 
 coal between the walls. Coming south east ffom Camp Wilson to a creek on the north west quarter 
 of Section 17, Township 6, I found an exposvire of green sandstone, through which were small scams 
 of coal. Following up this stream I met with sandstones and fire clay, similar to those at Camp 
 Wilson, indicating that the beds at Camp Wilson are near to the surface at this point. I also dis- 
 covered an outcropping of bitunriinous coal in the Yakoun river on Section 23, Township 9. The ex- 
 posures here resemble closely those at Camp Robertson, showing that the beds at Camp Robertson 
 are underneath those at Camp Wilson. 
 
 Lignites. — Off your propeity, and about a mile to the north-east, lignites make their appear 
 ance and these extend to the north and east coast 
 
 Mr. Robertson informs me that. when prospecting on the cast coast and, also rt Massctt, he 
 came upon several beds of lignite. This conilirms the statement of Professor Dawson, to which you 
 have called my attention, that "Tertiary rocks holding lignite form a large portion of the northern 
 portion of the Queen Charlotte Islands." 
 
 From the great thickness of the bituminous coal bearing sandstones in the interior of Graham 
 Island they must lay at such a depth on the north and east coasts as to be unworkable. 
 
 It is evident that the volcanic eruption of the mountain range of the west and south west coasts 
 has raised the measures bearing anthracite and bituminous coals, badly breaking them up in the 
 mountains and bringing them to the surface in the flanks of the foothills which skirt the west and 
 south portions of your property. As the strike is north and south and your property which extends north 
 and south for 11^ miles, is just north and east of the destructive eruptive forces, there is no doubt in 
 my mind but that the anthracite and bituminous beds will be found either at or not much below the 
 surface over the greater portion of your property ami also in almost undisturbed condition. 
 
— 5 — 
 
 A brief description of the interior of Graham Island, as viewed from the summit of Mt. Kthelene, 
 situated south of your property, on Section 7, Township 4, together with the map herewith, which 
 contains the result of the summer's explorations of every section which I was instructed to examine, 
 will give you a general idea of its topographical features. 
 
 This mountain attains an altitude of 2500 feet above tide and from the summit, the day being 
 clear vhen Mr. Robertson and I ascended It, we gained a better idea of the topograph/ of the sur- 
 rounding country than we could have obtained in any other way. Looking north we traced the val- 
 ley of the Yakoun river from its source to Masset Inlet We could also locate the divide of the 
 Yakoun and the Honna rivers at an elevation of 275 feet above tide. At this point the waters of the 
 creek on Section 20, Town.ship 5, divide and flow both north and south at high water. We could 
 also trace the valley of the Honna to its mouth and see that a railway could be easily built with a 
 light grade by following this valley to the salt water at Skidegate Inlet. The two plateaus, namely: 
 that at Camp Robertson and that at Camp Wilson, separated by a wide valley, were very distinct 
 
 The opinion I formed from subsequent examinations of these plateaus, was that they are not 
 upheavals, but that the intervening valley has been worn down by the action of water. 
 
 They evidently were at one time covered with water, as the gravel under the surface shows, 
 and later became islands ana retained their present shape and altitude during the period the changes 
 were taking place in the country surrounding them. 
 
 Looking to the north and north-east the entire country to the salt water was in our view showing 
 a gently undulating forest covered surface. South of Mount Etheline and to the Honna river arc 
 mountains from 2000 to 3500 feet in height, which skirt the shore of Skidegate Inlet and extend back 
 into the Island four or five miles. These mountains join a higher more massive and rugged range 
 which runs north along the west coast as far as the eye can reach. With its foot hills it seems almost 
 to fill up the whole of the west portion of th'j Island from the Pacific Ocean to within one mile of the 
 Yakoun River. 
 
 One of the principal objects of our visit to Mount Ethelene was to seek for a pass through the 
 mountains to the west coast. 
 
 Magnetic West a low pass was plainly visible and also the waters of kennel's Sound. About 
 one and one half miles to the west of us between Mount Etheline and Rennel's Sound is Yakoun 
 Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, about one mile in width and six miles in length. The slope from us 
 was gentle to a valley, and then a rise of probably 400 feet, succeeded by a gradual fall to the lake. 
 
 Along the west shore, where the railw.^y would have to run, the ground rises to a sloping range 
 of hills. The timber on the property consists of yellow and red cedar, spruce, hemlock and alder. 
 The alder and spruce are in the valleys, the cedar and hemlock on the side hills and higher elevations. 
 
 There is ample cedar and spruce for all buildings, coal bunkers, railway ties, and special mine 
 timber necessary for utilization of the property. The hemlock, which is most abundant, is of magnifi- 
 cent growth, and well suited for ordinary mine timbers. There is no doubt but that the trees are of 
 .second growth, the first growth having fallen and rotted away, covering the surface with a mass of 
 decayed vegetable matter to a depth of from two to four feet Hence the absence of numerous rock 
 exposures. All exposures visible arc of the coal bearing sandstones. 
 
 The soil underneath the decayed vegetable matter is good but is best in the valleys of the 
 different streams. 
 
 RAILWAY. 
 Having seen from Mt. Etheline a pass to Rennel's Sound, also a valley from the divide, before 
 mentioned, leading to tide water, at the mouth of the Honna, we (Mr. Robertson and myselQ decided 
 to explore the most practicable route for a Railway to this point 
 
Coming east from Camp Robertson, a distance of about 1700 feet, the- surface is level, tlun 
 descends to the level of the Honna and Yakoun divide, an elevation of 275 feet above tide. I'mhahly 
 a tunnel would be driven to the west from near this point, striking,' all the beds found at Cm^ 
 Robertson and thus working them from the water level. 
 
 If Skidegate Inlet be .selected for a shipping,' ppint, the coal could be taken by Railway, ahout 
 7 miles to docks built on the south side of Una island. This is a good harbor, well sheltered in all 
 weather, plenty water at low tide and good anchorage. I'roin Camp Wilson a road could he l)uilt 
 from the coal, down the creek, about }^ mile to the Yakoun river, then u]) the Yakoun valley, a dis- 
 tance of about ten miles to the junction at the divide. There is only a rise of 75 feet in the entire 
 
 distance. 
 
 From Camp Anthracite the road would follow down the creek to meet the Yakoun, thence 
 down the Yakoun to the divide, a distance of about 3 miles. Ihe entire length of railway would 
 be about 21 miles, to work all the camps on the property. A railway could be built very cheai)!)', 
 as there would be scarcely any rock work, and the road would be practically a surface road. 
 
 Line to the West Coast — The opinion Mr. Robertson and 1 have formed is that the best line 
 for a road is to Renncl's Sound on the West Coast, because of its superior shipping ad\ antagcs. 
 This would pass around the north end and along the west shore of Yakoun Lake, to the beginning of 
 the trail, as shewn on the phn, thence up the valley tind along the side hills to make grade to the sum 
 mit, an elevation of 600 feet above tide, then south west through Yakoun pass, down the big rock run 
 to Yakoun bay, at the head of Rennet's Sound. 
 
 The total length of this road to take the coal from all camps on the property would be about 
 20 miles, costing about $4,000 per mile, as it would be a surface ro-'d throughout. When at the 
 summit, we saw two passes, one to the west, the other to the .south-west. 
 
 Mr. Robertson explored the one to the west, p.nd I took the other. They both led to RenncI s 
 Sound, and entered the .sound only a short distance apart. I returned by the one Mr. Robertson 
 explored, and found it to be i 50 feet higher than the other (Yakoun Passj. 
 
 After assuring ourselves that Yakoun Bay was a good harbor, we put a trail through from tin- 
 summit, a distance of about two miles, and made an examination, the report of which follows : 
 
 jrt,tV 
 
 RENNEL'S SOUND. 
 
 Takoun /^.n-.— This bay, as you will see by the plan, is near the head of Rennel's Sound, 
 which is a fine inlet running in from the Pacific Ocean. It is about 7 miles wide at its mouth, and 
 at least 10 miles long. 
 
 Yakoun Bay is about two mile-5 long and one mile in width a natural harbor; one of the best 
 I have ever seen, plenty of water at all stages of the tide and completely land locked. The hills to 
 north, .south and east shelter it from winds offshore and Shields and Indian Islands with the mount 
 ains on the west pro^ect it from storms dra»\'ing in from the ocean. At the south-cast end is a knob, 
 a natural place for docks, sufficient water at low tide for v-ssels to come inshore. Docks can be 
 built at this point at a minimum cost large enough to do the trade of the coast At the north end 
 is a clear passage of about 8 miles or more to the ocean, with an entrance of about 7 miles wide between 
 the high points at the mouth of Rennel's Sound. Ves.sels coming to this harbor have a clear run in 
 from the ocean, and the moment they turn Shields Island are completely protected. They can load 
 and turn the south end of Indian Island passing to the west of Shields Island and out into the sound. 
 There is an abundance of fresh water at all seasons to supply all requirements. 
 
 The advantages I .see for this as a ship point are many, but the chief one is that vessels from 
 Pacific Coast points have a clear run up the ocean until they make the entrance and then a clear run 
 
 i'^r*3 
 
into port, thus saving pilotage and towing charges. I |»csc charges will alone more than comiwnsatc 
 owners of sailing vessels for the extra rim; in fact they ought to carr>' freight for less per ton from 
 Yakoun Bay, Rcnnel's Sound, to San Francisco, than from any other port in British Columbia or 
 Puget Sound. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 With the knowledge I have of the coil regions of Pennyslvania, acquired there as a Mining 
 Engineer, and on the geological staff of that State, it must gratify you to know that in my judgment 
 you have the best coal field I have seen. Until I visited it I had no conception such a valuable field 
 existed on the Pacific Coast. You possess a number of beds of unusual thickness, containing coals of 
 superior quality, suitable for all requirements. You have anthracite, first-class steam, gas and coking 
 coals, and a bed over l 5 feet thick, excellent for domestic purposes. Your property has been judic- 
 iously acquired. It follows the strike of the measures north and south for over 1 1 miles. I have 
 no doubt the beds will be found at or near the surface, from its south to north limits and I will add, 
 although I have before mentioned it in this report, practically undisturbed. 
 
 Yours, etc., 
 
 H. K. PARR ISM. C. K. and M. 
 
 K.