[ellsJ notes on the MINERAL FUEL SUPPLY OF CANADA 279 



The development of these peat bogs was begun about forty years ago 

 in the country between St. Johns and Farnhani near Ste. Brigide, and 

 also near Bulstrode, Arthabaska county. Large deposits of excellent peat 

 occur along the railway at both these places and were at one time ex- 

 ploited quite extensively in the matter of peat fuel. Being uncom- 

 pressed it was not found to be suitable for railway work owing to the 

 large amount of space required Eecently- however, this objection has 

 been to a large extent overcome, and the peat, after extraction of the 

 contained moisture down to within 12 to 15 per cent, is compressed into 

 small cylindrical blocks having almost the hardness and consistency of 

 coal. Peat bogs are extensively developed in many portions of the 

 province, and when the process of peat manufacture is perfected, the 

 new kind of fuel will doubtless to a considerable extent obviate the 

 necessity of importing the soft or bituminous coals from the United 

 States or ISTova Scotia. The manufacture of this compressed peat fuel 

 has reached the stage when the demand exceeds the present supply 

 on the market and it readily sells at a good profit on the cost of 

 ma,nufacture. 



The question of the utilization of the great deposits of peat applies 

 to the province of Ontario and in large areas in Manitoba as well as to 

 Quebec, since in all these provinces this material occurs over large areas, 

 much of which is convenient of access while coal deposits are practically 

 lacking. 



Turning to the province of Ontariio, true coals are nowhere found, 

 but deposits of anthraxiolite and lignite occur, the latter in the area 

 south of James Bay where large supplies have quite recently been dis- 

 covered and may some day be utilized. 



This lignite of the Moose river basin is peculiar, in that it is found 

 in Post Tertiar}' deposits of sand, gravel and boulder clay instead of in a 

 solid rock formation as in the case of the lignites of the west It is 

 therefore the newest lignite formation known in Canada with the ex- 

 ception of certain small deposits that occur in clays on the north end of 

 Graham Island, one of the Queen Charlotte gnoup on the Pacific coast. 



In spite of the newness of the deposits along the Moose river the 

 seams, though in places somewhat irregular in deposition, are of consid- 

 erable thickness. The lignite when dry burns readily and the deposit 

 promises to yield, under certain conditions and for certain purposes, a 

 fairly satisfactory fuel. It is of a brownish black oolour and bums 

 quite freely in an open fire. It cannot, however, compare in quality with 

 the better or older grade of lignite of the Tertiary period, which is so 

 abundant throughout the great plains lof the west. 



