24 



ington coal." The seam averages from three to five 

 feet thick. The shaft is 400 feet in depth, and the 

 length of the slope at the foot of the shaft is 1,000 

 yards. The system of working is that called the 

 "Longwall," in which all the coal is extracted as min- 

 ing proceeds. At the mine the machinery and plant 

 are all first class. The pit is served by a railway of 

 five miles, which terminates in a wharf of splendid 

 construction at Departure Bay. 



In all the mines of the company, naked lights are 

 used in ordinary work, but the Firemen and Work- 

 men's Committee of examination, of course use safety 

 lamps. The "dip" of the seam or seams in the com- 

 pany's estate is from six to eight degrees. Coal wash- 

 ing machinery is constantly in operation, and utilizes 

 all the small coal which is not consumed in the fur- 

 naces. There are about 1,500 men in the company's 

 service. 



Every precaution has been taken to guard against 

 the spreading of fire in the works, and hydrants with 

 lengths of hose are placed handily at convenient sta- 

 tions. 



THE FARM. 



The company's business embraces the disposition 

 of their landed properties for actual settlement, and 

 special inducements are afforded to those who desire 

 to become bona fide occupiers, with liberal terms of 

 lease or purchase. Notably, the system introduced 

 by Mr. Robins, of the division of large areas, into 

 five acre lots, which are let on lease with right of 

 purchase, has been taken advantage largely of by 

 the workmen principally. The company has cleared, 

 out of the forest, and bushy swamp or bottom lands 

 about 500 acres in several tracts, and has followed 

 up the clearance by thorough tile drainage and cul- 

 ture for production of grain, roots and hay, meadows 

 having been also sown in grass. The "Farm," while 

 productive of crops that ought to yield, if not in- 

 stantly, in due course, a fair return, for the consider- 



