434 DEEP MINING IN NOVA SCOTIA — PREST. 



mining from past geological work there is no evidence that our 

 auriferous leads either decrease in size or richness with increasing 

 depth. The cost of mining certainly increases with depth, but 

 should not increase at a greater ratio than in foreign countries 

 where a few dwts, per ton, often pay a dividend. Why is it that 

 moneyed men will without any hesitation invest largely in 

 maiuifacturing industries in the face of competition and the fre- 

 quent possibility of a glutted market ? The gold market is never 

 glutted, neither is there the slightest evidence of the supply 

 being exhausted. But the gold mining industry like all others 

 needs capital, scientific knowledge, and a talent for hard perse- 

 vering work, very little of which has so far fallen to its share. 

 Mone}^ is doled out in hundreds instead of thousands. A special 

 course of training on the peculiarities of our auriferous formation 

 is unattainable, and the want of confidence which results in lack 

 of perseverance is a natural outcome of the want of special 

 knowledge and financial backing. We want foreign mining 

 engineers among us if only for the purpose of infusing into us 

 some of that vigorous though venturesome policy that showed 

 itself in the construction of tlie Comstock tunnel in the hope of 

 a final reward. Something of this energy has shown itself lately 

 in the piercing of the anticline at Oldham by Mr. Hardman, and 

 the renewal of work on the 500 ft. shaft on the Lake lead. 

 Caribou. The sinking of the deep shaft by Mr. Hay ward at 

 South Uniacke is also a sign of the revival of mining enterprize 

 in Nova Scotia. 



Years have been wasted in begging the Government for aid in 

 sinking a thousand foot shaft to solve the question of successful 

 deep mining, but had one quarter of the money lost in unsuccess- 

 ful manufacturing enterprises been applied to the purpose the 

 problem woukl have been solved long ago. 



