220 



which time the growth of the industry has been constant and rapid, 

 the output increasing from 50 tons only in 1878 to probably not far 

 from 8,000 tons in 1890, while the prices have also advanced within the 

 last year or two at a like wonderful rate, till now No. 1 (Quebec 

 asbestus commands probably as good a price in the market as the best 

 Italian, while No. 3 brings nearly as much as was obtained for No. 1 

 six years ago. 



According to the Ontario Commission's Report, actinolite min- 

 ing in that province was commenced in 1881, since which time about 

 3,000 tons have been extracted. This material, however, does not com- 

 mand the price of the Thetford mineral, selling at about the same 

 figure as the waste or No. 4 from that locality, it being used almost 

 entirely for asbestus roofing, for which purpose it is mixed with tar, as 

 already stated, and then applied in a coating of about half an inch in 

 thickness. The waste from the mines of the Eastern Townships, and 

 formerly the output graded No. 3. was at one time quite extensively 

 used for the same purpose. 



The asbestus of Templeton was probably first mined in 1883, but 

 the industry has never proved very remunerative, owing to the limited 

 nature of the deposit and the smallness of the veins, so that for some 

 years mining was entirely abandoned. During the last season, how- 

 ever, operations have been started anew, and some very excellent fibre 

 taken out, it is claimed at a profit. The conditions under which the 

 asbestus occurs in this district are distinct from those which are found 

 both at Kaladar in Ontario and in the serpentine areas of the Eastern 

 Townships, the serpentine in which the asbestus veins occur being in- 

 timately associated with crystalline limestone, and in many places the 

 latter is highly serpentinous. The fibre of the asbestus is distinguished 

 from that of Thetford in having a marked pearly and wavy lustre, in 

 being generally lighter colored, and by an entire absence of impurities 

 in the form ot iron grains. Sufficient study of these peculiar rocks has 

 not yet been made to pronounce definitely upon their probable import, 

 ance, but when the deposits are made more accessible considerable 

 mining will be done, as these appear to be quite extensive. 



As for the uses of asbestus. these have multiplied with exceeding 

 rapidity. The early history has been briefly stated, in so much that 



