BED OF MINERAL BITUMEN. 97 



This substance was said to occur in a thick bed in the 

 bottom of the brook ; but Dr Robb had not an oppor 

 tunity of seeing it in situ. Since my visit, however, the 

 bed has actually been discovered by parties who propose to 

 work it. Its thickness is stated to be about four feet. 

 Should this prove to be a regular bed of bitumen, and 

 not a mere local nest, it will be a valuable acquisition to 

 the colony ; for though it may not be possible to use it 

 alone for fuel, yet, it would materially aid the quick 

 getting up of steam where coal is employed. Especially, 

 it may facilitate the economical use of anthracite coal in 

 the railway locomotives an object of much importance 

 in our own Wales, which possesses a large store of this 

 variety of coal ; but one of especial interest in the United 

 States, where the deposits of anthracite are so vast and 

 so easily accessible. Besides other incidental uses, it 

 may be of great value also for the manufacture of gas, 

 and may render the province, in this respect, independent 

 of every other country. 



In connection with these two economical objects, I may 

 advert to the possibility of exporting and employing 

 some of the forms of bitumen, which occur so abun 

 dantly in the pitch-lake of Trinidad. Those who are 

 interested in our West India steamers could easily 

 ascertain how far it would be possible to collect, and 

 economically stow, the more hard and solid forms of this 

 bitumen ; and, by experiment, determine whether a 

 saving might not be effected by the partial use of it in 

 these boats. Dr Gessner of Nova Scotia has recently 

 secured a patent in the provinces, for a form of retort 

 adapted to the manufacture of gas from the pitch of 

 Trinidad ; from which circumstance I infer that he 

 considers it possible to import and manufacture gas from 

 this substance, in Nova Scotia and New Bruns\vick, 

 cheaper than it can be made from the bituminous coal 

 VOL. ii. a 



