Facts about the iron ore deposits of British Columbia, including Vancouver Island [microform]
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Public-domain full text preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library. Original source: archive.org.
Facts
About The Iron_Ore Deposits
of BRITISH COLUMBIA
Including Vancouver Island
Compiled From Absolutely Authoritative Sources By
The Central Iron Committee Of Vancouver Island
ac at £00€
Known /Ron Ore Depos/Ts Of The 8R/Tish Columb/A Coast Area
@ /Ndicates /Ron Ore
Victoria, B. C.,
! February 21st, 1918.
N To the Chairman and Members, Central Iron Committee,
Victoria, 8. C.
Gentlemen ;—
Your Sub-Committee on Data beg to herewith submit the results of their labors to date.
--—
The statements contained in the report are all taken from very high authorities, as a glance at the list will indicate.
The question is frequently asked: “Is there sufficient raw material in British Columbia to warrant an attempt to establish an iron and steel industry on any large scale?”
Your Committee has tried to answer this question in a most z direct and positive manner.—" Yes.”
; No attempt has been made at consecutive narrative, or ex- tensive extracts from the various authorities.
' We know that much more might have been said had time j permitted a more extended study of the information available.
Trusting that the brief outline presented will be found suffi- cient for present purposes, we are,
Respectfully,
Committee on Data, J. F. BLEDSOE, M.E. (Chairman.) Cc. L. ARMSTRONG,
T. J. Goodlake,
Thomas Walker.
Authorities Referred To
Blakemore, W.—M ining Engineer, “Jour nal Canadian Mining Institute, Vol, V."
Brewer, W. M. — District Engineer, Bureau of Mines, British Columbia—Bulle tin No. 3, 1917,”
Campbell-Jonnston, R. C.—Mining Engin- eer, in report on “Mammoth” Iron ore de- posits,
Clapp, C. H.—Department of Mines, Geo- logical Survey, Canada. “Iron on Southern Vancouver Island.” Summary report, 1909
Carmichael, H.—Former sayer, Britsh Columbia.
Provincial As-
Dawson, Dr. Former Head Canadian Geological Survey,
Hayes, C. W.—U. S. Geological Survey, “Bulletin No, 394.”
Leith, C. K—U. Ss. Geological Survey, “Bulletin No, 285.”
Lindeman, Einar—Department of Mines, Geological Survey, Canada, “Iron Ore De- posits of Vancouver and Texada Islands,”
+ McConnell, R. C.—Department of Mines, Geological Survey, Canada, “Texada Island,” “Geology of Southern Vancouver Island.”
MacKenzie, J. D.—Department of Mines, Geological Survey, Canada, “Report on Zymoetz River.”
Minister of Mines—Hon. Wm. Sloan. Minister of Mines for British Columbia, 1917-1918,
Robertson, W. F.—Provincial Mineralo- gist, British Columbia.
Whittier, W. H—Bureau of Industrial Re- search, University of Washington. “Bulle- tin No. 2. An Investigation of the Iron Ore Resources of the Northwest.”
Willmott, A.D.—Mining Engineer. Report on Iron and Coal Resources of Vancouver and Texada Islands,
ious private reports from Mining K Kineers to investigating capitalists been consulted in addition to the above, at the Central Iron Committee feels that the data presented can be relied upon a very best to be obtained at this date, Feb- ruary 20th, 1918,
Ores And Assays
Magnetite (e.O.) contains, in a pure state 72.4 per cent iron. Is strongly mag- netic, black in color, usually massive and hard in texture, but may occur as a black sand,
Hematite (Ie:0,). When pure contains 70.0 per cent iron. Red or brown in color, Found both hard and soft in structure.
Himonite or Bog Ore (2Fe.0.3H,0) When pure, contains 59.8 per cent‘iron, Dark yellow or brown, and earthy in appearance. Generally found in bogs, and low places. Formed by decomposition of surrounding ferruginous minerals,
Phosphorus: Iron ore is classed as “bes- semer ore,” when it contains more iron than 1,000 \imes the phosphorus content. A ten per cent margin is allowed in actual prac- tice, so that .04 per cent phosphorus is con- sidered the bessemer limit for an ore con- taining 50 per cent. iron.
Sulphur: Percentage should not be greater than 0.30 or it is considered as detrimental. In modern practice gas from coke produc- tion can often be used to roast out surplus sulphar in magnetite ore and produce what is practicall) a hematite,
Silica: Requires extra limestone to flux out when running over about 12 per cent of the ore content.
Titantium: Should not run over one per cent, it is difficult to fuse, and produces a slag which is hard to handle.
Assays: A tew general assays are submit- ted in order ta indicate the average quality of the ores from the various districts.
A eens ——
\verage samples of magnetite from the second level- Texada Island workings:
Lindeman'’s McConnell's
Samole Sample Iron ber cent. 62.57 per cent Sulphur Per cent 0.403 per cent
Phosphorus Not determined 0,024 per cent Insoluble matter £ 6.46 per cent
Lindeman reports a sample from Head Bay, Noctka Sound, that assayed:
Iron aes soe 66,17 Sulphur ne 0.017 Phosphorus ne <ceity 0.016 Silica 6.10
An average sample of the ore taken along the tunnel, on the Bugaboo Creek Group, wave the following analysis:
Insoluble matter Tron
Sulphur Phosphorus .
A sample taken by Carmichael from the Conqueror” Group, assayed:
Iron Silica ... Sulphur
A sample reported by Carmichael from the dump at the portal of the adit, Sarita, assayed:
Tron ... 63.7 Sulphur . 0.3 Phosphorus Trace Silica 3.85
General Statements.
“The total tonnage of the Vancouver Island deposits is undoubtedly large and Probably approaches that of all other iron ore reserves in ‘3ritish Columbia which are near enough to the Coast to be of any im- mediate importance as a source of ore for a blast turnace located or tide water,”— WHITTIER. (p. 67).
“The best known sources of iron ore for the Northwestern United States are Texada Island and the West side of Vancouver Island, B. C especially near Barclay Sound."—LEITH
“It is a well known fact that there are no good iron ores on the Pacitic Coast south of British Columbia, The several iron in dustries which have attempted to establish themselves ou the West Coast have invari- ably looked to British Columbia for iron ore. The Irondale Furnace at Port Towns- end, mentioned above as being the largest consumer, has shown that these ores can be sucessfully smelted, and that satisfactory steel can be made from them.
‘The Battleship ‘Nebraska’, constructed at Seatth, was partly manufactured from Iron- dale pig—made from Texada iron ore.”— WILLMOTT,
“Pig iron can be produced on the Pacific Coast for several dollars less (per ton) than eastern iron can be delivered in the Coast cities."—WHITTIER.
“The better properties on the Const should be capable of supplying a tonnage sufficient for a local iron industry.”— LINDEMAN.
“There -can be little doubt that sufficiently large bodies of ore can be foun’ onvenient to transportation, to supply large furnaces, A sample of this ore was submitted to Mr. Watson, of the Soo Furnace, who stated that it was suitable for the Bessemer pro- cess, and could probably be used without Previous roasting.” —WiLLMOTT,
“Outside of areas mentioned (Vancouver and Texada Islands), there are a number of known magnetic iron deposits, which have not been officially examined and consequent- “+ are not included in the official estimate. Such deposits are known to exist on Porcher and Pitt Islands, Seymour Inlet, ete. There are also several large deposits on Queen Charlotte Islands,
It is probably more or less assured that a full investigation of these Northern proper- ties would show up as much ore as is now estimated for Vancouver and Texada Islands, thus doubling the probable ore sup- ply."—MINISTER OF MINES,
ee THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS
In any consideration of the iron ore ton nage of Vancouver Island, and the Coast Districts, it must be remembered that only those sections are mentioned, which have been examined by leading authorities. Much yet remains to be done in the
y of ex ploration, to say nothing of development, and many quite important sections of the known iron deposits have not been discussed by the Committee on Data, owing to the lack of adequate official information. This will account for the lack of mention of many iron deposits of merit, which are locally well known,
Development work, and especially the use of the diamond drill, will no doubt in- crease the known tonnage many times,
For instanes, the Ladysmith Local Com mittee on Daa are now working 0: infor- mation regarding a deposit of Hematite ore which has just been reported a mile or two from that city. It is hoped that as a result of their investigations other valuable factors will be added to the iron production possibilities of Vancouver Island.
The differences in the estimates of ton- nage given by the several authorities is often to be accounted for by the varying amounts of time and attention given to each section by the investigator.
Texada Island:
“I give the Texada Island Iron tonnage at 4,521,200 tons."—McCONNELL.
“Think this estimate could very reasonab- ly be increased to between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 tons."—WHITTIER,
“Estimate the tron Ore deposits of Tex- ada Island at 30,000,000 tons of ore of com, grade, with a considerably larger amount of low grade and deep ore.”— HAYES,
“Makes no attempt to estimate the actual tonnage of iron at Texada, but States that there is every Probability of large quantities of merchantable magnetite being found.”— LINDEMAN. (p. 23.)
Que
of the
MeConnell, especially thet portion port which states that the tonnage given inay be multiplied several times be fore the iron resources of the District are exhausted. —BREWER, (Op, 35)
“Calls attention to the shipment of 20,000 tons of iron ore from Texada Island to Iron- dale, Wash, Makes no estimate of the ton nage and quotes MeConnell as uthority for the statement that the abundance of the ores, their high grade in iron, and easy accessibility aust make them extremely
‘aluable in the event of an iron industry be- ing established on the Coast—WILL- MOTT
“In addition to the ores indicated in the figures previously given, there is a reason- able expectation of a far greater amount of possible ore, which, under intelligent devel- opment, is reasonably certain to add ma- lly to the amount now considered avail- ."—MINISTER OF MINES.
West Coast, Vancouver Island
Gordon River District:
“On the Godman Iron properties, I esti- mate 700,000 tons in sight, with a probable tonnage of 8,000,000, On the Bently Group 5,200,000 tons, with possibly three times this amount. It seems probable to me that 15,- 000,000 tons of iron ©-e can be got in this district, and perhaps much more."—WILL- MOTT.
“On the Gordon River and its tributary, the Bugaboo, are leveloped large bodies of magnetite."-—CLAF P.
“On the Bugaboo Creek claims; the writer estimates the actual tonnage at 94,000, and F allows 50 per cent additional, possible ore. On the Conqueror Group 16,000 tons actual ore, 230,000 tons of probable ore, and 120,0¢ tons of possible ore that further develop- ment may make available.”—BREWER.
a erent cesses
Sooke District:
“The deposit ix rather of the nature of stoc! work than a true vein. but ean be traced for some distance in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, and, in placss
shows from 10 to 20 feet of nearly pure ore,” —DAWSON
Carmichael reports dssays running from 4 to 72 per cent iron
Sarita River District:
The quantity of available magnetite in the Sarita deposits, so far as exposed in the workings, is estim ited by the B.C. Pro vineial Mineralogi , Bulletin 1903, at 55,000 tons, probable or possible ore. In this esti
mate no allowance has been made for pos- siMe continuity to a depth below the adit level.
“An engineer, who has explored is sec tion, reports several strong outero ngs of iron running back for at least t miles from the points where the development work was done.”
“IT novld that at a point about 1,000 feet from the bluff. where the big showing is lo- cated, is an outcrop 25 feet wide, showing good, clean magnetite."—LINDEMAN (p. 13).
Alberni Canal:
The’ various authorities agree that there is a considerable tonnage of iron ore in the claims along Alberni Canal—some of these are “Iron Mountain” on Anderson Lake “Defiance” on Uchucklisit Harbor, “Darby and Joan,” at Smith's Landing; and at Copper Island.
“It is probable, therefore, that the Bar- clay Sound deposits will be quite important when an Iron and Steel industry js estab- lished in the Northwest."—WHITTIER. Sechart:
“Crown Prince” claim—“Of actual ore the tonnage may be estimated at 75,000 tons, while the tonnage of possible ore may be Placed at an additional 200,000 tons. The “Bald Eagle” and “Lord of the Isles” claims also show strong croppings of mag- —BREWER.
“The prospects may be said to be stich is te warrant further investigation "—LINDE MAN
“The magnetite deposits in this Vicinity have been traced around inte E fingham tn let, a distanee of some miles."—VARIOUS ENGINE
Head Bay—Nootka Sound District:
“The ‘Glengarry’ and ‘Stormont’ claim contain 250,000 tons actual ore available for quarrying, with an additional 250,000 tons of probable ore, and 750,000 tons of pos
sible ore. The deposits are very favorably situated to insure mining and transportation at a minimum cost. On the ‘Fido’ claim there are 50,000 tons of probable ore, ann 200,000 tons of possible ore."—BREWER.
Upper Quinsam Lake:
“There is no question but that a very large quantity of magnetite can be quarried for immediate shipment. I place the pos- sible ore at 5,000,000 tons."—BREWER.
“Magnetite outcrops in a bluff 80 feet high. Part of the face of the bluff has been strip- ped feet in width, showing solid mag net without having uncovered the con- tact’ ith the country rock, The tunnel is 60 1eet long, entirely in magnetite.”— LINDEMAN. (p. 20).
“T was informed by a reputable Mining Engineer that these deposits gave promise of being the largest of their kind in the Northwest—not excluding the Texada de- —and this property may prove one of the most important iron properties in the Northwest."—WHITTIER. (p. 67).
Klaanch River:
Lindeman prepared a magnetic survey and map of this section, and concludes his re? port by saying: “So far as surface indica tions go the claims may be said to be one of the best iron prospects on Vancouver Island, and well worth further develop- ment.”
pos
Upper Campbell Lake: “The conclusions to be drawn from the evidence of the ore ex- posutes are that there are large continuous ore bodies in sight, but the full extent must be made more evident."—CAMPBELL- JOHNSTON.
Ce eee a ad
Bog Iron And Hematite
Kitchener, B, C.—These deposits consist of a series of Parallel veins of: Hematite iron ore, running continuously for a distance of ten miles.
Occurs in a large body of quartzite, ap- Proximately 500 feet in width. 50 claims lo- cated. Several veins of solid iron 6 feet wide, assay 67.3 Fe.
General assays metallic iron 67.4, silica 1.7, sulphur .16, phosphorus .03,
Some veins have been uncovered at depths showing a difference of 1,200 feet in eleva- tion and they maintain their uniformity at these points,
Average assay Fe. Sulph. Phos.
Lake Superior ores 60 .010 06 New Foundland . - 55 012 -600 Kitchener 67.4 15 .03
Quatsino District:
“Bog Iron, or Limonite Occurs at a point about one mile west from Coal Harbor, on the West Arm of Quatsino Sound, and also at a point two miles back from West Arm, and several miles farther west.”—WHIT. TIER.
The Western Steel Corporation estimate a tonnage of 10,000,000 tons of Bog Iron ore on their various claims in this vicinity,
“The Ore is of such quality as to make +a very desirable material to mix with the Magnetite of Southern Vancouver Island and Texada Island.”—WHITTIER,
Nanaimo District:
“A deposit of Hematite on a branch of Klinaklini River, and therefore in the Na- naimo Mining Division, was staked a few years ago. In the development work the most westerly cut shows a width of 6 feet of nearly solid Hematite."—BREWER.
Skeena District:
“The Bog Iron Ore Property, owned by the North Pacific Iron Mines, Ltd. . of
Prince Rupert, is situated on Limonite Creek, a tributary of Zymoetz River, in the Skeena district. The Property consists of 9 claims. 562,500 tons of ore may be con- sidered as almost certainly proven; twice that as probable and Perhaps the amount is considerably larger. The ore runs from 50.6 Per cent to 56.01 per cent metallic iron, with Phosphorus either nil or only a trace.”— MacKENZIE,
‘Coal And Coke
“The Coal fields of Nanaimo and Cumber- land produce a first class bituminous coal of about the following average analysis, from which the various seams differ but slightly:
Per Cent. Moisture sctsreseseeeecceresenseese 1,5) Vol. Comb. matte: 35.0 Fixed Carbon 56.0
Ash 7.0 Sulphur 0.5
“The coals of the Nanaimo field have never been made into coke commercially, and it is thought that there would be diffi- culty in coking them in the bee-hive oven, but recent experiments by the Granby Com- pany have shown that they can be coked in the by-product oven. So satisfied is the Granby Company of this that the Company is now opening up a Colliery in this field to yield a coke supply for its Anyox Smelter.
“Analysis of coke from this field ought to show a better coke, lower in ash and sulphur even than that of the Cumberland field.
“The Cumberland field supplies a coking coal, which for 25 years at least has been coked in the ordinary bee-hive oven of which the plant at Comox contains 200 ovens,
Up to the present time the market for the coke has been for foundry cupola furnaces and for Copper smelting cupolas, which did not demand a coke of high quality nor of
SS ee eee,
great structural strength consequently; for- ™merly no very serious attempt was made commercially to make a coke suitable for iron blast furnace work.
“The matter has, however, recently been receiving attention from the Colliery man- agement, and the coke Tecently made from the Lower Seam, Cumberland, shows from 1 to 1.3 per cent. Sulphur, 10.30 per cent. Ash, and has heat value of 13,360 B.T.U."— MINISTER OF MINES.
“The east coast of Vancouver Island has a good supply of coal. The Provincial Mineralogist of British Columbia reports the coke to contain from 15 to 16 per cent Ash, but thinks that by a more careful sep- arating of the Shale from the coal, the Ash could be reduced to about 12 per cent with very low phosphorus contents.”—LINDE- MAN.
Fluxes.
“Large deposits of Limestone of very good quality exist on Texada and Vancou- ver Islands, British Columbia."—WHIT- TIER.
“The Limestones abundantly met with on the Coast are exceptionally pure and free from deleterious elements, and offer, there- fore, a good flux. The supply may be said to be practically unlimited."—LINDEMAN.
“The question of Limestone fluxes can be satisfactorily disposed of in a few words.
“Limestones accompany che iron ore de- posits and an adequate supply could be ob- tained with or adjacent to the iron ores,
“Beds of almost theoretically pure lime- stone running over 98 per cent carbonate of lime, with no deleterious ingredients, are abundant on the salt water's edge and adja- cent to Vancouver or Victoria,
“Three large deposits of very pure lime- stone. practically marble, occur on Texada Island, right on the water’s edge.”—MINIS- TER OF MINES,
Summary of the Cost of Producing One Long Ton of Pig Iron in the Northwest:
lron Ore, 2 tons at $2.50 per ton, per long ton pig iron... rite eS 5.00 Coke, 1.25 tons xt $5.00 short ton, per
long ton pig iron .. - 7,00 Limestone, 1.200 pounds at $1.00 long
ton, per long ton pig iron. 4 Maintenance .. zeetcnase 23 General expense and small item roe
*Labor
Total cost
(WHITTIER (p., 112).
Assuming a furnace capacity of 150 tons Per 24 hours, and a production of two tons of pig iron per man employed at $3.50 per day, the cost of labor will be $1.75 per ton pig iron. The following is the approximate cost, based on the above figures:
Ore (magnetite, Toasted, 55 per cent iron), 1.8 tons at $2.50 per ton $ 4.50 Coke 1.25 tons at $6 per ton. 7.50 Lime .. 0.50 *Labor at $3.50 per da: 1,75 Steam raising for blowing engine 0.15 Miscellaneous materials, repairs, main- tenance, general expenses, and amortization (machinery and buildings) say
LINDEMAN (p. 25).
a
*Present labor conditions on the Pacific Coast would no doubt increase the general cost of production by from ten to fifteen per cent.
Market Field
Figures were obtained from prominent Seattle foundry and steel men from which the writer was able to estimate a total pres- ent consumption of pig iron within the western market field of 250,000 to 300,000 tons per year.
C. C. Jones, in his article on “The Pacitic Coast Iron Situation” in September, 1915, gives 100,000 tons as the estimated yearly consumption on the Pacific Coast at that time, “according to one of the leading buy- ers of iron and steel.” The consumption has evidently more than doubled since that time. Jones gives estimate of consump- tion on the Pacific Coast in 1915 as follows:
Tons Pig Tron 100,000 Reinforcing Steel for Concrete Buildings .. 30,000 Sheets 136,000
Plates
- 217,000
Corrugated 15,000 Bar 175,000 Structural . 250,000
Total 923,000
These figures are undoubtedly much lar- ger at the present time, and particularly those covering sheets and plates, on ac- count of the phenomenal growth of the shipbuilding industry which the Northwest is now experiencing.
Considering these facts, it is the writer’: opinion that the market is even now ample to support an iron and steel plant consisting of a blast furnace of 450 to 500 tons per day capacity, together with the refining and roll- ing equipment necessary to manufacture the pig iron into the various merchant forms and shapes.
WHITTIER (p. 118-19).
“Uw Se
Seattle Hardware Co,
Seattle, Wash.
February 23, 1918
LS oees Un fa fat Goodlake, Sec'y General Iron Committee 1107 Langley Street Victoria, B. G,
Dear Mr. Goodlake:
Replying to yours of the 20th instant, would say that the Steel Bars which were rolled at Irondale in 1910 and 1911, were made under many dis— advantages. The mill Was second-hand, and lacking in many ways up-to-date perfection, but the st
on the market,
The plant was run for a few months only, i eve never attained the perfection which Their product
Yours truly,
(Signed) CHAS. Mm. CURTIS
gee
Government Should Help Out The Steel Industry.
(Reprinted from The Wall Street Journal, November 26, 1917.)
The success ,of the Allies over Germany depends upon the steel industry. The enemy is in control of %5 per cent. of the steel industry of France, and all that of Belgium. Russia is out of the contest for the time being at least. Great Britain cannot be depended on for more tian 10,000,000 tons of steel annually.
Therefore the steel industry of the United States, with a capacity for turning out 45,000,000 tons of steel ingots annually, must supply th- Allies with more than 65 per cent. of all steel required for sheils, guns, motor trucks, battle planes, armor, and other material necessary for the successful conduct of the war.
Each ton of product lost at this time is a misfortune and a step backward on the road to ultimate victory. Without the aid of the steel industry of the United States it would not be long before Germany would be able to sweep everything before it. Great Britain with its 10,000,000 tons of steel annually, and France with its comparatively small output would be defenseless w’thin a few months.
In view of all this, why is it that the steel production of this country is permitted to shrink as it has been doing for sometime past? Conditions at the moment are deplorable. Unless the mills and furnaces obtain sufficient cars and locomotives to haul coke, ore, coal and finished materials, a serious steel shortage is inevit- able.
As it is many mills and furnaces have suspended operations and others are about to follow. The steel companies are doing their utmost to maintain output at the highest level possible, but it is getting more and more difficult to cope with labor and trans- vortation.
The railroads, owing to their poor financial condition, have not kept pace with the growth of the steel industry. The steel mills need thousands of additional cars and the only way the rail- roads will be able to supply them will be thro Government assistance. The Iron Age remarks:
“The condition on the railroads is such that am early decision is imperative whether greater transportation facilities shall be provided or less freight shall be required to be moved. The rail- roads have been handling a record volume of freight, vet hate not been able to meet the demands upc. them, and congestion has so increased in recent weeks that a remedy must be found, particularly as the first blasts of winter will effect their usual slowing down in Railroad operations.”
ee
FORMATION AND COMPOSITION OF THE CENTRAL IRON COMMITTEE OF VANCOUVER ISLAND
Consideration of the iron resources of Vancouver Island and adjacent islands had been taken tp from time to time in the past, but without resulting in any tangible development when, on January 3rd, 1918, the programme committee of The Rotary Club of Victoria, introduced the subject at a regular club luncheon and Rotarian T. O. Mackay, answered a series of questions with reference to the subject.
As a result of the foregoing there was a rather remarkable showing of general interest, and it became evident that the mo- ment, with respect to the matter of iron and steel development, was what might be fairly described as “psychological.” A resolu- tion was passed calling on Rotarian Gordon Jameson, as chair- man of the programme committee, to arrange for two successive luncheons to be devoted wholly to a discussion of the iron and associated resources of Vancouver Island.
Two luncheons were held, duly, and then, a third, so great was the ‘nicrest aroused. At the first luncheon Rotarian R. R. Neild, of the Victoria Machinery Depot, delivered a striking address on the possibilities in the development of a steel industry on the Pacific Coast of Canada. his luncheon was held on Janu- ary 10th. On January 17th, following a general. discussion, Rotarian Mayor A. E. Todd, offered a resolution calling for the development of the iron resources of the Island, as a result of which a committee of Rotarians was appointed to take up the matter of iron and steel development, and Mr. Neild was made chairman.
The third luncheon was held on January 24th, and was thrown open for suggestions.
On February 8th the Rotary Iron Committee called a meet- ing, which was to have been held in the offices of the Victoria & Island Development Association, and to which representatives local public bodies, and of all Island municipalities were invite The response to the invitation was so general that it becam_ necessary to adjourn the meeting to a committee room in Bel- mont House, kindly loaned by Mr. C. T. Cross, for want of room at the Development Association’s offices.
It became evident to the Rotary Committee at this meeting that the question was one of general interest and that for the final good, it would be desirable to enlarge the committee, making it general and not representative of any distinct organization. Reso- lations embodying this policy were submitted and carried.
Out of this meeting grew the Central Iron Committee, of Vancouver Island, with Mr. R. R. Neild as chairman; Mr. C. T. Cross, as Treasurer, and Mr. ,T, J. Goodlake and Mr. C. L. Arm- strong as co-secretaries. finance committee was appointed
a
Se
and, as the committee comprised representatives of every com- munity on Vancouver Island, a plan for obtaining the necessary financial support was adopted.
On February 9th a large deputation from the Committee waited on the Hon. William Sloan, Minister of Mines for the Province of British Columbia, and represented to him the neces- sity for action on the part of the Provincial Government. A reso- - lution which had been drafted by Mr. Frank Higgins, of Victoria, calling upon the Provincial Government to pass enabling and remedial legislation for the protection of the ore deposits of the Province, was laid before the minister.
On Tuesday, February 12th, Mr. J. F. Bledsoe, M.E., of Alberni, chairman of the deputation which waited on the Minister of Mines, presented the report of the meeting and the coramittee proceeded to pass a programme. The finance committee sug- gested that Victoria be asked to contribute $1,000.00 to the gen- eral expenses of the Central Committee, Nanaimo $250.00, and each of the other communities $150.00. This was adopted. Priv- ate contributions were also to be requested. 1
°
It was decided that a strong and representative delegation should be despatched to Ottawa, to lay before the Dominion Gov- ernment the desirability of immediate action on their part, look- ing to the development of the latent iron resources of Vancouver Island and the Province generally, and that a series of public meetings should be held throughout the Island for the purpose of enlisting and crystalizing the support of the public.
As a result of the fact that no concise, complete statement of the actual resources in iron, etc., of the Province was known to exist, the committee appointed a sub-committee under Mr. J. F. Bledsoe, M.E., to collect and analyze all existing authentic data and to present it “1 printed form for general consumption.
Voting on the delegation which would proceed to Ottawa was carried out on a plan adopted by the Central Committee, which allowed each of the communities represented one vote for every $50.00 contributed, excepting Victoria, which was allowed one vote for every $100.00 contributed. The election resulted in the selection of the following: Mayor A. E. Todd, Mr. R.'R. Neild, and Mr. Frank Higgins, of Victoria; Mr. J. F. Bledsoe, of the West Coast, and Mr. H. §. Fleming, of the Courtenay-Cum- berland section.
Any further information desired regarding the iron and steel pro- duction possibilities may be obtained by addressing the Honorary Secretary, Central Iron Committee, 904 Government Street, Vic- toria, B.C. F :
Sweeney- Mcconnell Limited, Victormia—=128.
PRInteRs AnO STATIONERS
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