Algoma West, Its Mines, Scenery and Industrial Resources
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
loss mb m ^rjAl (west): KNAM'GIRGUMS ROLAND CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library The original of tinis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028901052 Mineral District, N Tributa Port A r*OM pi Led 'J'^KV/s £^ •SSv' '^^J^. '•^^^t^^y*>; ^E '^y ^ Af ^ r/ L o/v^ I A K ^OoaTo A ry~ RpLPHjSMrrtiScCo. ore, Lalie Superior NiPicor / f 0° /""inV A^ 'ist / w A„ k5:5^ )P^CtWWF-OAO Tf:?- '^S^^^ -^"S^ •0 6 )i ' partyt?.9- £ ^ ^ CMANITE IS <^ Gf^ANITE Pr I Bay ^'^''&>CM£»i ISLE A C El I G N /Ji70 Feet above Like ^ D, |?*^!?l-.. £1 u R R Scale - //a/c// = 4 M/les. Algoma AVest ITS MINES, SCENERY Industrial Resources ILLUSTRATED. BY WALPOLE gOLAND, C. E. r ; • TORONTO: PRINTED BY WARWICK & SONS, FRONT STREET WEST. 1887. Entered according to the Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eisrht hundred and eighty-seven, by Walpolb Roland, C.E., in the ofl&ce of the Minister of Agriculture. 22 6-^sS SO % PREFACE. The idea of presenting the following brief record of the mar- vellous resources of Western Algoma in general, and of the devel- opment of the mines and other important commercial industries t.rihntarv tr» Thimder Bav in particular, has again and again been ERRATUM. Page 14.—Illustration wrongly name^, should be Thunder Cape. See page 17. lauuiiuic tis always either convenient or possible without involving a heavy tax upon my time, to fully satisfy many enquirers, and deeming partial answers most unsatisfactory, I adopt the following course. Within, gentlemen, you will please find answer—supported not only by the testimony of our local press, but also by the experience and personal research of many of the most eminent scientists on this continent. Your demand for a map " showing the relative position of the various surveys made for the Government or private individuals up to date," has also been complied with. This latter work was prepared specially by one of our best known and most experienced Provincial and Dominion Government Land Sur- -veyors, Mr. A. L. Eussell, of Port Arthur. PREFACE. The idea of presenting the following brief record of the mar- vellous resources of Western Algoma in general, and of the devel- opment of the mines and other important commercial industries tributary to Thunder Bay in particular, has again and again been suggested to the writer by a long series of letters from various quarters of the United States and England, quoting certain issues of mining and other papers, as for example : the New York, Chicago and London Minirig Reviews and journals, the Thunder Bay Sentinel and Miner, etc., in which they had seen articles of special interest, with a polite request for additional information touching the relative merits of particular sections, etc. But laudable as this desire for knowledge may appear, it was not always either convenient or possible without involving a heavy tax upon my time, to fully satisfy many enquirers, and deeming partial answers most unsatisfactory, I adopt the following course. Within, gentlemen, you will please find answer—supported not only by the testimony of our local press, but also by the experience and personal research of many of the most eminent scientists on this continent. Your demand for a map " showing the relative position of the various surveys made for the Government or private individuals up to date," has also been complied with. This latter work was prepared specially by one of our best known and most •experienced Provincial and Dominion Government Land Sur- -veyors, Mr. A. L. Kussell, of Port Arthur. In conclusion, the writer has much pleasure in reminding his readers of the fact that, the figures and statements given herein, are from personal observation and investigation, as are also the general historical and other descriptive references touching the district so far described. Over twelve years of continuous explora- tory engineering, mineralogical and topographical examinations, therein, rendering the subject perfectly familiar from every aspect and under different conditions, both in summer and winter. Owing principally to a press of other work at this season, it is, of course, barely possible to more than refer to the existence of many industries of considerable merit and promise. The agricultural interests from similar causes have not received the amount of attention they so richly deserve. To this latter remark, the west-bound traveller via the Oanadiin Pacific Rail- way around Lake Superior, may be disposed to mildly object. Visitors and intending settlers going through to the Northwest Territories, would, however, materially alter their opinion and improve their, chances of success, or fund of information, by remaining over at Port Arthur, and observing for themselves its. great natural advantages and what has been accomplished there since the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. They will find men of all nationalities investing money there ; they will find it a splendid business centre, and a delightful summer resort. Your obedient servant, W. E. TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTES. NIPIGON LAKE AND RIVER TO THUNDER BAY. UNRIVALLED SCENERY AND CHARMING CLIMATE — AS OTHERS SEE US A VIVID DESCRIPTION OF A FAMOUS TROUT STREAM, BY EDITOR OF FOREST AND STREAM. A Glimpse or Red Rook and the Nipigon Rivbb prom the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Manitou oe Sacked Roce. The Tebeible Fate of a C. P. R. SUEVETING PaETY. INDIAN MISSIONS, AGENTS AND MissiONABiEs. Guides, Outfits and Maps. PORT ARTHUR 1800 TO 1887. The Advent of the C. P. R. Pbogeess of Port Arthur. Its Inddsiries, Public Buildings, Hotels, Schools and Chueches, Mills, Beeakwatbr, Docks, Railways, Water-woeks, Falls and Powers. PROSPERITY OF FORT WILLIAM # ITS SURROUNDINGS. SPLENDID AGRICULTURAL LANDS ON THE SLATE AND WHITE FISH RIVERS. NIISCELLANEOUS. OUR MINES, MINERALS AND PIONEERS. Opinions of the Press. Enginebbs' and Surveyors' Reports Townships. on Railways and / , OFFICIAL EEPORTS ON DEVELOPMENT " ' > 1 i 1 By a. L. RUSSELL, Dominion and Pbovincial Land Suevbydr. ^ipigon Eiver, the Lake Superior terminus of the road. This scheme had many warm advocates among the engineers, who were of course thoroughly conversant with the great natural advantages of the harbor. A change of Government, however, occurred about this period, when the advocates of the amphibious route came into power, and of course abandoned the north shore for all time, as they supposed. Anyhow, another selection was made. About this time many important improvements wertf made in the appearance of the Red Rock post by the officer in charge, Mr. Robert Crawford, now of Indian Head. Docks, houses, stores and commodious officers' quarters were rapidly constructed, and in an amazingly short time the once desolate and weird looking shanties were transformed into an orderly and prosperous station. All this was done in anticipation of the promised terminus. The terminus, however, did not come. The great company of merchant adventurers were disappointed and disgusted with the expen- diture, and then and there resolved that as soon as they could discover a post belonging to their ancient corporation where wood or building material did not exist, to that place they should send the offending agent, though said place be the north pole itself. The opportunity soon occurred. A vacancy was made in far away Ungava, and to that place, the nearest post to the north pole, Mr. Crawford was exiled. " Lumber," writes Mr. Crawford, " is entirely out of the question here. I used to think $55 and $60 a thousand dear at Red Rock, but here everything is con- structed of ice," and unfortunately for Mr. Crawford, ice palaces had not then become fashionable. The land upon the north-west and west side of Lake Nipigon is good, and the soils and grasses of the south shore wiU compare favorably with any other section of Ontario. This soil, like that of the company^s land at Bed Rock, now called Nipigon, is a rich clay loam, with sandy clay subsoil, and capable of a high degree of cultivation. The soil of the east side is not quite so fertile or •extensive, but has in places much better timber, and but for the ravages of forest fires could boast of extensive tracts of fair pine land. The country along the shores of South and East Bay and along the route of the proposed colonization road is, however,, fringed with very fine belts of pine of sound quality, and away to the north-eastwards are also to be seen unknown quantities of white and some red pine. This, too, is the most interesting sec- tion from a geological point of view. The rock formation here is principally Huronian, with granite prevailing southward. Many important discoveries have been made of the precious metals here,. and several well defined contact and other veins rich in pyrites,, both iron and copper, grey and yeUow, have been recently located in this immediate section. Bands of chloritic slate have also been found, carrying $5 to $20 in gold. Provisions and supplies of every kind, however, cost heavily, flour frequently selling at the rate of $20 per barrel, and other things in the same ratio. This, it is alleged, is owing to the great expense of transport over the numerous portages on the Nipigon river. The Hudson Bay Company have now but one regular post on this lake, that of Nipigon House, and, although situated north of the 51st parallel of latitude, they manage to grow all kinds of grain, vegetables, fruit and flowers. Everything requisite in the way of crops flourishes abundantly. I am assured, by the cour- teous officer in charge, Mr.