The evening times., 1899-11-20
VALUABLE DATA SECURED.
Director Walcott's Geological Expe-
diti0n to Newfoundland.

| Director Charles d. Walcott, Of the Uni
ted States Geological Survey, has returned
to Washington after an interesting sum
mer, the greater part OF which was passed
in Newfoundland, where he went for the
purpose of studying some geological for
| nations which are much better shown in
that region than in any portion OF this
country between the st. Lawrence and Ala
bama. He was most successful in his
work, finding formations connecting the
older on-fossiliferous rocks with the fos-
siliferous Cambrian rocks, which are we'll
! developed in Newfoundland, Vermont, New
York. Tennessee, and Alabama.
| While engaged in this work Mr.. Waicott
examined a deposit of purple and green
roofing slate on Smith Sound, Random Isl
and, on the western side of Trinity Fay.
In his opinion. this is one of the greatest
roofing slate deposits Of the world, COM
parable with that of North Wales and the
| American deposits of Washington county,
N. ~. and Rutland county, VT. At one
point on Smith Sound the slate has teen
| quarried for local use for century. Tne
| largest ships can load directly at the quar-
ry, which gives cheap transportation to
Europe or wherever the slate may be need
| ed, and strong company is now being
| formed to develop this slate bed.
| Mr.. Walcott also visited the recently de-
veloped hematite iron ore mines on Great
Belle Isle. Conception Bay, which were ac-
cidentalIy discovered as the result of fish
ermen using the ore for ballast. The origi-
| nal lccators made a good profit by selling
| to a Nova Scotia syndicate, which recently
| disposed Of portion of the property to the
| Whitney syndicate of Boston. Montreal,
| and Halifax for 81. .00O, 900. 1t is anticipat-
! ed that 1000 or more men will be employ
| ed at the Belle Isle mines during the CON-
| ing season. The ore occurs in blocks, is
easily mined and handled. and dumped di-
| rectly from the ore cars into chutes ana
| bins that carry ii to the hold OF the trans
porting steamers which take it to Sydney.
Cape Bretcn to be used in the great steel
plant now being erected at that point.
| From other portions of the iron property
the ere is largely shipped to the krupp
iron works in Germany.
Many minor mineral industries, says
Mr. WaIcott ARE being developed along
the line of the railroad running from PORT
au- BASQUE TO St Johns. This line is
pioneer road. comparable when the re-
sources OF the country are taken into con-
sideration. with that OF one of our earlier
tran sentimental lines. The ride from Port
au- Basque Iorth along the coast, past the
beautiful ST. George Bay and the head oil
the Bay Islands is one long to be remem-
bered. From the Bay Islands the road FOL-
lows the Humber River on the shores OF
Deer Fond. going directly eastward along
the northern shore of the Grand Lake. and
thence across the .wilds of NEWFOUNDLAND
TO the head of the deep iniets OF Buena
Vista Bay. 1t then turrs southwark. cross
ing the reck Of the Avalon peninsular.
where a narrow strip OF land separates the
lovely Placentia and Trinity bays. The road
from this point TO 81. Johns is one OF great
Interest and beauty. few spots in the world
being more picturesque than the head of
Conception Bay. which the railroad skirts
high upon the hills. The building OF this
railroad and the developing Of mineral in
tstrests have opened new era TO New
founilanI and the spirit OF the people
seems to have bsen greatly awakened
For nearly six weeks Mr.. Walcott tray-
eled by boat. wagon. and on foot. comins
in daily contact with the people on the
eastern part of the island. He noticed
marked advance ill tho fishing villages
about TIE bay compared with their con-
dition at the time of his visit in 1855. and
found everywhere strong friendly feel
ing toward the United States. and desire
on the part of most of the people TO lave
closer commercial relations. This arises
largely from the business intercourse be-
tween the Newfoundland ports and our At
lantic Coast ports. and is the effect of the
great emigration of the young men and
women of Newfoundland to the United
States. In st. Johns a reliable authority
estimates that at least ten thousand. and
il may be fifteen thousand. Newfound-
landers are settled ir and about Boston.
Mr.. Walcott visited the government fish
hatchery in Trinity Bay. and found it TO
be modern institution. fully up to the
methods pursued by the most advanced
fish hatcheries. This institution has been
in existence for a number OF years. and the
waters of Trinity Bay swarm with young
cod. which. If permitted to grow. will un-
doubtcdiy greatly increase the catch Of fish
not only in Trinity Bay, but elsewhere
along the coast.
Prof weicott's expedition was under
taken iE connection with the Smithsonian
Institution and National Museum. in which
institution he holds an honorary position
and. owing to the unusually cold and foggy
weather, during June and early July, many
obstacles were met with Icebergs were
everywhere present. ard the average tenn
peraturs of the sea water did not rise above
IS degrees while he was on the island. The
geologic work and collecting were conduct
ID under adverse conditions; living in a
small skif landing on rocky shores on
rough water in rain and fog, clothed in oil
skins rubber boots and hat. transporting
collections over slippery rocks TO place
them in an open boat. Tended off by boat
tocks from the cliffs. requires an enthusi-
asm such as is found only in devotee of
the work in hand.
Prof Walcott brought back with him.
despite the difficulties he encountered
large collsction OF rare fossils from the old
er rocks. which will be deposited in the Ma
tional Museum The interesting series of
photographs taken show the coast of New
feundland 10 be much like that of Alaska,
with the exception of its glaciers, the fiords.
which were formerly filled with ice. now
being beautiful inlets and bays. Here and
there the shore breaks down, and at all
such PLACES fshermsn's houses dot the slope
wherever, indeed, there Is a protected
cove to land boat, there a fisherman or a
group Of fishermen have established their
ZONES.
D. Prof. Walcett found the city OF ST. Johns
greatly improved since its destruction by
fire in 1892 Substantial stone and brick
buildings have replaced many of the wood
en- structures; an electric railway is being
built. and the general appearance of tbs
city indicates a progressive spirit that
speaks well for the future prosperity of the
city ard of the island of which it is the
metropolis When the question of the
French fisheries is settled for the western
side of the island. it is probable that this
spirit of prosperity and development will