'iu 0, 0' \. % IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 -1^ |2.5 1.8 U 11.6 I V). V/, »a %• c": ^i > '> V ''^ '/ PhotogTdphic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WItSTIR.N.Y. USIO (716) t/a^sos >" €^^ % CIHM/tCMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/iCMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques :\ Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notes techniques at bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur [~n Covers damaged/ D D D D D Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculie □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque |~~| Coloured maps/ Cartes gAographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) r~n Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relii avoc d'autros documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrie peut causer de i'ombre ou de la diatorsion !• long d« la marg* intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ 11 se peut que certaines pages blanches aiout«ea iors d'une restauration apparaissant dans le taxte, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ttit film«es. Additional comments:/ Commentairas supplAmentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meillaur exemplaire qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. r~~| Coloured pages/ n n This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 10X 14X 1RX 22X Pages da couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endom magmas Th to r~n Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restauries et/ou pelliculies Pages discoloured, stained or foxe< Pages d^colorAes, tacheties ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages ditach^es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti in^gala de I'impression includes supplementary materii Comprend du material supplimentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ r~] Pages detached/ r~n Showthrough/ (~n Quality of print varies/ r~n Includes supplementary material/ r~| Only edition available/ Th po of filr Ori be< th( •io ot» fin sio or Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc.. have been rcfilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Lea pages totalement ou partiallement obscurcies par un feuillet d'crrata, une pelurc. etc.. ont M fllmies A nouveau de facon A obtanir la meilleure image possible. Th« sha Tl^ wh Ma diff ent bed righ reqi met 26X XX 7 12X 16X 20X MX 3SX tails du odifier une mage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Harold Campbell Vauflhan Memorial Library Acadia Univenity The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iceeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film* f ut reproduit grlce k la ginArosit* de: Harold Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library Acadia University Les images suivantea ont At* reprodultes avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettet* de Texemplaire film*, et en conformit* evec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Originel copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a'printed or illustrated impression. Les exempiaires orlglnaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim*e sont film*s en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminent solt per le derni*re page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exempiaires orlglnaux sont film*s en commen^ant par la premi*re page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustrstion et en terminent par la derni*re page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on eech microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meening "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol ▼ (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un dee symboles suKrents apparattra sur la derni*re imege de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols ^»> signifie "A SUIVAE", le symbols ▼ signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed et different reduction retios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hend corner, left to right end top to bottom, es many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, pisnches, tableaux, etc., peuvent itre film*s * des taux de r*duction diff*rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour *tre reproduit en un seul clich*, 11 est film* * pertir de Tangle sup*rieur gauche, de geuche * droits, et de heut en bes, en prenent le nombre d'imeges n*cessaire. Les diagrammee suivants iilustrent le m*thode. rata elure. J t2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 * "•~T^ r ^^ >i?:r' * PROSPECTUS !?^ or THa IX)UGLAS SLATE QUARRY, &c. or Tiu PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. ;;hl (^JfeLL. ^m sii>^..*i. l.-.,# » '¥; " i \ w ll' f PROSPECTUS OF TDE DOUGLAS SLATE QUARRY, &c., OF THE PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA, Consisting — First: of land, situate, lying and being in the- Township of Douglas, in the County of Hants, and Province of Nova Scotia, known as the "McDonald property," consisting in fee simple of eighty-three acres of land, be the same more or less ; also, cottage, barn, stable, steam engine, engine house and factory, slate cutter, pump, sawing machine, cut- ting tables, knives, and other implements used at the slate quarry for preparing and quarrying slate. Also, the right of mining over the lands known as the " Kilcup property," consisting of one hundred and thirty-five acres more or less, and such portions of the said land as may be necessary for quarr3'ing and mining same, together with' two dwelling houses and black-smith's shop. Also, the right of mining over the land known as the " Scott property," in so far as slate, slabs, and all slate mate* rial are concerned, extending over upwards of eight hundred' acres, with water power, two mills, dwelling house, out-build'- ings, and such other property as may be agreed on. The last mentioned property may be had partly in fee simple, partly the right of mining — the coal and iron ore reserved, and right of surface damages. The property is considered valuable, and if properly worked would be remunerative. The present Manager at the Quarry has had many years' experience in slate quarries in Wales, and is open to an engagement. ' The present proprietor is willing to sell the property to suit a purchaser, or to have a company formed to work same, and in the latter event would take shares. The reports of Professor Lawson and Messrs. Malcom & Johnston, are annexed. — For further particulars apply to Messrs, McCully & Blanchard, Solicitors, Prince Street, Halifax, N. S., or to James Steinson, Halifax Hotel. 'i ■ |r REPORT OF PROFESSOR LAWSON. Halifax, 18th May, 1868. Having been requested to inspect the Douglas Slate Quarry and adjoining lands, with a view to forming an opinion as to tho'value of the minerals contained and the practicability of working them to advantage, I now beg to submit the follow- ing Report. I visited the locality in Douglas Gore on the 1st of May, and spent two da^'s in examining the property. Being accom- panied by Mr. Steinson, the accredited agent of the proprietor, he pointed out the boundaries and furnished other necessary information, whilst Mr. Thomas, the manager, explained the results obtained in the Avorkings hitherto, and answered en- quiries on various other points. The distance of the slate lands from the Elmsdale railway station is estimated at 14 miles ; the road is for the most part level, and good for a country road, but might be much im- proved by a slight expenditure judiciously applied. The Slate Quarry properties consist of 83 acres of land, held in fee simple, which is in form of a narrow strip, running in a westerly direction, nearly parallel with the slate beds, from the old Nine Mile River road and back over the Rawdon River, where it is densely covered with timber. There is likewise an area of 135 acres (Kilcup's farm) over which a right of mining is held. The slate bands are large and extensive, running in an easterly and westerly direction, and there is a deep valley cut through them at right angles, north and south. There being little soil on the surface, the slates arc exposed all along the opposite faces of the two hills which form this valley, — one of the hills rises to a height of about 250 feet above the level ot the brook, and the other hill is somewhat liigher. The slate beds extend over both hills, showing continuously from the 6 bottom of the valley to the tops of the hills. It is obvious, therefore, that the slates are not only extensive in horizontal range, but likewise extend to a very great depth, at least on the northern portion of the property, — the rising up of whin on the southern portion of the Kilcup lands cuts off the slates to the southward. On one part of the Kilcup property is situate the Slate Quarry which has been opened and worked for several years ; this quarry is in the face of the hill looking towards the west. A considerable quantity of roofing slate has been taken out, and likewise slabs of eight to ten or fifteen feet in diameter. Some of the surface slates were of an inferior character, and one portion of the band is quite wavy and shaky. Some slates taken out here were likewise found to be liable to crack from not having been cut, as Mr. Thomas informed me, in the proper line of grain. But the slate improves very much in going downwards, and the roofing slate that has lately been taken out is of a very superior character. The slates are hard, compact, uniform in thickness, of good colour, and ex- cellent quality. Several roofs recently furnished from the quarry present a neat, clean, uniform appearance, and show no indication of suftering from our severe climate. The best roofing slates have been found in the bottom of the quarry, and it is evident that in descending the slates become harder, less shaky, and of more uniform colour. The colour of the hard slates is an unobtrusive dark blue, very suitable for roofing. In connection with the Slate Quarry there is a Slate Yard and Factory, with most of the necessary apparatus required for carrying on the business of quarrying. The quarry ia kept dry by a pump driven by a ten horse steam engine, which likewise supplies power to the other machinery. The erections are situat'" close to the quarrj, and in the north eastern corner of the property held in fee simple, on the face of the opposite hill to the westward, there is a manager's dwelling house, barns, and extensive stabling for horses. The steam engine and pumping gear were at work during the time of my visit, but no quarrying had been done since the preceding season. In resuming operations it will bo ad- visaijle to consider seriously whether a change in the method of working is not required. It is indeed possible to continue 4< ,c m the quarrying on the face of the present opening ; but, if any great amount of work is to be done, it will be necessary, from the shaky and imperfect character of the upper portion of slate, to incur a great expense in removing from day to day a very large quantity of useless material. Farther, on account of the faulty character of the bed, the working surface ob- tainable at this spot is insufficient for economical working on a large scale. Mr. Thomas, from his experience and intimate acquaintance with slate working, is very sensible of this diffi- culty. It is therefore proposed, instead of continuing the present opening, to make a larger facing to the northward, at the place marked in the plan "New Quarry." At that place the slate is of a more uniform character, free from waves or shakes, and some which I had taken out show that even the surface slate was perfectly hard and of good colour, suitable for roofing. In taking out roofing slates large slabs are likewise ob- tained, and it is therefore very desirable to find a market for them. Several very fine slabs have been got out, and some of them have been polished and show to much advantage. But the hardness of the slates on the Kilcup property, which is a quality so advantageous in roofing slate, is a serious objec- tion where cutting, planing, and polishing are required. It remains, in fact, to be ascertained whether the prices realized will justifj^ the labor required to bring these large hard slabs into saleable condition. In view of these facts it appears to be very desirable to secure a band of soft slates, without which the manufacture of cut and polished articles is not likely to prove remunerative. Soft slate of this character has been observed in the " Scott property" adjoining, and portions of the slate which I ex- amined on exposures by the roadsides and on the banks of the river, appeared to be well adapted for manufacture. The Scott property embraces a tract of land upwards of 800 acres in extent. The available slate bed is from 300 to 400 yards wide, (so far as can be ascertained,) and probably a mile and a half in length. A portion of it consists of a very fine quality of roofing slate, but the slates are for the most part of the soft kind to which reference has been made, and might be cut, planed, and polished for tables, mantle pieces, cisterns and ornamental work of various kinds. The water power and saw mills on the river which flows through the slate band, cutting it nearly at right angles, oft'er great facilities for a factory of this kind — both the saw mill and shingle mill, which belong to the property, being capable of conver- sion into planing and polishing factories, whilst the farm buildings and dwelling houses would afford other accommoda- tion required. From information obtained from business men in the city, I have reason to believe that there would arise in Halifax alone an extensive demand for mantle pieces and fire grate fittings ; and also for school slates, which are at present imported from Germany. Some examples of school slates have been made by roughly polishing a few pieces picked from the surface. If carefully selected and properly prepared, there seems no good reason why Douglas slates should not take the place of imported slates in the schools throughout the Dominion. The market in the United States for manufactured slate of all kinds, both useful and orna- mental, is very extensive. In conclusion, I would beg leave to express very strongly my opinion that the slate properties above described are of a valuable character, and that if judiciously worked by a com- pany possessed of moderate capital, the concern will prove a thoroughly safe and permanent investment. The slate exists in such quantities that the supplies are not likely to be ex- hausted for several generations, even if extensively worked. In order, however, that the property may be remunerative, and its value permanently maintained, it will be necessary to avoid waste of labor, waste of material, and unnecessary accumulations of rubbish, by establishing at the outset a thoroughly systematic method of working, by opening up a working face of sufficient extent to meet the probable de- mands. The facilities for drainage are such that under pro- per management there need not be much expense incurred for the next ten or twelve years, and before then, if the business has increased, probably new quarries will have been opened on other parts of the property. GEORGE LAWSON, Ph. D., LL. D., Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Dalhousie College and University, Halifax, N. S. POSTSCRIPT. Halifax, 18th May, 1868. At a distance of between 200 and 300 yards southwards from the opening on the slate bands on the Kilcup property, there appear one or two narrow bands of "whin rock," (quartzite,) through which run veins of white quartz. Judging from the general appearance of the quartz, the appearance in it of mispickel, and the reports respecting it by persons who have searched for gold and found a few " sights" in it, I believe that it is auriferous. A gold license has accordingly been secured on 30 areas of 250 x 150 feet each over the quartz leads. At a distance of a mile or more in the other direction, viz., to the northward, there occur compact beds of iron ore, which are visible in a brook where the soil has been washed away. From its partly carbonaceous character and other cir- cumstances, the iron-stone appears to belong to the carbo- niferous or coal series of rocks. The iron-stone is overlaid by a black, odorous, bituminous gravel, or slightly coherent con- glomerate. Farther on to the north east, appear out-cropping strata at several points, consisting of shaley sandstones, sach as occur in the coal measures with sigillaria and other coal fossil plants, and from beneath these shales, cnlm as well as large pieces of bituminous coal have been dug out. By scraping out the loose material at the outcrop I obtained a few fragments ot coal. All these facts indicate the probable existence of coal beds at no great depth. The dip, both of the iron bands and of the fossiliferous shales and sandstones, is to the north east, and although the point of contact of the two has not been laid bare, I have no doubt but that the iron band will be found to be inferior in position to the shales and sandstones, and the coal beds may be found between. A license to search for coal has been secured over five square miles of the most likely portion of the district. GEORGE LAWSOK, Ph. D., LL. D., Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy. m 10 REPORT OF MALCOM & JOHNSTON. Halifax, N. S., 20th May, 1868. Having been asked oui' opinion of the slates from the Douglas Slate Quarry, we have much pleasure in being able to say that we roofed some buildings with them four years ago, and they have stood without leak or break during that time. The slates we used were from the top of the bed, and were not of that uniform color and thickness that could be desired. AYe have, however, had slates from a greater depth in the same quarry, and can recommend them to builders and others as being fully as durable and suitable for general use as any. The color is more uniform, being a dark blue. MALCOM & JOHNSTON, Government Contractors. It Jk ^ I 1% ^ <» •iw'