The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-27

Canada's Coal Ffelds.
The WILSON bill placed coal upon the free
list and it remains to be seen whether the
House OF Representatives will refuse to
concur ia an amendment by the Senate inn
posing duty upon that commodity. 1t is
hard to understand how American citizens.
who in their hearts must desire the an
nexation OF Canada. can deliberately cut of
one Of the chief incentives to that end by
admitting gratuitously to American mar
kets one OF the most important products Of
the Dominion.
To measure the severity OF the competi-
ton to which American producers would be
subjected by their Canadian rivals. in case
coal should be imported free Of duty. one
should take into account the situation OF
the Canadian coal fields as we'll as the I'M
limited extension OF which their output is
capable. There are great deposits on the
very edge OF the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
while the intervening mines lie for the
most part on tho line OF the Canadian Pa
cifc Railway. Immediately behind Halifax.
for instance. and closely connected with it
by rail- are the Pictou and other Nova SEQ
tian coal fields. which. even now. while
their product is shut of from the American
market. turn out about O million tons OF
coal per annum. To the northeast is the
island OF Cape Breton. around whose fine
harbors are numerous mines from which
are raised yearly million tons OF coal Of
excellent quality for steamiDg and other
purposes. 1t is impossible for coal fields to
have a more advantageous position. for
here the mouths OF the pits are in some
cases close to the shore. and as the mines
are carried out far under the sea ship
may load directly over the spot whence the
coal Is obtained.
IL we cross the continent. we find the coal
of British Columbia equally we'll placed for
acquiring control Of the neighboring Ameri-
can markets. IL il is admitted to them duty
free. 1t should be remembered that along
the whole Pacific coast of South America
there is no coal found suitable for steaming
purposes. nor is there any on the coast
Of North America until we come to
Puget Sound. On the American shore
of this sound there are coal fields now
worked. but their product will be driven
from our home markets II it is ex-
posed to competition with the output OF
the richer deposits on Vancouver Island.
The annual delivery of the mines at Nana-
ready risen above a million tons. aud is
capable OF great expansion. At Nanaimo.
moreover. the principal mine is directly on
the shore and the galleries are pushed out
far under the water. so that here. as at Cape
Breton. ships may load Immediately over
the place from which the coal is extracted.
There are. therefore. no charges for trans
portation from the pits mouth to the place
of shipment.
Another important coal area OF the Do
miDion has lately been opened in the Rocky
Mountain district A few miles from Banff.
and scarcely hundred yards from the line
of the Canadian Pacific Railway. mine Of
anthracite coal is now worked. and many
outcrops OF the same deposit are found in
the vicinity. This anthracite contains a
larger amount OF fixed carbon than the
product of eastern Pennsylvania. burns
rather more rapidly. and gives out a greater
heat. This coal is used exclusively by
the Canadian Pacific Railway for heat
ing its cars as far eastward as
Lake Superior. aud 1t is sold for
domestic purposes as far eastward as Win
nipeg. At Canmore. only ten miles distant
from the anthracite mine, is found another
kind of coal, almost smokeless. and possess
ing the quality OF coking we'll. We're it adj
mitted to the markets OF our States near
it. its Rdaptability to smelling pur-
poses and relative cheapness would drive
out all competitors. Coming eastward We
find in the prairie country OF the Ca
madam Northwest another extensive coal
deposit. The Calf mines at Lethbridgs
yield a good bituminous coal. well adapted
To railway uses. which. il the duty were re-
moved. would be exported in large quanti-
ties TO the States lying Immediately to the
south. II is estimated by DR.. DAWSON that
the coal measures stretching eastward from
Lethbridge. along the American border. to
Manitoba cover 1900 square miles. We
may add that all along the banks Of the Sas-
katchewan. in the vicinity OF Edmonton.
thick seams Of coal are visible. and that a
seryiceable domestic coal Is delivered at
that place for s2.5O a ton.
To obtain free access to the American
market for the output Of these vast coal de-
Posits. and for the other natural products
Of the Dominion. there y no doubt that