along the International boundary line, output of the United States, which for via Lillooet and Cariboo clear up to 1895 was $38,682,347,—more than the Cassiar and the Yukon. whole combined metal and mineral proThe former place is at present the duction of the Dominion of Canada ! largest producer from its smelting ores, The only mercury mine under the Bribut profitable free milling operations tish flag is being operated at Savonas, are carried on in the West Kootenay, on the Shushwap Lakes. at the “Poorman,” near Nelson, and at Lead is too abundant to be considerthe “Cariboo " mine at Camp McKin ed, and more or less of almost every ney. mineral is found in the immense stretch The development is not confined to of mountain ranges traversing British the main shore, but Vancouver Island Columbia from the American boundary is producing gold and the Victorians are to the Arctic. very hopeful. Dredging the river beds for concentrated gold is a very attractive “proposition,” but owing to large boulders and rapid current it has not been successful on the Fraser or the Quesnelle. Large schemesin this direction are still being undertaken, and the lessons to be derived from the successful New Zealand operations may be profited by and lead to paying dredging work in British Columbia. Silver mining has been very profitable in some instances, especially in the Slocan. A perman- BULL PINE TREES IN THE BUNCH GRASS COUNTRY OF THE OKANAGAN, B.C. ent industry in this direction may confidently be expected, Regarding the possibilities of the fuboth from silver-lead ore and from ture, the United States produced metallic silver-copper ore. Smelters have al and non-metallic substances in 1895 of ready been built, one of which has a value of $622, 230,723. Amongst been running on the former class of these pig iron, chiefly the product of ores at Pilot Bay, and another on the the east, was $105, 198,550, the ore latter class at Nelson. There is a third coming from ranges that run in some smelter operating in the Province at instances into Ontario. The chief outTrail, on the copper-gold ores of the put of silver, $72,051,000 ; gold, Rossland district. $46,610,000; mercury, $1,337,131, Copper seems to be as abundant in was in the west, and about two-thirds British Columbia as in the adjacent the production of copper, above menState to the south (Montana). This tioned, would also be from the State produces nearly half the copper continuation of those ranges, which ada (for 1895) gives the total production of metallic and nonmetallic substances at $22,500,000. It does not require another statement to carry conviction to any ordinary minded person that a disparity exists which is by no manner of means justifiable—that there must be latent possibilities for mineral development from the Atlantic to the Pacific of which advantage has not been taken. Whether from lack of patriotic policy on the part of the government of the country, as in the a FREIGHTING UP THE CARIBOO ROAD, B.C. of steel rails, or a lack of interest and faith in case continue directly through British Columbia, and where somewhat similar results may be expected as the result of exploration and the judicious investment of capital. A large proportion of the $10,655, 040 yield in lead is also from the west. This is to say the same mountain ranges that run through British Columbia produce, in the United States, in about a similar extent of country, about $150,000,000 per annum from silver, gold, copper, mercury and lead. The last available report of the mineral output of Can A VIEW DOWN IN A SHAFT. THE LIGHT-COLOURED ROCK IS THE GOLD-BEARING VEIN. the possibilities of their country on the when they are proved to such an extent part of a land speculating and money that their worth is undoubted, and that lending people, the minerals of the it is only a question of capital to open Dominion of Canada have been neg up a mine and erect a plant, their sale lected by Canadians. Up to the pre will be justified, and disappointment sent the foreign investor has, as a rule, and “black eyes” to the whole mineral been deceived or disappointed by tak- prospects will not be so numerous as ing undeveloped prospects for mines. in the past. Therefore, Canadian deWe should take a little of the risk our velopment Companies, acting under selves, try the prospects, spend some the most conservative and experienced money on them to see if they will jus- advice, can do good work for the future tify their development into mines, and of the mineral production of Canada. Wm. Hamilton Merritt. OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN. TEACH The words “Our Father" when we kneel to pray ; Teach us, dear Lord, all that it means to say Teach us, dear Lord, all that it means to say Forgive our trespasses” when we do pray ; Teach us, dear Lord, all that it means to say Jean Blewett. SIR WILLIAM C. VAN HORNE, K.C.M.G. A Character Sketch. EVERY can VERY land has its national honour of honour. Some men's achievements roll, though differing widely as to mock them, as did those of Troilus, who compose it. One country gives but a man who has stood by at the birth preference to heroes of the battlefield, of a great trans-continental railway, or of the sea ; another emphasizes the who saw the first sod broken and who names of its empire makers. Italy re witnessed the last rail spiked, who members her men of artistic and liter- passed through the years of storm and ary genius in monument and statue, in stress that intervened between these Pantheon and Santa Croce ; France, two events, with all they recall of tests her illustrious men of letters ; Ger of faith, temporary reverses and hills many, her rulers and liberators. Great of difficulty, and who to-day Britain has crowded Westminster Ab travel over 3,500 miles of railway bey and St. Paul's with memorials to under his controlling hand-such a man her kings and queens, soldiers and is stamped as great by his work, and sailors, nobles and statesmen, artists such an accomplishment calls for re and poets. cognition from all who admire definite With the advent of a more demo and great results, cratic age, especially in western lands, Sir William Van Horne has made these rolls of honour contain chiefly his home in Montreal, where the head the names of leaders of commercial offices of his Company are located, and and industrial enterprises. The indus the occupant of the substantial stone trial revolution of the century has mansion on Sherbrooke Street, surevolved leaders who are justly honoured rounded by the art treasures and the for what they have accomplished. The home comforts that good fortune and names of Bessemer and Faraday have good taste have enabled him to accubeen inscribed on the roll of the gen mulate, must experience a well-earned eration to which we belong. The name pleasure in living over again the varied of George Stephenson has not yet been events of his fifty-three years of life, erased from memory. He who first reaching back to his boyhood days in navigated the Atlantic in a steam-pro Illinois, when he occupied his first repelled craft, he who conceived the Suez sponsible position in life as a chainCanal, he who tunneled the St. Gott bearer during the survey of the Central hard, or built the Bell Rock light Pacific Railway. He no doubt rememhouse, or thought out the Forth Bridge, bers, too, his occasional visits to town he who harnessed the mysterious forces -always an event in a lad's life-Joliet of electricity, he who discovered an being the nearest centre of population, anæsthetic for pain—these are among where he made many friendships, which the honoured ones of this age. still last. As a youth he mastered Canada has her Roll of Honour, telegraphy, a knowledge of which he with not a few worthy names thereon has always advised railway juniors to --men who have made an impress on acquire. Then followed his rapid the country by their achievements; and series of promotions, until the little if it is not essential, as it should not Illinois lad became a Canadian railway be, to await a man's death in order to magnate, with a comfortable salary award him his honestly won place in and a title from the Queen Sir Wilthe esteem and regard of his fellow liam's Dutch ancestors played a not men, then the name of Sir William C. unimportant part in laying the foundaVan Horne should be counted worthy tions of Manhattan, and from them he |
