403 On Metallic Minerals. 



tamaracj cedar, sapin, (the pine which yields the Canada 

 balsam.) On the higher elevations birch, maple and 

 beech. The quantity is thought not to be sufficient for the 

 smelting of all the ore. That prefered for making charcoal 

 is beech, birch and maple. The proportion of coal to ore 

 is six hundred and forty-eight bushels to three tons. The 

 charcoal is made in winter and brought to the works a dis- 

 tance of from four to seven miles. 



Some years ago a very fatal accident very nearly hap- 

 pened at these works. The first layer of coal had just been 

 put upon the furnace and lighted, when one of the men 

 seeing scoria sticking to the sides of the furnace, des- 

 cended to remove it, and while standing on a ladder to do 

 so he suddenly lost his senses and fell. Another man 

 seeing the transaction descended likewise, and while 

 putting a rope round the body of his inanimate comrade, a 

 stupor came over him and he fell also. A third man now 

 descended with a rope round his body and succeeded in 

 getting one of the men out, but not before the gas had 

 taken effect on himself as he was drawn out apparently 

 lifeless. The man who first fell was the last who was 

 taken out, yet he suffered least, and subsequently described 

 his sensations previously to falling as very pleasurable, 

 while those of the other two, both before and afterwards 

 were said to be horrible. One man indeed, was very angry 

 with the Doctor, I believe, for bringing him to life. 



The river opposite the forges, as these works are called, 

 is two hundred and eighty-eight yards wide. At the mouth 

 of the river where the ferry is established its width is 

 according to the ferryman about four hundred and eighty 

 yards. This river continues navigable for six miles above 

 the forges, but the current is in some places very rapid — 



