The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-21 00:00:00

COLONIAL

CANADA.—CorpEtt MINES.—The letter of our
Montreal correspondent, which we published on Friday last,
alludes to mining companies of Canada. The opening of
this new field of enterprise in the colony is opportune, both
for it anti the mother country. A new article of export is
provided just as Canada is about to encounter competition in
our markets oath diminished and diminishing protection ;
and an impetus is given to the settlement of its waste lands,
just as government is anxiously looking round in search of
eligible locations for large bodies cf Irish emigrants. The
simultaneousi eceeery of rich deposits of copper in Australia,
the United States, and Canada, warns to caution in mining
speculations. But caution only is required : the rapid
growth of population and msnufacturing industry is a get-
rantee of seciety's power to use advantageously largely in-
creased quantities of that metal. The history and present
position of the infant mining enterprise of Canada is
bridly as follows. When attention was drawn about
a year ago to the rich mineral deposits on the
Canadian shores of Lakes Huron and Superior, licenses
to explore were in the course of December, 1845, issued by
the local authorities. Now regulations were promulgated on
the 9th of Iduy, 1846, to the effect that no more should be
granted. In the early part of the prescet year Mr. Logan,
the provinciel geologist, was despatched to Lake Superior,
to make surveys and locations for lieense-holders. Parties,
zoo, who had been lucky or favoured enough to get licenses,
were early on the spot with a view to select locations. Com-
panies had been firmed to ex. raise the privileges conferred
upon the license-holders, of which the most prominent are
the Quebec and Montreal Mining Companies. In reply to
an application from the latter, the Colonial Secretary inti-
mated by letter cn the Bth of October last that the com-
missioner of crown lands had been instructed to acquaint
the license-holders that they will be permitted to work mines
under their Helmets, with the option at any time within two
years to purchase the location of ten square miles in which
they are situated, at the rate of 4s. per acre, payable one-filth
part in hand, and the balance in five yearly payments, with
interest. Wheu the licenses are all located, the lands on
Lakes Superior and Huron are to be thrown open for sale at
the minimum price of 4s. per acre, in blocks of ten square
miles, on the same terms. On the 7th of November last, a
public notice was issued from the crown lands department, ,
einbodying the substance of a minute in council, adopted on
the 2nd, confirming the minute of ith October, with the
addition that "each license-hold: r, whose location shall be'
designated by the provincial geologist, shall be entitled to a
certificate of location from the commissioner of crown lands,
upon the payment to that officer of the sum of 1.301. to cover
the cost of survey and other contingent expenses." All
other applicants for licenses shall be entitled to them on the
SalllC conditions as soon as the deputy provincial surveyor I
shall have reported the boundaries of tie locations to the',
commissioner of crown lands. The suns of 150/. is to be
ploeed to the credit of the license-holder as part of his
first instalment, and to be forfeited to government,
and the land again offered for sale, if payment of
the whole instalment is not made good within the two
years. All grants are to be made subject to such regulations
us may heseniter be enacted by the provincial parliament to
ensure the worliing of the mines. it is also intimated in the
public notiee that no further reply can he given to applicants
on Lake Superior until the receipt of Mr. Logan's report and
Mr. Mc Naughtenes return of survey, and that a surveyor
will be appointed to lay out the mining lauds on Lake Huron
whenever the applicants have complied with the above
reauirements. The progress known to hare been made by
the Quebec Minieg Company in this state of affairs, is as
follows : The exploring expedition left Soult Ste. Marie in the
beginning of May, and in the course of a week explored and
took possession in terms of the license of a location at
Mailuouse, 45 miles north of the falls. The subee•
quest discoveries of this body have not been
published, but from another of its locations an expe-
rimental shipment of two cargoes of copper ore has been
made. In July hest the discoveries of the company were
confirmed to its agents by Mr. Logan, at Fort William. On
the 17th or ISth of May the exploring expedition of the
Montreal Company left Soult Ste. Marie, under Mr. Forrest
Shepherd. The locations explored and acquired on behalf
of this body appear to bo principally on the north shores of
Lake Superior. The richest is said to be at Nipigen. Sur-
veys have been made, and interim titles obtained to eighteen'
locations, embracing numerous harbour and mill sites, with
extensive woods, of spruce, birch, cedar, firs, and pines.
Ground has been cleared for gardens and brick-fields;
wharves for boats and schooners ; and thirty cabins, houses,
and blacksmiths' shops have been erected, with a view to
commence operations next spring. Specimens of the ores on
the cempany's locations have been analysed by Professor
Silliman. Along with the ores, specimens of native copper
and native silver, both remarkably fine, were exhibited to
the professor. The ores submitted to him were chiefly what
are called " grey sulpharets" which are, in fact, the vitreous
sulphurct of copper. They are mostly in trap or basalt rocks.
The foreign admixtures are iron, iron-lime, silica, and sulphur.
The ores yield from 40 to G 3 per cent. of metallic copper,
and Professor Silliman thinks they may probably be depended
on to work in the large way from 30 to 50. The amount of
silver in its metallic state, and amalgamated with the copper,
appears to be considerable. A meeting of the company was
held at Montreal, on the 16th of November, at which Sir
George Simpson presided. The Hon. Mr. Moffat stated in
the course of the proceedings : " The trustees had resolved to
be no parties directly or indirectly to any influencing of the
price of shares. They have never desired to sec the shares
rise in price. If the explorations were to turn out unsuccess-
ful it was right that the original parties to them should bear
the loss."