New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-29
Capital Seeks
Remote Gold With
The Hydroplane
Inaccessible Deposits, Rich
in Mineral, May Be De-
veloped via the Air
Toronto. August %.

United States capitalists in an at
temp. to develop rich deposits of gold
and copper in northern Manitoba
which are now practically inaccessible
by the usual means of transportation.
Already efforts are being made to pur-
chase a machine and engage an svia-
tor for trial operations during the
present season. NJ. NJ. MacKeever, of
New York, and other prominent
American mining men are interested
in the enterprise, and there is the
best of authority. for the statement
that they are considering the hydro
plane project in all sincerity. Much
interest in the proposal is being
shown at lie Pas, where the air
route is regarded with confidence and
the hydroplane as certain aid in
future mining operations in Mani
TOBIAS hinterland.
A Jumping OF Place
lie Pas, be it understood, Is a
jumping-off place several hundred
miles northwest Of Winnipeg. 1t is
reached by the Canadian Northern
Railway and Is itself the starting
point Of the Hudson Bay Railway,
which is being constructed BY the
Dominion government. The most re-
cent atlas issued by the Department
Of the Interior, however, shows Le
Pas nearly forty miles north Of a red
line which carries this legend: "Coun-
try north Of this line virtually I'M
prospected and south of it only part
ly prospected." Entry to the vast ter
ritory north Of lie Pas, except for a
few miles along the Hudson Bay Rail-
way, is possible only at very great
cost, because the rocks, muskeg and
forest present an extremely formi-
dable barrier. There are many indics-
tions, however, that the region is
heavily mineralized, and much atten-
tion has been given to it by mining
men during the last year.
The Hon. Edward Brown, Provincial
Treasurer Of Manitoba, declared recent
ly that new Manitoba" would produce
more wealth than the, great wheat
fields of the West. The Manitoba gov
eminent has not been slow to appreci-
ate the possibilities Of its own north
land. A party of prominent Manitobans,
including the Provincial Secretary and
a number of officials, is now on trip
of investigation, but probably will not
penetrate to any great distance from
the Hudson Bay Railways right OF way.
A Stampede
Reports from Winnipeg state that
every train northbound during the last
three months has carried a goodly num-
Der of mining men from New York,
Boston, Chicago and other United
States centres. Every train from lie
Pas brings men hurrying homeward to
mobilize funds with which to engage
in the mining industry far beyond the
fringe of civilization in New Manitoba.
The plan is to employ hydroplanes
of one-half-ton carrying capacity to
transport prospectors, miners and sup
plies from lie Pas into the country to
the north. Airplanes would not serve
the purpose, because lakes and rivers
must be depended upon for landing
places. 1t is claimed that the hydro
plane is the sole means by which access
may be gained to the Coppermine River
deposits, which are thought to be the
richest of the mineral fields. The prob
lem of marketing the ore after it is
mined has not been overlooked, and the
men who are advocating the use Of
hydroplanes contend that there are
available great stores of free milling
ore which could be transported to lie
Pas by the expensive air route and yet
yield very large profits.
There Is much doubt as to whether
any considerable number Of hydro
planes could be secured for the pur-
pose before the end of the war, but the
experiment will be made, and, if it
should prove successful, plans will be
prepared for an extensive use of the
aerial carriers to and from Canada's
newest gold and copper fields. Railways
would inevitably follow closely upon
the opening of rich new mining camps,
but the hydroplane project may be the
first serious attempt to employ flying
machines for commercial purposes.