The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-20
CANADIAN GOLD FIELDS
THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF CEN
TRIAL CANADA AND SOUTH
AFRICA COMPARED
ADDRESS BY SOUTH AFRICAN
Johannesburg When It's Chamber of
Mines Was Established Was
Much Like the Situa-
ton Here.

Winnipeg city hall by Mr.. F. H. Nal
colin date president of the johannesburg
Diamond Boring and Developing COM
pany, limited) to the members of the Cen
trail Canada Chamber of Mines:
From published statistics it will be
noted that the Transvaal ores are low
grade, averaging 6h pennyweights to the
ton, over the plates, in value slightly I'M
der Sc per ton. The mines are deep, av-
eraging $500 feet, some exceeding 1900
feet, before the reef is reached. Water Is
also scarce
The cost of constructing these immense
dams averages about $500, 600, and sinking
and equipping a shaft to that depth about
$25O,OOO Cor 915O,000 in alb has to be spent
before they are on the same basis
as a Canadian outcrop mine, when the
first pick is put into the ground,
The Transvaal reefs average ten feet in
thickness. In Canada a fair average reef
is four feet, but many run in Ontario up
to fifteen feet. Average returns from
Lake Of the Woods mines now working
would give about $14 to the ton, some
much higher results. Large out-crop
dykes running S. per ton and upwards are
common in Ontario, which might be work
ed as quarries. The cost of mining and
milling the latter with modern applia
Gas on the RANDI should not exceed $3.50
per ton.
Labor is considerably higher in Africa,
averaging for white labor Sc per day,
Kaftir labor being ST per month and
found. All necessaries of life are much
more expensive in Africa and a work
mans three-rOomed cottage cannot be OBJ
tanned in Johannesburg under $50 per
month.
Transvaal mines are highly capitalized,
but not more than 20 per cent of nominal
capital has been provided in cash as
working capital, yet, Notwithstanding
this, the dividends are large as will be
observed from statistics. The dividends
average 81 per cent per annum) are paid
also upon vendors shares, which equal
about so per cent of the whole nominal
capitalization. And the present price of
shares in Europe, Notwithstanding the
war, average about $40 per cent premium,
the highest being Rand Mines limited,
whose 81 shares now (even in war time)
stand at &3S on London Stock exchange.
Both Transvaal and Central Canadian
ores are free milling, and these remarks
apply to over-plate yields only Gn both
cases. for the reason that few Canadian
mines are equipped with modern cyanide
or other processes for extraction of resi-
dues from tailings, shines, etc, which
would probably increase yields about So
per cent, as in the Transvaal
The mill batteries in Canada have most
ly light stamps-in Africa The average
weight of stamp is 1,250 pounds. against
800 pounds in Canada-and other ap-
p1ances compared with the Transvaal are
OF most primitive description the adj
vantage OF heavy stamps being that they
double the capacity at emily 10 per cent
increase of power.
The Johannesburg chamber of mines
has been established only nine years but
has introduced during that short period
about $,25O 100000 of capital. eouaIling
t25O OG0, now invested in the mining
industry in the region and supplies of
capital are always forthcoming for new
enterprises The reason of this is the
absolute. confidence reposed by European
investors in the integrity of the Johar.
nesburg institution, which has dissent
mated its monthly statistical information
and is now known and recognized as the
premier institution of its kind throughout
the world
Inc johannesburg main reef is about
nifty miles long by seven miles wide In
Western Canada the Lake of the Woods
gold district alone is about $50 miles long
by about l6O miles wide; then there are
many other promising gold areas, such as
nlpeg, Port Arthur, etc, and taking all
these facts into consideration and com.
pairing the conditions with those obtain
ing elsewhere, there IS no reason what.
ever, With adequate appliances and ma
chinery, why the Central Canadian gold
mines should not soon be included
amongst the most productive in the
world.
AS outside issues and enterprises en-
q
Of mines are the railways ana telegrapns.
No less than five lines OF railway con-
verge or johannesburg, all built GuriEa
the last six years, the cost of which is
about equal to the entire Canadian Pacific
railway system, and a line of telegraph
is now being built right through Africa
from the cape to Cairo.
johannesburg, at the time Of establish.
ing its chamber of mines, was much in
the same condition as the mining districts
OF Central Canada are TODAY their very
existence being unknown in Europe, and
necessarily, therefore, without capital
mat city was centcred in the heart of
the South African continent, and BEING
without either railway or telegraphic
communication, 1,40O miles by road from
Cape Town, was quite unknown to the
rest Of the world. 1t has achieved It's
lame throughout the world entirely
through the reliable information and
propaganda of its chamber of mines. and
now there is scarcely a newspaper in tho
whole world, in any language, that does
not publish its telegraphed information
Oh the progressive monthly output of gold
Compare these results with the mines
of Canada and the United States of
America, which, in consequence of no
such institution being hitherto in exist
ence, not a single American or Canadian
mine has yet been listed or recognized
on the stock exchanges of Europe
In order to rectify this anomaly the
Central Canadian Chamber of Mines has
been organized, for there is no doubt
whatever that the mines of Central Can
ada are greatly superior to any vet
known in South America, both in extent
size Of ore body and grade OF ore The
conditions and facilities for economical
working are greatly in favor of Canada
Doth in respect to cost of labor, abund-
ance of water power cheapness of pro-
visions, accessibility through regular rail-
way communication in all directions AMI
the important fact that the reefs are
payable almost from the surface, as has
been abundantly proved by the few mines
now working at the Lake of the Woods
and other centers where with the most
primitive appliances, highly encouraging
results are even now being achieved.
The total white population of South At
RIGA never exceeded 100000 persons. the
gold fields being distant and difficult Of
access. Compare this with the central
position of Canada with probably SOOO3.-
600 of people on the American continent
south of us, and about 0,O00, 900 in Eu-
rope, all within ten days reach Of the
Central Canadian gold fields. MANY Of
these Especially those who have made
money elsewhere would undoubtedly in
vest, II they knew of the existence Of
these mines, fractional percentage Of
which will suffice to place Canada on
satisfactory basis as gold-producing