The routes and mineral resources of north western Canada. By E. Jerome Dyer ... Pub. under the auspices of the Incorporated London chamber of mines

Front matter

"HE

CM

. JEROME DYER

Preface

In my capacity as Honorary Secretary of the Incorporated London Chamber of Mines (with which is affiliated the Canadian Chamber), I have had continuous occasion to remark the need of an abridged hand-book upon the mineral resources of North-Western Canada.

The gold discoveries in the Upper Yukon Country have made this want even more keenly felt, for it is believed that throughout the vast expanse of . the Northern Dominion there are innumerable openings for the intrepid mineral explorer with the fascinating possibility of many “ Klondikes ” awaiting the pick and pan of the adventurous pioneer. Meanwhile millions of many nations that have heard the name and news of “ Klondike ” are eager for more information of the Great Territory of which this newest marvel in goldfields is but a spot.

Shaping my efforts by the numerous enquiries that have come before me, I have endeavoured to compile a work to meet the demand, and have embodied other necessary information that I think will interest those concerned.

The chief consideration, after ascertaining the existence and locality of payable minerals, is how to reach them. A considerable proportion, therefore, of this book is devoted to the question of routes. On this subject, for obvious reasons, I write from the point of view of a resident in England and show that there are many routes into the N. W. Territories and the Yukon from the East and South East which are, perhaps, superior to those from the Pacific Coast. This question, together with Mining Fields being developed and those prospective, is dealt with in Part I.

Special attention is drawn to the Mackenzie Eiver and Bay, for the discovery of an evidently immense tract of gold-bearing Country in the Mackenzie- Yukon lends a deeper interest to the value of Mackenzie Bay by making it a means of opening up a Commercial route to the Bay by way of Behring Straits and the Arctic Ocean. Its superiority over the Yukon River Route is also

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IV.

pointed out. Dr. Dawson’s views — that Mackenzie Bay will one day serve British North America as the White Sea serves Russia will, doubtless, soon become fact. The inimitably rich resources of this huge territory reached by the Mackenzie, Peel and other rivers flowing into Mackenzie Bay are indicated, as also are the advantages of a direct route from Hudson’s Bay through Chesterfield Inlet, or from some other point leading from this great arm of the sea.

Part II. and the Appendix consist wholly of a classified digest of the chief works of reference, books of travel and exploration, recent reports and other publications of the N. W. Territories together with extracts from various official reports, leading newspapers and expert authorities upon the resources, chief waterways, routes and distances around and throughout the far Northern Dominion, and more particularly of the Yukon-Mackenzie Country and the means of access to that region.

I would direct special notice to the accompanying map which is based upon the most recent information and discoveries, and has received the best attention of the Publishers.

Whether this book fulfils the object with which it is written or not, I shall be quite satisfied if it directs some attention to the splendid work of the Geological Survey of Canada under the brilliant directorship of Dr. G. M. Dawson, to whom I must acknowledge my chief indebtedness. Nor can the name of Mr. Wm. Ogilvie be omitted in any present day work on Canada’s Mining Industries : a name, practically, synonymous with the World’s greatest goldfields, whom the ‘‘Times” (London) describes as a man of indomitable courage and .sterling integrity, whom the “ Toronto Globe ” names “ The Modern Cato,” to whom thousands of Miners will owe more than they can ever repay and to whom this Book’s greatest attraction is due. The many others to whom I am indebted are mentioned below along with such publications and special reports as I have quoted in Part II. and the Appendix, and to some extent in Part I.

E. JEROME DYER.

V.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

List of Authorities consulted in the preparation of this Work.

Report of the Select Committee of the Senate appointed in 1888 to enquire into the Resources of the Great Mackenzie Basin (many of the names mentioned below — indicated by an asterisk — gave evidence at this Committee).

British Columbia Year Book (Gosnell’s) for 1896 — 97. Victoria (B. C.), 1897.

Exploratory Surveys in 1887 — 88 by Mr. Wm. Ogilvie (Ottawa, 1890), and Mr. R. G. McConnell (Montreal, 1890), and by Dr. G. M. Dawson (Ottawa, 1890).

Annual Reports of the Geological Survey of Canada for the years 1886 to ’95, inclusive.

Official Handbook of the Dominion of Canada, published August, 1897.

Reports on the Yukon and adjacent country by Mr. Wm. Ogilvie during 1895, ’96 and ’97 (Ottawa, 1897).

Summary Report of the Geological Survey Department of Canada for 1896.

Annual Reports of the Minister of Mines for Canada for 1894 — 96.

The 12th Annual Report of the U. S. Geological Survey referring to Mr. Frederick Schwatka’s exploratory tour through the Yukon Valley in 1891.

Canadian Pacific Railway publications for 1880, and also for 1896, ’97, ’98.

Chartered Hudson’s Bay and Pacific Railway publications, compiled by Col. J. Harris, F.R.G.S., F.R.C. Inst., London, 1897.

Journals of the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain (numbers referred to where quoted).

“ The Early Chartered Companies,” by Geo. Cawston, Barristerat-Law, and A. H. Keane, F.R.G.S., London, 1896.

“ On Snow Shoes to the Barren Grounds,” by Caspar Whitney. London, 1896.

“The Barren Grounds of Northern Canada,” by Warburton Pike. London, 1892.

“ Through the Sub-Arctic Forest,” by Warburton Pike. London, 1896.

“History of the North-West” (8 vols.), by Alexander Begg. Toronto, 1884.

VI.

“The Great Fur Land (Sketches of Life in the Hudson’s Bay Territory),” by H. M. Robinson, New York.

“ Our North Land,” by Chas. R. Tuttle, of the Hudson’s Bay Expedition of 1884. Toronto, 1885.

“Life and Labours in the Far North West,” by W. Henry Barnaby. London, 1884.

“ History of Canada ” (8 vols.), by Wm. Kingsford. London, 1887—95.

“ By Track and Trail through Canada,” by Edward Roper. London, 1891.

“ Manitoba and the Great North-West,” by John Macoun, M.A., Dominion Government Explorer of the North-West. London, 1888.

“ British North America ” (Stanford’s). London, 1897.

British Columbia Development Association’s publication. London, 1897.

Bulletin de la Soci6t6 de Geographie, Paris, 1875.

Narrative of Discovery and Adventure in the Polar Seas and Regions, by Professors Leslie, Jameson and Hugh Murray. Edinburgh, 1830.

Geology of the Mackenzie River, by G. F. B. Meek, Chicago Academy of Science, 1868.

Reports by Dr. R. Bell on the Geology of Canada, 1882 — 84.

Boat Voyage through Rupert’s Land and the Arctic Seas, by Sir J. Richardson, London, 1851.

A Voyage of discovery, for the purpose of exploring Baffin’s Bay, &c., by Sir John Ross, in 1818, London, 1819. Geological Appendix by Dr. McCulloch.

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea in the years 1819 — 22, by Captain J. Franklin, London, 1823. Appendix 1, by J. Richardson, M.D.

Journal of a Second Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage, &c., 1821 — 23, by Captain Parry, London, 1824. Journal of a Third Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage, &c., by Captain W. E. Parry, London, 1826. Appendix by Prof. Jameson on Geology of Countries discovered during Captain Parry’s Second and Third Expeditions.

Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea in the years 1825—27, by Captain J. Franklin, London, 1828. Appendix 1, by J. Richardson.

Vll.

Narrative of a Second Voyage in search of a North-West Passage, &c., 1829 — 83, by Sir John Ross, London, 1835. Appendix on Geology by Sir J. Ross.

Narrative of the Arctic Land Expedition, &c., 1833—85, by Capt. Back, London, 1836. (See also Journal Royal Geographical Society, vol. iv., 1836).

Narrative of an Expedition in H.M.S. “Terror,” 1836—37, by Captain Back, London, 1838.

Narrative of the Discoveries on the North Coast of America, &c., 1836—39, by Thomas Simpson, London, 1843.

Some account of Peel River, North America, by A. K. Isbister, Journal Royal Geographical Soc., London, vol. xv., 1845, p. 332.

Narrative of an Expedition to the Shores of the Arctic Sea in 1846 — 47, by Dr. John Rae, London, 1850.

Journey from Great Bear Lake to Wollaston Land, and Explorations along the South and East Coasts of Victoria Land, by Dr. J. Rae, Journal Royal Geographical Soc., vol, xxii., 1852.

Journal of a Voyage in Baffin’s Bay and Barrow Straits in 1850 — 51, by P. C. Sutherland, M.D., London, 1852. Geological Appendix by J. W. Salter.

On the Geological and Glacial Phenomena of the Coasts of Davis’ Strait and Baffin’s Bay, by P. C. Sutherland, M.D., Quarterly Journal Geological Society, vol. ix., 1853, p. 296.

A Summer Search for Sir J. Franklin, by Captain Inglefield, 1853, Contains a Geological Appendix. “ Arctic Manual” of 1875.

The Last of the Arctic Voyages, &c., 1852 — 54, by Sir E. Belcher London, 1855.

On some additions to the Geology of the Arctic Regions, by J. W. Salter. Report of the British Association for the Ad vancement of Science, 1855. ^

Further Papers relative to the recent Arctic Expeditions in Search of Sir John Franklin, &c. London, Government, 1855.

On the Geology of the Hudson’s Bay Territories and of Portions of the Arctic and North-Western Regions of America, by A. K. Isbister, Quarterly Journal Geological Society, vol. xi. (Also reprinted, without map, in American Journal Science and Arts, second series, vol. xxi., 1856, p. 313).

The Discovery of a North-West Passage by H.M.S. “ Investigator,” Capt. R. McClure, 1850 — 54. London, 1857. Geological Appendix by Sir R. Murchison.

A Personal Narrative of the Discovery of the North-West Passage, by A. Armstrong, M.D., late Surgeon and Naturalist to H.M.S. “Investigator.” London, 1857.

Arctic Explorations by Dr. E. K. Kane, American Journal Science and Arts, second series, vol. xxiv., 1857, p. 235.

Vlll.

Report from the Select Committee on the Hudson’s Bay Company, &c. London, Government, 1857.

A Narrative of the Discovery of the Fate of Sir John Franklin, by Captain McClintock. London, edition of 1859. Geological Appendix by Professor Samuel Haughton.

Report of the Assiniboine and Saskatchewan Exploring Expedition, by H. Y. Hind, Toronto, 1859.

The Polar Regions, by Sir John Richardson, Edinburgh, 1861. (Reprinted from Encyclopedia Britannica, Eighth edition, 1860).

Scientific Results of the “Polaris” Arctic Expedition. Nature, vol. ix., 1874, p. 404.

A Whaling Cruise to Baffin’s Bay, &c., by A. H. Markham, London, 1874. Appendix C, List of Geological Specimens, by R. Etheridge.

Manual of the Natural History, Geology and Physics of Greenland and Neighbouring Regions, &c., Edited by Professor T. R. Jones, London, 1875.

G6ographie de l’Athabaskaw-Mackenzie et des Grands Lacs du Bassin Arctique, par l’Abbe E. Petitot. Bulletin de la Soci6te de Geographie, Paris, tome x., 1875.

L’Expedition Polaire Americaine, sous les ordres du Capitaine Hall. Letter by Dr. E. Bessels. Bui. Soc. Geog., Paris, vol. ix., 1875, p. 297.

Narrative of a Voyage to the Polar Sea during 1875—76, &c., by Captain Sir G. S. Nares, London, 1878, Appendix xv., Geology, by C. E. De Ranee and H. W. Fielden.

Oology of the Coasts of the Arctic Lands visited by the late

- British Exdedition under Captain Sir George Nares, &c., by Captain H. W. Fielden and C. E. De Ranee, Quarterly Journal Geological Society, vol. xxxiv., 1878, p. 556.

Narrative of the Second Arctic Expedition made by C. F. Hall. Washington, Government 1879. Appendix iii., by Prof. B. K. Emerson.

Encyclopedia Britannica, Greenland, by Robert Brown. Polar Regions, by C. R. Markham. (Geological sketches appended to both these Articles.)

Three Years of Arctic Service, an account of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, by Lieut. A. W. Greely, New York, 1886.

Reports of the Royal Commission on the Mineral Resources of Ontario. Toronto, 1890.

Notes to accompany a Geological Map of the Northern portion of the Dominion of Canada. East of the Rocky Mountains, by Geo. M. Dawson, D.S., F.G.S., Montreal, 1887.

IX.

Descriptive Sketch of the Physical Geography and Geology of the Dominion of Canada. By Alfred R. C. Selwyn and G. M. Dawson, Montreal, 1884.

“ Canada — A Geographical, Agricultural and Mineralogical Sketch,” by T. Sterry Hunt. Quebec, 1865.

Report on the Climate and Agricultural Value, General Geological Features and Minerals of Economic Importance of part of the Northern Portion of British Columbia and of the Peace River Country. By Geo. M. Dawson, 1880.

Lecture by Mr. Wm. Ogilvie, delivered Victoria (B. C.) on November oth, 1897. Government Printer, Victoria (B. C.), 1897.

Annual Reports of the Governor of Alaska for each year, from 1884 — 95 inclusive. Washington, U.S.

The 6th Annual Report of the Ontario Bureau of Mines (1897).

The 18th Annual Report of the British Columbia Board of Trade for 1896-97.

* James Anderson, Explorer, Franklin Search Expedition (quoted by his son before the Committee of the Senate, Ottawa, 1888).

*His Lordship Bishop W. C. Bompas, N.W. Territories.

Archibald Blue, Director Bureau of Mines, Ontario. (Summary of Geological Survey of Canada for 1896.)

F. G. Hinde Bowker, N.W. Territories. (Interview, Pall Mall Gazette, London, October 28th, 1897.)

Inspector Constantine, Commandant Yukon Police Division. (Reports of the Commissioner of the N.W. Mounted Police for 1895 and 1896.

*Hon. Wm. Christie, Late Chief Ins~ FueLc", logon’s Bay

Company.

♦His Lordship Bishop Clut, Mackenzie River District, N.W. Territories.

fDr. G. M. Dawson, C.M.G., F.G.S., Director of the Geological Survey of Canada.

Thomas Deasy, Chief of Fire Department, Victoria, B. C. (Extracts from Letters to Commander Wells, R.N., London, August 27th, 1897.)

Russell L. Dunn, M.E., London. {London Mining Journal,. October 2nd, 1897.)

fProf. J. B. Hurlbert, Geological Survey of Canada.

W. A. K. Isbister, Explorer N.W. Territories, 1844 (mentioned elsewhere).

Joseph Ladue, Yukon Pioneer, Dawson City. (McClure’s Magazine, September, 1897.)

Sir J. H. Lefroy, President Geological Section British Association,, 1880.

*

A

X.

fProf. Macoun, Geological Survey of Canada.

R. G. McConnell, B. A., Geological Survey of Canada (mentioned elsewhere).

Hon. H. C. Macintosh, Lieut.-Governor of N.W. Territories. (Interview, Pall Mall Gazette , 16th September, 1897.)

'"Donald Mclvor, Manitoba.

*\Vhi. J. McLean, Chief Trader, Hudson’s Bay Co.

'"Malcolm McLeod, Q.C., Ex-Judge, Ottawa.

* Stuart D. Mulkin, N.W. Territories.

Wm. Ogilvie, F.R.G.S., Survey Department of Canada (mentioned elsewhere).

*Frank Oliver, Editor, Edmonton, N.W. Territories.

Roger Pocock, Journalist, London (for many years in the N.W. Territories, and Special Correspondent Lloyd's Weekly , London, October and November, 1897).

'"His Lordship Dr. Reeves, Bishop, Mackenzie River District.

Hon. Lindsay Russell, Surveyor General for Canada, 1881.

Hon. John Schultz, late Lieut.-Governor of Manitoba. (27th Annual Report of the Department of Marine and Fisheries of Canada for 1884.

Inspector Strickland, Yukon Police Division.

A. E. Ironmonger Sola, Klondike Pioneer, and Author of “ Klondyke, Truth and Facts.” London, 1897.

J. Burr Tyrrell, B.A., Geological Survey of Canada (Chesterfield Inlet Expedition of 1893. Ottawa, 1897).

J. W. Tyrrell, C.E., D.L.S., Geological Survey of Canada (Chesterfield Inlet Expedition or Ottawa, 1897).

H. de Windt, Explorer ( Strand Magazine , London, October, 1897, and London Times , July 23rd, 1897).

Professor N. S. Shaler, Harvard University, U.S.A.

Dr. W. H. Dael, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, U.S.A.

Professor Geo. F. Wright, Professor of Geology, Oberlin College, U.S.A.

Wm. Van Slooten, M.E., U.S.A.

J. Edward Spurr, Geological Survey, Washington, U.S.A.

Dr. Geo. F. Becker, Geological Survey, Washington, U.S.A.

And others, together with the many reports, publications and newspapers mentioned along with their respective extracts.

* Gave evidence before the Committee of the Senate, 1888, mentioned ■at the beginning of this List.

t Also gave evidence before the 1888 Committee, and are identified with several works quoted separately.

xi.

Index To Part I.-argument

Introductory Chapter

What has hitherto prevented Mining development The first and following Mining developments A matter of the highest importance to commercial men The Colonizing power of gold discovery ...

Present wealth and future prospects of the N.W Territories

The great future of the region

The question of access ...

The great keynote — gold

A splendid future of mineral developments

Mining Fields now being Developed

British Columbia

First discovery of gold and subsequent work

Vancouver Island ; gold and coal

Kootenay ...

Gold output and characteristics of the country Other minerals Classification of B.C. ores Government mining grants Mining wages

Ontario

Free grant lands Nickel ...

The new value of nickel The minerals and metals of East Ontario Petroleum springs and salt wells ...

The oldest mining district

Lake of the Woods district ...

Lake of the Woods gold output A new goldfield

Northern Alberta

Gold on the Saskatchewan River ...

The Yukon Country

Reference to Part II. and Appendix

PAGE.

4 1

6 6 7 7

8 8 8

XU.

INDEX — continued.

Mining Fields awaiting Development

Important Extracts from a notable report

Extent of auriferous country in the N. W. Territories ...

Location of various mineral deposits

An immense petroleum area

Rich fields beyond the Klondike district

The new gold discoveries at Michipicoton

The Canadian Chamber of Mines, London

Professor Wilmott’s Report on Michipicoton

Position of the new field

Routes to the Michipicoton country

Gold-bearing country north of Lake Winnipeg

A New Mining Field

Eoutes to the field

Numerous quartz veins

Promising field for prospectors Soil and climate

Extracts from Geological Notes on the North=western Territories by Geo. M. Dawson, C.M.G., D.S., F.G.S., Director of the Geological Survey of Canada

Slave River, petroleum deposits

Salt springs

West end of the Lake — Bitumen

Geological definition

Mackenzie River, from Great Slave Lake to Bear Lake River

Geological formation Bituminous shale Liard River ...

Graphite and iron or Beds of lignite

Great Bear Lake and vicinity

Bitumen, alum, shale and brown coal Limestone rocks, saturated with petroleum Salt

Mackenzie River and vicinity, below Bear Lake River

Peel River

PAGE.

*2

14 14

14 , 15

, 16 17 , 19 , 20 20

Ol

25 25 25

26 26

Xlll.

INDEX — continued.

Country between Great Slave Lake and the Mouth

of

PAGE.

Coppermine River

...

...

The copper mountains

...

..

Mode of occurrence of the copper ...

...

...

Country North of Copper Mountains

...

...

Chromic iron

...

...

Arctic Coast, West of the Mackenzie River Continental Coast, from Mackenzie River to

Boothia

Peninsula

...

...

Boothian and Melville Peninsulas, and vicinity

...

...

Melville Peninsula

Northern Continental Shore East of Hudson Bay, with

Baffin Land

...

• • •

Copper and iron ores

...

...

Coal formations

...

...

Coal outcrops

...

...

Routes to the Yukon and Far N.W. Territories of Canada

. . .

Routes to the Yukon from the West Coast ...

...

Railways from the West Coast

...

• ••

Objections to short costly railways

...

Railways from a dividend-paying point of view

...

...

Good waggon roads v. short railways

...

...

Travellers and Traffic v. Railway Shareholders

...

...

White Pass and Stikeen routes

...

...

The White Pass route

...

...

The Stikeen route

Ugly features of the St. Michael’s Chilkoot and Taku

River routes

...

...

The St. Michael’s Route ...

...

...

The Chilkoot Pass Route

...

...

The Taku Pass Route

...

...

Chief object of these pages

...

...

Routes and approaches from the East and South

East

...

Overland from Edmonton

...

...

A bad feature in the railway question

...

...

Liard and Peace River routes

...

...

The Mackenzie River route

...

...

Route from Hudson's Bay to the Yukon

...

...

The Route of the future

...

...

Hudson’s Bay

...

...

xiy.

INDEX — continued.

PAG)?.

Safety of navigation in Hudson’s Bay 48

Resources of the Hudson’s Bay country 47

The route after leaving Chesterfield Inlet 47

A waterway between the Inlet and Great Slave Lake ... 47

The Great Slave Lake section of the route 48

The Mackenzie River section ... 48

Navigation of the Mackenzie 48

Country tapped by a Hudson’s Bay route 49

The navigable area of the Mackenzie and its resources ... 49

The Peace River 49

The Liard River 49

The Peel River 50

Serviceable tributaries of the Mackenzie... ... ... 50

A report of great value 50

Summer route from the Mouth of the Mackenzie to

the Yukon 51

Winter route from the Mouth of the Mackenzie to

Valuable discoveries on this route 51

The through Peel River route 52

Mr. Ogilvie on the through Peel River route to the

headwaters of the Stewart River 52

The Up-Porcupine route via Tatonduc River 52

Navigation of rivers by the Mackenzie Mouth Route ... 53 Proximity of Yukon and Mackenzie navigable waters ... 53 Official particulars which establish important facts ... 53

Route via Behring Strait and Mouth of Mackenzie ... 54

The Arctic Ocean route ; important points 54

A noteworthy extract bearing upon the navigation of Canadian Arctic seas ... ... ... 55

An important adjunct; Arctic Sea Fisheries

Whaling in Mackenzie Bay

Taking machinery, etc., to headwaters of the Peel, Stewart, and Macmillan Rivers ...

American whalers in Mackenzie Bay

An attractive opening for British enterprise

The Archangel of North America

Comparisons with Arctic seaports in Northern Europe and Asia

The Canadian Dominion’s future

XV.