The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-27
VANCOUVER'S COAL MINES.
They BECOME n Fnctor in the DeveI-
Opmsnt of the Island

Recent Developments have%shown that
one of the most important factors in the
prosperity of Vancouver Island is to be
found in the rich coal mines along the
eastern coast Writing upon the subject
to the State Department. A Z. Smith, the
United States Consul at Victoria, says
Until of late years. the Vancouver Isl
and mines have had no rivals in British
Columbia and have practically monopoIiz-
ed the coal trade But the development
of the Crows Nest coal mines in the
southeast portion of the province. recent
" purchased by an American syndicate,
now in control. has prevented any in
crease Of the consumption Of Vancouver
Island coal on the mainland though it is
claimed that the Canadian Pacific Rail
road, which still uses the island coal. re-
CARDS it as superior for making steam 20
the product Of the Crows Nets mines. 1t
is stated that the Crows Nest mines are
the largest on the coast; capable Of pro
duCing. when properly worked, 10000 tons
Of coal daily, and even At mat rate of
lasting several hundred years The pres
ent pT oduCt of these mines amounts t.
less than 900 tons per day and cannot
be largely increased until a way is found
to reach the United States A bill is now
before the Legislature and the Dominion
Parliament asking a charter Cor rail
road from Michel British Columbia, to
the International boundary, where on
ntcticn is made with the Great Nc-theTn
Railroad The company Is ready to build
the road without bonus or lanI grant Of
any kind, but is, Of course, O. posed IN
their application for charter by the Cd
madam Pacific Railroad, aided 10y parties
WIZ oppose all roads that lead To The
United States
There has been quite a change in the
mines of Vancouver Island during the
past year The coal mines at ComOX. the
most northern. have been worked to their
fullest capacity, and one or two new
shafts dug out. It was in one Of these
new shafts. No s. that terrible eXplo-
sion took place on Friday, February 10,
1851. by which siXty-fOur miners. all who
were working IN the shaft, lost their lives
OF the dead miners twenty were whites
and the remainder ASiatics- Since then
work has been resumed, and the mine is
again being run 10 its full capacity
At Wellington the mines have been
worked out and ahandoned-and so has
the town itself, practically Before the
work ceased there were frequent cave
ms involving loss of life and property.
During the past year the principal build
ingS there have been uOTes away to other
towns. and. by petition of the remaining
Inhabitants, the municipal charter has
been surrendered and revoked The re-
pair shops Of the Esquimault and Nanai-
mo Railway. however, still remain there
1t is understood that if the road is con-
tinUed north to Hardy Bay the shops viii
he kept at Wellington a charter has
been applied for to authorize the extern
sion Of the railroad. which viii probably
be granted, but whether the road viii be
built IS YET 10 be determined.
The mines at NanaimO, extending
from the town under the bay to Protec-
ton Island, are worked TO their full ca
pacity, and ship as much coal as all the
other mines OF the island combined
These mines are worked entirely by un-
ion men. and no Asiatics are employed
underground. The result is that Nanai-
mo Is represented in the provincial leg
iSiature by two labor men, while the
seat in the Dominion Parliament Is flied
by the secretary Of the miners union.
Strikes have 50 far been avoided, al
lhouSh one was set Ter March l. 1871,
but the ma naEemeHt NO the committee
representing the miners and showed the
contracts Of the company. many Of
which were made before the present pro
Finciai tax Of cents per ton was levied,
and the men have 50 far continued with
out increase In these mines the miners
receive $ cents per ton and make an
average Of s. to $40 per day
The Alexandria mine IS closed, and
has been since last December The man
agernent gives as reason for closing that
there IS no demand for the coal which
was chiefly sent TO San Francisco Since
that time. the whole force Of 80 men pre-
viOusly employed il the mine has been
lying idle. save those who have gone to
work IN other mines The miners claim
that the real cause Tor closing the mine
Is that the mana cement insisted that z.So0
pounds should constitute a miners ton.
instead Of 2-552 pounds. as had previously
been the rule and, further, that nothing
should be allowed for turning places.
which are quite numerous in this mine
ne management states That the / nIted
States duty Of g. cents per ton. the scent :
tax, the Eight-Hour law. and the discoy-
cry Of oil in California render the market I
Improbable, and further Iatimates that
the general output Of Vancouver Island (
coal mines may have to he curtaiIed IN
the near future owing to the competition
OF the Washington mines and Of Califor- (
ME oil A number Of the UNEMPLOYED and
their families are now receiving relief /
from the Nanairno and other unions
The Extension mines. owned by the |
same company tJhe wellington COlIieTY /
Company, are distant twelve miles only |
from the Alexandria It may Oe stated |
that all the coal mines Of the island are |
on the east coast. within a radius Of less
than forty miles. The Extension mines
are running rs usual and frequently are I
unable To supply the demand for coal +
vessels having to wait their curn at the /
WharVeS before receiving their needed /
supply Forty or more Of the miners who
formerly worked at Alexandria have Sc
cured work in the Extension mines where
= cents per ton Is paid miners. against. So
cents in the Alexandra mine
The operation of the Extension mines
has resulted IN the building and iucOF-
known as LduySmiJn. which already has
200 inhabitants, several stores hotels.
&c, and bids fair 10 become thriving
city although entirely dependent. as was
Wellington and as ar, Nanaino and
South Wellington on the mining industry
Here hUnkerS capa bic Of holding % n3I
tons Of coal have been erected. and tracks
run direct TO the wharves from the mines
at Extension. fourteen miles away Many I
n the miners reside in small shantics I
close 10 the mine, but the mana cement
prefers 10 have them live at Iadysmith /
To this end. lots are sold miners for SIGg
zach and neat cottages erected for them.
payable on the iUStaIImpnt plan. Trains /
run at convenient hours for the different :
shifts Of miners and transportation is (
cost All the men are paid at
LadySmith. which is the headquarters of [
he mana cement Of Extension mines