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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes solvents illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 COAL MINING IN NOVA SCOTIA, BY E. GILPIN, M.Can.Soc.C.E. BY THE PERMISSION OP THE COUNCIL, EXCERPT MINUTES OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. Vol. II. Part. II. Session 1888. p0ttttf al : PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL & SON. The Society will not hold itself responsible for any statements or opinions which may be advanced in the following pages. ^ Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. j| Thursda}', 22nd November. E. P. HANNAFURD, Vice-President, in the Chair. Paper No. 23. COAL MINING IN NOVA SCOTIA. By E. GiLPiv, Jr., A.M., F.G.S., F.R.S C, etc. Deputy Commissioner and Inspector of Mines. The earliest discoverers do not mention coal in their accounts of Cape Breton, althou^^h its outcrops in the sea cliffs are visible f)r miles. Tne first printed account is found in Denny's work, published in 1672. In 1711 considerable amounts of coal were takun away by tlie French and English, being broken out by crowbars, and loaded into boats. Tlio building of the great fortress (»f Louisberg in 1720 led to the first regular coal mining in the Island of Cape Breton. The great numbers of arti- ficers, soldiers, etc., engaged in its construction were supplied with fuel from the ten feet seam on the north side of Cow Bay, now known as the Block House seam. These old workings were carried on above water level, and can st'il be entered. During the English occupation of Cape Breton from 1745 to 1749, the beds of coal at Burnt He id and Little Bras D'Or ware dra,wn upon for fuel, and block houses were built to protect the workmen against the Indians and Pintes. In 1752 the pit at Burnt Head took fire, and the fort and other buildings were burned. Tae tracjs of the fire are still visible for nearly a mile along the outcrop of the seam. From this date until 1784, when Cape Breton was erected into a pro- vince, little was done in the way of coal mining. No satisfactory leases were issued, and the records show little beyond the supplies of fujl du^ by the soldiers for the garrison ,<,t Hilifax, and the steps taken to pre- vent theft of the coal by Americans, etc. In 1820, when the island became part of the Province of Nova Scotia, more decided steps were taken, and considerable amounts of coal were mined from the Sydney main seam. Finally, in 1827, all the mines of the Province passed into the hands of the General Mining Association of London. It may be remarked here that in the Pictou and Cumber- land districts the coal seams attracted less attention, as they were not so accessible as in Cape Breton ; but previous to 1827 numerous attempts were made to open mines in Pictou County. The causes of the ill success of all these ventures hitherto made were the excessive royalties 4 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. charged, the shortiieas of the leases, two to five years, and the want of a regular market. From 1785 to 1827 the annual coiil sales in Cfipe Breton varied between 2,000 and 11,000 tons. The selling price per ton being about $2.50. 'J he roynlties charged were from 60 to 90 cents per ton. The trnnsfer of tiie crown minend franchises of the Piovince was a curious one, and mnrks almost the last of the excessive prerogatives exercised by the English crown in colonial matters. The Duke of York having become greatly embarrassed financially, his brother King George the Foui'tli, b} an act of the Eoy.d prerogative, granted him for 60 years all the mines and minerals of the Province, subject to certain rents and royulties, for the purposes of the provincial civil list. This princely gift, recalling the generosity of eastern potentates, was transferred by the Duke of York to the gnat firm of London jewellers, Messrs. Eun- dell & Bridge, who had organized the General Mining Association of London, for the purpose of acquiring and working mines in various parts of the world. This company expected at first that the copper ores of Nova Scotia would prove a source of revenue to them, but after a careful minera. survey they decided to turn their attention to the coal deposits. They vigorously opened mines at Sydney, Bridgeport and Lingan in Cape Breton, in Pictou County at a point now known as Stellarton and at the Joggins in Cumberland County, and worked them with varying success up to the year 1858, which saw the opening of a now pa^e in this history. The monopoly was at first viewed with great approval in the Province, and the immense expenditures necessarily involved in starting these mines, and their equipment of foundries, machine shops, tramways, etc , were favorably received by a scattered pofiulation, entirely engaged in farming, fishing, and lumbering. Jn a few years, however, as population and enterprise increased, the restrictions of so great a monopoly began to cause irritation, which fuund expression in many an angry speech in the Provincial Legislature. Finally in 1858 the General Mining Asso- ciation agreed with the Province that they would retain for a term of 18 years certain large tracts of coal lands, with powers of extension under lease, and surrender for ever all other coal seams and other minerals. The consideration for this was the reduction of the royalty on large coal to 4y\ d, and the abolition of the fixed rent of £3,000 per annum. The General Mining Association under this agreement retained possession of 46 square miles of coal lands. These areas were Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. 5 selected by Mr. R. Brown, then thciir general m.-innger, with excclhsnt judgment. Ilia work on the coal ticlds of Capo Breton gives the Coal mining history in full detail. By the judicious and well timed compromises made by the four parties interested, — tlie crown, the representatives of the Duke of York, the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Association, a happy scttlfment of this great monopoly was arrived at. The incubus of a single corporation, owning by an unassailable title the varied minerals of a Province, in great measure settled by those who left the rebel colonies to live under the English flag, was happily removed in time to prevent the development of feelings inimical to the powers that thought- lessly piirverted the guerdon of nature to those who had, by the greatest possible test, demonstrated their loyalty. The energy and wealth of this Company was of great benefit to the Province, and its conduct and that of its chief officers has ever been honorable, and calculated to set an example of honesty and reliability. The Association has now disposed of all the roal lands owned by it in Nova Scotia proper, an I retains its selections in Cape Breton, operating chiefly in the historical Sydney main seam, which has been drawn npon by the miner for over one hundred years. The natural result of the unlocking of so vast an amount of possibi- lities of mineral wealth beyond tlie dreams of avaritic followed this settlement. The development of the gold, gypsum and other minerals immediately followed the period during which the simple farmer doubted if clay were a mineral or not. The Government upon the completion of the agreement threw open the coal districts, and leases were readil/ obtained. A large number of collieries were opened and much speculation indulged in. The 24 per cent, ad valorem duty on coal going into the United Slates having been removed in 1853, it was anticipated that an unbounded m:irket was assured. The total sales in 1858 were 22(i,725 tons, of which 186,743 were sent to the States. From this date up to 1867, when a duty of $1.25 was imposed, the exports to the United States had increased to 404,252 tons out of a total sale of 471,185 tons. In 1872 the duty was lowered to 75 cts., when the United States took 154,092 tons out of 785,914 tons sold. Last year the State took 73,892 tons (of which about 50,000 tons were smalls) out of a, total of 1,519,684 tons sold. These figures show the steady growth of the home markets, and the fact that there is at present little room for Nova Scotia coal in the New England markets. The mutual removal Jl. 6 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. of the duties on soft coal would, in tlic opinion of many of the provin- cial coal mine managers, result in the almost total loss of the Upper St. Lawrence trade, without any prospect of replacing it by a trade with the I]astern seaboard of the United States, which would have to start with a biisis of at least 750,000 tons.* Tlie following Tables show the coal sales to the United States for number of years, and the annual sales to all quarters by decades : — * Tlie ton of coal in this paper is 2,240 Ihs. COAL. NOVA SCOTIA EXPORTED TO THE UNITED STATES. Years. Tons. Duty. Years. Tons. Duty. 1850 118,173 24'i.d. 1869 257,485 ei 25 1851 116,274 i« 1870 168,180 (( 1852 87,542 t( 1871 165,431 (( 1858 120,764 ( 1872 154,092 75 1854 139,125 Free 1873 264,760 1855 103.222 (( 1874 138,335 1856 126,152 K 1875 89,746 1857 123,335 (( 1876 71,634 1858 186,743 (1 1877 118,216 1859 122,720 l( 1878 88,495 1860 149,289 « 1879 51,641 1861 204,457 (( 1880 123,423 1.^62 192,612 (1 1881 113,728 1863 282,775 <( 1882 99,302 1864 347,594 <' 1883 102,755 1865 465,194 it 1884 64,515 1866 404,252 « 1885 34,483 1867 33K,492 ei 25 1886 66,003 1868 228,132 i( 1887 73,892 Nova Scotia coal sales from 1785 to 1887. Year. Sales. 1785 to 1790 14,349 1791 to 1800 51.048 1801 to 1810 70',452 1811 to 1820 91,527 1821 to 1830 140,820 1831 to 1840 839,981 Year. Sales. 1841 to 1850 1,533,798 1851 to 1860 2,399,829 1861 to 1870 4,927,339 1871 to 1880 7,377,428 1881 to 1887 8,992,226 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. 7 The following figures will show the markets in which Nova Scotia coal is being sold at present: — COAL.— Sales.— 1887. Markets. Year 1887. Nova Scotia : Land Sales 266,005 Sea borne 203,459 N. S.— Total 469,464 N. Brunswick 186,511 Newfoundland 82,053 P. E. Island 50,815 Quebec 650,858 West Indies 6,140 United States 73,892 Other countries 151 Total 1,519,684 The limits of this paper would be too extended were the geological and chemical particulars of the Nova Scotia coal beds to be given here, and the author trusts that at some future time the Society may see fit to allow a description of them to find a place in the Transactions. The coal of Nova Scotia is bituminous and frequently coking, the differences in quality between the various districts being referable per- haps to local conditions of pressure, "tc. Stratigraphically the Cape Breton seams hitherto worked are flat lying, those of Pictou and Cum- berland are pitching, the average of the former being, say, 1 in 10, of the latter 1 in 3. The thickness of the seams worked in Cape Breton varies between 4 ft, 9. in. and 9 feet, of the Pictou seams 4 to 15 feet, and of the Cumberland seams 3 ft. 6 in. to 11 feet. The conditions of floor and roof vary in each mine but do not present any striking pecu- liarities. In the ♦bicker seams when the roof is bad, it is sometimes practicable to leave on a few inches of coal to assist in supporting it. Id some cases this coal is recovered when the pillars are drawn. The earliest operations in the pitching seams of the Pictou district were conducted by sinking pits to gain successive lifts. The Pictou main seam, having a thickness of 38 feet, has so far been mined on 8 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. two systems, of which the following account, taken from a paper read by the author a number of years ago before the North of England Mining Instituti' will serve as a description. The first system has now been abandoned, but it is interesting, as by it the coal was taken to the full height. Levels were turned right and left from the pit, and when the shaft pil- lar was won, incline or gate roads were driven uphill, one half on the angle of the seam, every 50 yards. Six " bords" or working places, 18 feet wide, were turned away as the gate road went up, parallel to the levels, and at distances far enough apart to secure pillars 8 to 10 yards thick. Eighteen inches of coal were left on as a roof. These " bords" were driven 12 to 15 feet high, and continued until intersected by the next " gate" road. Bails were laid up the gate roads, and into the bords, and over them the tubs, holding 12 bushels, were drawn by horses, into the working faces, filled, and taken down to the level. The force of the loaded tub descending the inclined gate road was lessened by fasten- ing to the rear of the tub a loose chain passing round a stout post, fixed at the head of the gate road, and dragging on the ground. When it was determined to work the lower division of the seam, the same gate roads were driven level until the bottom of the coal bed was reached, and then continued as before. The second lift of 15 to 20 feet in height was taken out in bunches of regular open cast work in the former bords already worked in the top of the seam. Beams of 6 inch timber placed horizontally at the level of the pavement of the former bords secured the sides of the pillars, and if the roof proved bad, props were set on them. This plan of working was attended with much dan- ger to the miner. His eye could not reach the roof of these murky cham- bers, and his candle's gleam was reflected only by the white fungus which covered the timber. The shape of the pillars at right angles to the dip, narrow, and having long jibs, was n t calculated for strength. The dip of the seam rendered the course of the bords imperative, and the ribs were weakened by the cleat of the coal running obliquely across them. These pillars were never robbed, and have now nearly all crushed. As considerable amounts of gas were given ofi^, ventilation was attended with difficulty, and serious fires happened, some of which were put out only by filling the workings with water. The accompanying sketch plan No. 1 will show how these workings were laid out. 10 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. The plan now most in favor is to drive a " balance " 10 feet wide and 10 feet hiI — :3 ■'% ; 3 ^3333 |3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 C'l CO .CO auiaiK Jad 8a>ioj,s Ci'^'S^gSg^JS^SSgScS •ajlojjgjoq}3uaT qaui niHip 'qanruiBip japuji^O wwaig ooot^oo»ot>"Osoooooo;oco©© o O 5*1 00 "»■ M C^ Tt> « «0 — (M -H -H ^ UO V (O o •dmn J JO aiX)g puv auiv^ bo a 5o.2*->oo-9ofc-2omo3 § b« *^ a * . II 22 5z; w Q O H O o P^ I— I o s Q «5 00 00 CoaZ Mining in Nova Scotia. •9881 iVoK (BOO JO 8U0X o o as 5 « 2 a 4a o t . s mil (poiiiuitistH) -9881 jxaX 'pasivi je)i3M JO Buox g ^ elf 5-2 J2 c 5 .5 a Xiajmu -jxoadihi X«p .iBil oilavicosip uo 1^3 o3bj9av Q,tM O i i X •B9(ll,I iaiBAV n'»Su9'i a C4 B CO •adid o S sqi •111 'bs J8d a§ pBail ^O 9Jll8B9JcI 5*^ •aajunosjfi JO ;qai9H iBOijasA S? s o S5 •duind IB m oi jsnoq UI0.IJ diund jo aouB^eiQ ?? S S 5 s IN U9 8 U5 •j9uofr %v 9insB9jd ura9)S £ s 3 •93nujiu "1 sajjojiB a9qiunfi s s s •jgpuiiJCo •j9pun^D 1UB95S J9?9Ureja 3 CU3 »,. 9llOJ?SJoq}»u9T to M M CO f-< f-i 3 3 3 2 •^tog "PI It '89DU«I[ddV 0} s > ■ C 3 © O o •'^OX PT W -tog ■pejogiiuoo "2 Sad, fi§£ c « <«a . Cud 7 Q, go. « a So 53 o B d o u o 09 O ■^ O i « ■«! to ^ O V ^avuioi03Haxxi ^^ •9niA^B9^ •ANYdMOO IVOO •uiBeis "»; 9 •p9}oennoo •niB9S ti«9at)re •Aaamoo aiv^ Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. 23 < w w :^ o o o H O CO w Ph t-H Ph O a! V « V •so ^ -M C4 8 si => "d o„,a 2_ • ^ M fit iM ,S W IB S oti, u u s» o o B C * •? ^ Q S o o o 00 o o 00 Si o CO ^ .1 o s S; o a ts s s ^ S g M S 8 4j « .S a fl H S a B e C5 s s fl • g B . E-l := B O Sh- B <;fiLi n<0H ■s ■pa?09uuoo (»CQ PQ B (» o • o •p8^09UU00 -duinj uoi9iu«3 1- •SHNIM 11IH OMIHdS AHamoo xoiaiv 24 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. From these Tables it appears that in the year 1885, 1,352,205 tons of coal were raised, and that during the same period 3,646,889 tons of water were pumped — or nearly three to one. This estimate of the relative amounts of coal and water extracted has seldom been made over so large a district, and is interesting for reference beside the enormous tonnage of water to ore in many metal mines. It should however be remembered in considering these results that much of the water is from old workings, and forms a permanent duty. At the Sydney mines the present workings make little water, and the pumps have to handle the seepage of the acreage resulting from a century of mining and pillar working. At the Albion Colliery the pump duty represents in a similar manner the water of the underlying seam, as well as of the old workings in the thick coal which broke the roof for many feet. Here the main shafi of the workings furthest from the dip has been selected for pumping. The work is performed by substitu* ting for the two cages, two tanks each 8 ft. 6 ins. by 3 ft. 3 ins. by 5 ft., which automatically open on entering the water, and by engaging with a lever at the top of the shaft discharge without iiny attention. The tanks are raised and lowered by the winding engine at an average rate of 600 trips per day of 20 hours, which is equivalent to about 520,000 gals. The pump at the Acadia Colliery is one of the best in use in our coal mines. The lift is one of tlie heaviest single lifts in America, and the following note will be of interest. The mine is opened by a slope 2400 feet long, vertical depth 1000 feet. The pump is a Knowles of the duplex compound condensing type, with high and low pressure steam cylinders, 12 and 22 inches in diameter, 24 inch stroke with four 5^ inch plungers working against a head of 435 lbs. per square inch. The column is six inches in diameter, of wrought iron, the air chamber is 30 by 15 inches, the steam pipe, 2600 feet long and four inches in diameter, takes tiie steam from Babcock boilers on the surface, at a pressure of 105 pounds. The pipe is protected with an infusorial earth jacket, the material being taken from a local deposit. After four years' service this pump has given no trouble, and no joints have leaked. There is no suction on the pump, the lower valves being below the level of the water. The pump usually makes 10 double strokes a minute, but could run 25 strokes, equal to 100 feet piston speed a minute. A small hydraulic ram will raise the water from the lower level to the pump. Goal Mining in Nova Scotia. 25 05 I l-H o H O O ca <1 l> O ■I M P l-H o CO p o M H Oh o o o -3 o 2 o M M.S 'O .£■« ■3 55 2^ M i-i S* •3 J- a o • CM o o-o o CO - - S. o £ o o t) a! *S^ roTJ * iJ — -T3 gi; _- l«sffc|S| b O C5 Q (5 -^--^ 4) .2 o _ ooO ■» 'n .— ^3 -^ -s "OS "a £ o a C5 H JO qjauarj •saqDui 'adoj JO -uiviQ o ic in o lO 00 in to rf lO o c >0 lO '^ r- 1- o o o o o ^ "^f ^ *fl ^ O t- o to o >o rtl O T* O o o o © o p © ® o © o o 00_ fl_ I-" rf 00 00_ oooo ©©©oi© © inioio©^ ©©Oin COO©iO© © ©^MOiO co_oo 00 m to ■^ x^o5_-^ i-i_ N M e ^1 o> M 05 O O M l-H t- N -- 05 00 03 M i» «0 TT in TT oj ift m — (M IM ranjdjowia io-oii 00 00 52 05 •* O ^ rH l-H OC 01 03 OV 04 OOT* a ^ M O a'«J ^ O o o o iH 04 •3 o 26 Coal Mining in Kova Scotia. Expansion in the steam pipes is guarded against by U pieces. The pump stands in a house lined with brick, and having a cement floor. The appended Table shows the winding engines at the principal collieries, above and below ground. They are generally direct acting for shaft work and geared tliree to one tor drawing through slopes. As fuel forms a small item in tlie expenses of raising coal, low pressures and simple engines are in use. The economy is more apparent than real, and compound engines with the lessened wear and tear of boilers would prove more satisfactory. The speed in the shafts is low owing to their comparative shallowness. In the slopes tlie speed is practically limited by the rate at which the empty tubs can run safely down the incline. At many of the deeper slopes, the men are raised in long tubs, hold- ing from one to two dozen, with extra couplings, and a trip bar, or " durkey " at the end of the last tub. At the Intercoloninl colliery, the coals are drawn up the slopes, dip- ping at an angle of 15°, 1,800 feet long, the gross weight being 11,400 lbs. in the space of 1 minute and 50 seconds, and the empty tubs are lowered by brake in one minute. The tubs lioid from one half to one and a quarter tons of coal. The wheels are made with fast or loose axles, and vary in diameter from 10 to 12 inches. The gauge of the tracks is from 2 ft. to 2 ft. 8-in. The following table will show the tubs used at the principal mines: A TABLE OP THE DIMENSIONS OK PIT TUBS IN USB AT THK PRINCIPAL COLLIERIES. Name. HO si Height above track. •a 5 bo c in. 48 60 44 50 94 60 80 49 44 37 54 54 ja M "S w in. 23 24 28 28 24 24 24 29 30 27 26 25 at O Jocrcrins in. 30 28 26 32^ 24 30 24 32 26 24 29 29 in. 12 11 12 14 11 10 12 14 11 11 10 12 in. 20 22 18 20 22 16 18 18 20 16 in. 37 31 42 42J 38 36 38 45 43 4C 45 42 in. 37 42 33 26 33 33 34 3C 32 34 33 33 C.ft. 23 6 ^Acadia 35. Albion Mines 23.5 Intercolonial 21. Caledonia 35.5 Glace Biiv 27.5 Gowrie 19.6 International 24.6 Reserve 24.4 Svdnev 19.6 Vale 8 Kt seam 26.8 " 6 ft. seam 25 7 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. 27 Boilers. — In Cape Breton the boilers used for supplying steam to the pumps and winding engines are generally plain egg ended and cylindrical. Their dimensions vary in length from 20 to 37 feet, in diameter from 3 to 5^ feet. The working pressure varies from 30 to 50 lbs. In Pictou and Cumberland there is a greater variety seen. At the Acadia Colliery four Babcock boilers, running at a pressure of 105 pounds, supply the fan and underground engine and pump. At the Vale Colliery, Lancashire and tubular boilers are used. At the West Slope, Springhill Collieries, two Galloway boilers, 7 by 30 feet, form part of the battery. At several mines the plain ogg ended boilers are used with pressures varying from 30 to 55 lbs. The consumption of coal, part round and part slack, used for stationary and locomotive engines, during the year 1887, was about 139,777 tons. Transportation. — The various collieries are provided with railways varying in length from one half to thirty-seven miles for shipment of coal. The longest line in operation is that of the Cumberland Railway and Coal Company, who carry coal four miles to the Intercolonial Rail- way and thirty-three to Parr.'iboro on the Bay of Fundy. The hitter line is operated at present principally for general passenger and freight business, but it is expected that when tlieir shipping facilities are com- pleted, much of their coal will find an outlet to St. John, New Brunswick, and the United States, via Parrsboro, The same company are now building toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence to obtain an outlet at Pugwash, so that they can secure water transportation to Quebec and Montreal during the summer months. A branch line ten miles long from Macan, on the Intercolonial Eailway to the Joggins shore, runs along part of the outcrop of the northern edge of the Cumberland coal field. It has been opened this year, and promises to develop several valuable coal seams. The Pictou Collieries are connected with shipping piers in Pictou Harbor, and with the Intercolonial Railway by short branches which they operate with their own engmes and cars, using the Government rolling stock when shipping over the Intercolonial road. In Cape Breton the Sydney mines ship at North Sydney while the Victoria, International, Reserve and Bridgeport Collieries ship at piers on the south side of the Harbor. At Glace Bay, a brook, emptying into the Atlantic, has been dredged into a spacious dock, capable of holding half a dozen large steamers and twice as many square rigged vessels. This dock was originally made through the enterprise of the Glace Bay I I 28 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. Coal Company, but the Caledonia Coal Company liave recently utilized it for shipping coal. At Cow Bay the Gowrie mine coal is shipped at a pier protected by the Government breakwater. The railway now being built through the Island of Cape Breton will, it is expected, be extended, so as to connect all the principal mines with Sydney Harbor, and ultimately to reach Louisburg Harbor, so that during the summer, the busiest season, two outlets will be available, while the lessened winter trade can be accommodated at Louisburg. At present the cost of main- taining roads from one to eleven miles in length, with the rolling stock equal to a shipment of 2,000 tons a day, for summer shipments, only forms a heavy charge. The various colliery roads and their equipments call for no special notice. The locomotives are of English and American types, the cars carry from four to six tons, and empty below. At the Sydney Mines eflfective service is rendered by a locomotive built in the Company's shops, the frame, axles and tyres only being imported. The locomotives vary in power and weight up to a Baldwin 50 ton freight engine. The roads are largely laid with steel rails, and are kept in very fair order. Ti»e only road calling for any special notice is that of the Sydoey and Louisburg Coal C'^mpany. This road runs from Sydney to the Reserve mine, a distance of 8 miles, and 10 mi'esi further to the colliery at Schooner Pond, formerly operated by the conopany, and extends to Louisburg Harbor, making in all 32 miles. At present the line is working only from Sydney to the Reserve Colliery, the rest having been closed during the late depression in the coal trade. It is expected, should the trade continue to improve as it has for the past few years, that operations will be resumed on the Schooner Pond branch, and the shipping piers at Louisburg be again utilized. The road is well built and ballasted. Its gauge is 3 feet, with max- imum grades of 1 in 100 against, and 1 in 75 with, the traffic. The nature of the country has permitted a nearly straight line witli a min- imum of curvature. In addition to two ordinary tank locomotives, it is equipped with three Fairlie double truck locomotives, 25 tons loaded weight, with 11 inch cylinders, 19 inch stroke, and 3 feet 3 inch wheels, about forty trucks, holding 4 tons each, make a train. These locomotives have done very good work, but it is a question if this pattern of engine on a narrow gauge road, will prove as effective in winter as one of American pattern on tiie standard gauge, as they are not so handy in snow, and have very little clearance. Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. 29 The wharves for coal shipments are all of wood, usually constructed with blocks and lines of piling. The cheapest form is that of a long pier with shoots on each side. In some cases a fall is given to a central track for the loaded cars to run towards the end of the pier, and a reverse grade for them to pass back to the shoots and return empty. In other wharves the loaded and empty cars are moved by horses. Where a level pier top is adopted, a system of ropes with hydraulic capstans would be found quicker and cheaper than horse-power. The pier of the Sydney and Louisburg Railway, as described in the report of the Geological Survey, may be taken as a type of the most approved wharf. This Htructure, at the terminus of the railway in the town of Sydney, is a handsome and substantial structure, 620 feet ia length, and 40 feet wide, with 36 feet of water at the end at high tide (the ri^e and fall being about 4 feet.). The top of the pier standing 24 feet above high tide level is furnished with 4 tracks, and seven loading shoots, and four traversing tables. The wharf is built upon very Ion" and stout piles of Baltic timber, creosoted, and suitably braced by caps, ties, and trusses. The superstructure is of native timber of good quality, and strongly framed. The cost of the wharf is given at about $20,000.00. The creosoting has proved an effectual preservation against the ravages of the teredo, and the piles, except a few imperfectly imprc- oated, are in good condition at the end of fifteen years. The author is not aware of other applications of chemically prepared timber for this purpose in Nova Scotian wharves. Eeference has been made to the very acid water pumped from the Gowrie colliery. This water runs into the sea alongside their shipping pier, and, it is said, exercises a decided effect in preventing damage from the naval borers, etc. The systems of cutting the coal vary slightly. In the Pictou and Cumberland districts, the bords, except in the very steep seams, are necessarily driven level, regardless of the cleat of the coal. In the flat Cape Breton seams the bords can be frequently turned so as to reap any benefit from the aid afforded by the vertical natural divisions of the seams. In the thicker seams the work embraces taking down the " fall " or division of the seam next the roof, in a layer 3 to 4 feet thick, and then lifting the rest of the coal in two benches of 2 to 4 feet in thickness. The precise thickness of each division is regulated by any partings or " dirt bands." The coal is " holed or undercut " below the fall to a depth of 3 to 4 feet, and the low side wall continued about the same distance into 30 Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. the solid coal, so that a shot in the upper fast corner will bring all the coal down. The benches are kept a few feet behind, 80 as to allow a footinfj; for work at the fall, and are blown up in one or more lifts as the face ;idvances. In Cape Breton the holing is in the coal on the floor, the coal being nicked on one side or in the middle. In the Gowrie seam, the coal in the bords, thirty feet wide, after being holed, and allowed to stand, is brought down without powder. Eiicli working place has two miners, who sometimes employ a loader. The coal in some of the Cape Breton pits is riddled underground through meshes of ^ to 1 inch, and screened at Bank over bars J to J inch npart. At the International mine the slack coal is raised by an elevator, the Culm, separated by screening, and the nut added to the round coal. At this colliery, Riggs' patent screen and tipper are found to prevent uuch breakage of coal. The prices paid for cutting coal vary slightly in each district. In Pictou the prices paid in pillar working are from 37 to 40 cts. Borda 40 to 50 cts., narrow work 55 to 70 cts. per yard. The width of the bords varying from 9 to 15 feet. Shiftmen are paid 31-3J to $1.50 a day. Loaders §1.20 to $1.30 a day. Boys employed on balances 80 eta. to $1.00. Driver and trapper boys 50 cts. to 61.00 a day. In Cape Breton the price per ton in bords varies from 35 to 47 cent:, the highest being at the Victoria mine. Pillar coal varies from 35 to 40 cents. The cross cuts are paid at the rate of 35 to 59 cent?. LeveU and winning places 50 to 69 cents, the wages paid to deputy overmen vary from $1.25 to $1.60. Shiftmen are paid 80 cts. to $1.25. Laborers wages are from 85c. to $1.00. Drivers underground 60 to 85 cts. Trappers and couplers receive 32 to 40 cts. The miners in all the dis- tricts generally live in houses provided by the companies,which are rented at from $1.10 to $4.00 a month. In the Springhill district the prices are nearly those of the Pictoa mines, so that the flgures given fuirly represent those of the Province. The coal seams of the Province, as may be inferred from the histori- cal sketch, belong to the Government. The principle upon which they are leased may be briefly discribad as follows : A license to search for twelve months is granted over an area not exceeding five sqoare miles in extent. During this period the holder of the license can select a block of one square mile out of the five square mile area. This is called a License to work, and can be held for three years. If daring this period effiective mining opeiations are begun, the Licensee is entitled to > ) Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. 31 a lease for ci<;hty years in four equal periods. A few of tlie leases pay a royalty of !t. 7 cents on every ton of 2,240 lbs. of round coal only, i. e., coal tliat has psisscd over a screen, the bars of which are not more than f inch apart while others pay 7.5 cents in every ton of coal round, slack, or run of mine. In both cases coal used for workmen and engines is free. There are at present 190 square miles under lease for coal mining, of which not more than a quarter is actually being worked. All leases, transfers, etc., are registered in the Mines Department, which facilitates enquiry info title of mining properties held all over the Province. There is also a Mines Regulation Act, basi'd on the English act, and the companies comply readily with its provisions. The accompanying Tables, pages 379-381, will show the production and ?ales of etich colliery during the year 1887. The amounts used for engine purposes include pumps, winding and other engines, locomotives, etc., and Jire not in every case directly representative of the power required for raising coal and pumping water. The writer desires to express his in■ 1 H m n CV ft H O q III VI 8 r SfSS Skilled Labor. § S S §S M 8S $ 5M^t*t feoooi i ici^ ^« u to 00 •M Suit Laborers. I Boy». Days' Labor, -4 3 ^ W (jS M SS • ^tOOO 55 OT 00 ic w to*^' ^,^ IC M * Sm8 s^ s$ gs, 8 Skilled Labor. Laborers. Boys. ss 8 B1 £§8 Days' Labor. Skilled J>abor. Laborers. Boys. Ig StOM Days' Labor. -J (XCn'X&3i4>S6^^b5tStd COQQDOa SsSfe Persons. gj^ W ^Cs CO #^ ff; oc Q go cr ci J- 00 ~\ at c -Is" CO Hi -^-1ut 00 en 00 Days' Labor. Average num- ber of tons per Cutter. _tCC0i^(O o 1)^ . -itots oifeMtoSsSfSeooa StOM Above. Below. )l*tOI.'>-M)-ltOMMM The statement of men employed and labor performed correct except in the averages. The averages ot coal per not reliable, as the softness of the coal varies, and pillar more readilj than the bords, and in many cases coal is cut idle days, and hoisted on days that the pit is woiking. Days. may be taken as man per day are work yields coal and loosened on Cual Mining in Nova Scotia. 33 r H o M Its -b^S-;:? X" ^ 'w 3" i » 'I _. 4 o n ■^ B * » ^ « ase p O I B 2 '^ 2.= 3 2 0.0 c o M ^^ o> »— 1 .^ H-l N^ •^ a> -I » c u( -) -^ Ot © J-- » -q -i) X. » ai » '^ ~1 tj — Q H-t ='~1X-J*»+--J'4.— lOJl 00 — vj Ol CO .♦• J. 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H-*'* •:::::: : : : : os: : !:::::: : : i : oil T : : : : : : : : : : 0: • 33 re o o 1 : : • <^' : : : : i I : : : : : : : 1 : j 1 5Si i : 1 11 : \ { i\ :.{ : i i i • ?i i i i 1 : : : i i : M : CO 8 M n M i 1 n t?i in ;::;:::: : : to : : : : ;:.::::: : • '°: : i : ! : : :' : i : : : : • : I : :::::::: : : . ... 00 a> s 00 to ►- en i(>. -4 g iss * t^i I '- 1 *■ : or How, in his most valuable "M incralogy of Nova Scotia,'' 18(j8 ; and he gives a tableof the shipments of gypsum running back to 1833, in which year no less than 52,460 tons were quarried. He also speaks of the bricks made and the limestone quarrit'd prior to 1857, and describes at length the operations at the Londonderry Iron Mines, then as now independent of the great Moiioi)uly. Mr. Brown in his book, page 76, speaks of the General Mining Association purchasing the leases held by parties at Pictou, but that Mr. G. Smith, who on payment of £1100 cash held a lease for 20 years from Nov. 3rd, 1819, did not so regard his share of the transaction in question, is evident from liis petition to the Government for redress in 1831. He wrote as follows : " The stnjngest ground I think I have for compensation to rest my claim on is that it was not the intention of Government, at the time I obtained my lease, to license any other person in the district of Pictou, while I continned to comply with the terms of my lease, and tiie attempt of his Royal Highness' sublessees to interfere with me would not bo justified on any principle. I had the opinion of the late Attorney General on this subject, wlio stated to me that under my lease I might follow the seam to the Bay of Pundy, provided I could satisfy the proprietors of the soil for surface damage ; but to hold as against the Government and enter into a competition with the lessees of the Duke, whose lease was for 60 years, while, during the first five years they were only to pay 20% per annum, and I havinj; to meet their capital and gratuitous lease, with annual rent of £370 and 3d. per chaldron of 36 bushels over 1400 chaldrons, you will at once see that whatever might be my legal right I could not persist with safety to myself and therefore I sold my material and utensils for some £400.0.0 to the agents of the General Mining Association." He elsewhere in explanation of this writes : "In consequence of the construction which by the Colonial Government was given to my lease, ■ Discussion on Coal Mining in Nova Scotia. 47 I was compcllud to pay £110 annual rent for a mine on tlie East side of the Kast Kiver, which, owing to the (juality of the coal, I novcr was able to work." Mr. (lilpin speaks of careful revision of the accompany! nji; tabular statements, which previously had been published in his and ihe Inspector's JReports to tlie Commissioner of mines. The writer is inclined to hold thfit too great care cannot be taken in the preparation of tables from which any deductions are to be drawn, and therefore the writer would venture, in spite of a possible charge of being captiously critical, t