86 



times except subsequent to the G!.io-;.il Kfi.xh ai the newer and present 

 Historifiiil age. 



Nor is 0.\rt fconrmic-. n-ptct of the quoslion, in reference to the use 

 to which the in iti-iiuls which compose the Post-Tertiary deposits of this 

 district can be put, one of trifling importance whether in furnishing 

 useful materials for railroad, commercial, agricultural, or other interests. 

 For ballasting, road metal and the like, the Saxicava Sands, gravels 

 and Boulder Clay formations have been extensively used by the Canada 

 Atlantic and Canadian Pacific Eailway authorities throughout this 

 district along their roads at Ottawa and its environs, whilst the sands 

 themselves afford splendid material in the manufacture of mortar for 

 building purposes and to such an extent that a good sand quarry is 

 more remunerative than a gold mine. But whilst these substances are 

 of incalculable value to man, the marine clays of the "Leda Clay ' 

 formation supply the brick and tile manufacturers with the matei'ial 

 wherewith to turn out these useful building and other requisites and 

 likewise afford an inexhaustible supply of the argillaceous substance 

 necessary in the manufacture of Hydraulic cements, of which the Hull 

 cement of this locality, is well-known to be one of the best slow-setting 

 cements. 



Mr. Wright, the manufacturer of the Hull Cement, informs me 

 that the marine clays which he uses are almost equal to the mud 

 or clays dug out of the Thames in England, for the manufacture of 

 the " Portland and Ptoman Cements," so famous everywhere. 



There are many good brick-yards in the vicinity which derive 

 their material from the clays in question, and whilst, it is not deemed 

 necessary to signal out any particular one, nevertheless, that of Mr. 

 T. M. Clarke, of New Edinburgh is worthy of note, as from it, that 

 gentleman turned out a large quantity of white brick of superior 

 quality, Ijy carefully introducing a certain percentage of the white 

 earth taken from the marls overlying the saxicava sands at Hemlock 

 Lake, in McKay's Grove, and submitting it to special process. 

 Brick manufacturing is a most remunerative occupation, especially 

 in such a growing place as Ottawa, where the supply can scarcely 

 equal the demand and the materials are ready and at hand. 



The plastic nature of certain strata in the lower portion of the 



