[ells] notes on the mineral fuel supply of CANADA 283 



coal seams exposed have a total thickness of 216 feet. Of this thickness 

 of coal it is remarked that 198 feet occur in a thickness of 1,847 feet of 

 strata, and of this coal, making allowances for shale partings and im- 

 purities, it is estimated that 100 feet are available for mining. The 

 thickest beds in the section are 36, -16 and 46 feet respectively. 



Another section measured along the south 'fork of ^lichel creek gave 

 55 feet of coal, and on Morrissey creek 6S feet, ail in beds of workable 

 size. In sections measured by Mr. Leach near the divide between Elk 

 and Fording rivers there were found 3,386 feet of coal strata containing 

 893/2 feet of coal, the greater part of which was in beds lof workable size, 

 the largest bed having a thickness of 35^ feet. In a section measured 

 by Mr. T. Denis near Michel creek, in a thickness of 931 feet of strata 

 there were 691/2 feet of coal the thickest seam being 25 feet with a thin 

 shale parting. It is evident therefore that the quantity of coal in the 

 Crowsnest basin is inexhaustible, the amount estimated by Mr. McEvoy 

 for an area of 230 square miles, owned by the Crowds ISTest Co. alone 

 being no less than 22,595,200,000 tons. 



In the Banff district which is traversed by the main line of the 

 Canadian Pacific railway, several coal crops occur along the Bow river, 

 some of which have been worked for a number of years at the mines of 

 Canmiore and Anthracite. In this area about fifteen seams have been re- 

 cognized though none are of such huge dimensions as those in the Crows- 

 nest Pass. The geological formation is to all intents the same, belong- 

 ing to the Cretaceous. Nio detailed sections of these Bow river coals 

 have yet been published, but sufficient is known to warrant the statement 

 that the area is a very important one. Beds of semi-anthracite have been 

 opened up having thicknesses of 12 to 15 feet. The coal differs from 

 the bituminous variety of the Crowsnest on the one hand, and from 

 the lignites on the other, in having undergone a greater degree of meta- 

 morphism. The anthracitic and bituminous varieties are found in this 

 field, the difference being due to the amount of alteration to which the 

 original lignite was subjected. These two great coal-basins will be abls 

 to supply the greater part of the territory between the mountains and the 

 city of Winnipeg, where a higher grade of fuel than the lignite of the 

 plains is required. These coals extend northward to the upper waters 

 of the North Saskatchewan and Peace rivers. 



Between the Crowsnest and Banff the coal formation extends along 

 the east flank of the mountains, and large deposits of coal are already 

 known to exist which have not yet been opened up ; while north- 

 ward in the direction of the upper waters of the Peace river large coal 

 seams have also been reported. In the present unopened state of the 

 country in this direction these seams are as yet practically valueless, but 



