Part 2 (1/2)

Adjoining the Johnson Co Company,” of which Mr Hyde Rust, of Boston, is treasurer, and Mr T Sheridan, local residentsteadily and efficiently worked, and being practically on the same level with that of the Johnson Company, the produce is of a very siood, and soot out here In a pao by the Canadian Government on the mineral resources of Canada, it is stated that the yield fro of course that last mentioned), is pronounced by European est fibre of the kind known; and it is further stated _that there is no question at all as to the profitable nature of asbestosin this belt of country_

The output of the Boston Co to the authority just cited, is about 400 tons per annuical Survey Department, Ottawa, says that in 1886 the quantity extracted was about 700 tons, and the total produce of the mine to the end of that year about 3,000 tons There ures here, and I feel sure that those given above are nearer the mark

The value of the output of thisit all round, that it her than that of the lasttaken to introduce machinery and prosecute the work on a more extensive scale

The next mine here is one of a more recent date, worked by the Brothers Ward, and owned by them conjointly with the Hon Jaoodby the indications, coupled hat has been already done, there is no reason to suppose that this mine will not presently be as remunerative as those already mentioned

The output of this, on the same authority, is 150 tons, which is, I believe, the extreme limit of what has yet been done This mine has been opened now about four years, and in that time has produced, as near as I could learn when last there, about 400 tons It is said to be worth fro more than 70, which is doubtless its present value

The sa land on the other side of the railhich, in fact, bisects their property; but as this is on a lower level it looks very in to open

The only other mine now opened at Thetford is that owned and worked by Messrs King Brothers It is in the same vicinity and bears much the saiven at 175 tons per annuroup, and are at present by far the most important in the province They are on a lower level and are consequently worked at a greater depth than those next to be described

The output for this reason moreover is of a more uniform character, and does not require such close classification as some of the other mines farther on Practically, No 1 and No 3 are the only divisions here, the produce being mostly available for No 1 No 3 is a very inferior kind, merely the refuse in fact, which is sold and shi+pped in bulk at 10 a ton, without being bagged up at all, and is , &c

The Thetford river marks the western limit of the serpentine on these properties, the rocks on the other side of the water being mostly altered slates and sandstones To the east of the railhich cuts directly across the area, the serpentine forms a knoll with an elevation of about 90 or 100 feet above the line of rails; all the workings at present being confined to this portion of the area They consist of open cuttings on the face of the hill, apparently very little having as yet been done to ascertain the value of the ground between the railway and the river There are certainly good indications there, and when I was last at Thetford I found Mr Ward prospecting in this part with some success Here, however, is the place where the water trouble will first arise, which will have to be provided for at the outset

The essential peculiarity of the veins at Thetford is that they are occasionally associated, as already rains and threads of chronetite forms rather conspicuous 's mine, where it soeneral rule, however, the surface veins at Thetford are nearly as pure as those lying deeper in the rock, the reason being that the surface is etable n ele, the fibre, as is found to be the case in a very ree in the mines next to be described

It is a peculiarity of the veins of asbestos that they are never continuous They vary very much in size, and, in precisely the same way as other mineral veins, they are affected by faults or slides, which not infrequently cut off co face Where this occurs the slicken-sided character is very marked

Sheets, also, of i coarse woody fibre, are frequently to be seen lying all along the sides of the fault; but, although there is a good deal of this, the general quality of the produce of all the Thetford mines is excellent The fibre is fine and of a smooth silky texture, very easily worked The veins are s, more free from impurities than those of Coleraine

No steam power is at present used in this district, the whole of the proprietors at present continuing to rely upon hand labour; the Boston Co their attention that ith a view of increasing their output

The Thetford mine-owners are one and all kind and hospitable ive every information and to facilitate an inspection of their works by anyone ill take the trouble to visit them; a trouble which I always found very amply repaid by the courtesy hich I was received, and the candour and obliging readiness hich all my inquiries were immediately answered

The workers in the mines here arebeen provided for thehbourhood of the mines; the proprietors, who appear to act with a liberal consideration towards theirit incumbent on themselves to look after their welfare; and they find their account in so doing, in not running short of hands at critical times

The practice at Thetford is to close down entirely for the winter eous, in view of the limited market, coupled with the difficulty of outdoor quarrywork, to encounter the extra expense of working at this season Soely interested in the lumber trade, to which they devote themselves in the winter, are able to find plenty of eo off into the woods

At Thetford, as elsewhere, greate now possessed, were made when the mines were first opened up, which will inevitably entail serious loss in the future; as an instance, round is now seen to be covered up by the dumps, which will unquestionably have to be

The saht, for which there was less excuse with the Thetford experience to guide them, will inevitably cause trouble in the near future at Black Lake, on the property of the Anglo-Canadian Company, even to a round here evidently knehat they were about, but their i knowledge, have, by their neglect of professional assistance, coment as will presently occasion very serious expense to the company

At their main pit many thousands of tons of waste rock have been duround, and this round can be worked From the peculiarity of the work, there probably exists no class ofwhich so absolutely necessitates the services of a practicalout the land in the first instance for , as that for asbestos does

The cost of extraction varies in different localities, depending mainly on the mass of barren rock to be encountered and removed At Thetford the cost may be put at fro nearer the average On the Anglo-Canadian Company's property at Black Lake it is arock and earth is enormous, and detracts immensely from the value of the mines The minimum cost here is 28

In addition to asbestos, it is worthy of note that the whole of the Thetford district is rich in e and valuable deposits of chrohbourhood, within but a short distance of the asbestos mines

THE COLERAINE GROUP