Semi-Centennial Volume. 181 



The Mine Centre Mining District, Ontario, and Adjacent 

 Territory in the United States. 



ALUKKT 15. KKA(iAN. 



Recently the writer visited the Mine Centre district and was much 

 impressed by what he found there. In the old days the country was so 

 wooded that prospecting was a very difficult proposition, but now, that the 

 fire of some years ago stripped the country of all vegetation, every ledge 

 and- vein is visible and the prospector will have no difficulty in finding 

 good ore outcrops, if such are in the region, as facts demonstrated they 

 are. The region is a gold country, as is well known. The ore seems to be 

 found in ledges and veins of quarts protruding up through the Kewatin 

 series. A small vein just west of the depot at Mine Centre, a vein not 

 thicker than my hand, showed free gold, and almost any vein in that 

 region, however thin, carries some gold. 



This was a great mining center in the latter part of last century. But 

 in that time it was terribly handicapped on account of the inaccessibility 

 of the region. There was no railroad then and all supplies had to be 

 hauled 100 miles through an almost trackless wilderness in winter. In 

 addition, those who opened the mines expected to find high-grade ores in 

 quantity. The Canadian Northern Railroad having been built through 

 the region and the improved methods by which low-grade ores can be 

 handled at a profit now make mining in the district profitable. Mining 

 under experienced and economical management will pay in this district. 



Even with the railroad running through the region, the mines are yet 

 much handicapped, as roads are not built to the mines, or if built need to 

 be much improved. The Foley mine is putting in a telephone line to Mine 

 Centre and to offset its poor road the management contemplates putting 

 in a large gasoline boat to ply on Rainy Lake between the mine and 

 Fort Frances, Ont. Furthermore, if the road is not made passable by 

 the government from Mine Centre, the company will have its coal hauled 

 by barge from Ranier to the stamp mill for fuel instead of hauling it out 

 from Mine Centre. 



There has been an awakening in a political way recently for the 

 benefit of this, mining country. The head geologist of Canada is speaking 

 for the region. Captain H. A. C. Machin declared recently on the floor 

 of the provmcial parliament that this part of Ontario rejoiced in min- 

 eral wealth. Politically, industrially and financially, a new regime 

 promises justice and the mining of the region will take on new and 

 vigorous life. Below are some of the mines of the region. Golden Cres- 

 cent, Lucky Coon, Ferguson, Old Golden Star, Calm Lake Mines, Steep 

 Rock, Elizabeth, Olive and Foley. The last five will receive more notice: 



Calm Lake. — The mines in this vicinity are owned by the Calm Lake 

 Gold Mining Company. This company has a shaft down 85 feet. At a 

 depth of 75 feet this shaft cuts a system of veins. At this point a 

 crosscut of 50 feet has been made to intersect the veins and make them 

 workable. A vein known as "No. 2" was also cut through and was found 

 to be 50 feet wide. It showed some free gold but not an entirely free 



