42 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



The Cobalt Mimng District— Past 

 and Present. 



Abstract of Paper Read before the Hamilton Scientific Association, 

 February 7th, 1907. 



BY PROF. W. A. PARKS, M.A, 



We have at Cobalt one of the richest spots on the face of 

 the earth, situated about three hundred and thirty miles 

 north of Toronto, and about four and a half miles from 

 Haileybury. Haileybury has been in existence quite a num- 

 ber of years, and about twelve years ago was quite a thriving 

 little town. Lake Temiskaming was a highway of travel for 

 the fur traders of the Hudson Ba)^ Co. over two hundred 

 years ago. It is a wonder that the Indians had not found 

 native Cobalt and discovered mines in that district. 



In the spring of 1903, prospectors first noticed a slight 

 pink stain on the rocks, samples of which were brought down 

 to Toronto and recognized as Cobalt. A little later various 

 other deposits were opened up, and .silver was discovered in 

 the fall of 1903. 



The original discovery of Cobalt was made at Lake 

 Cobalt, a lake about three-quarters of a mile in length. 



At the end of 1903 we had here all the claims that were 

 located. Men did not think a great deal of them at that time. 

 It is a little remarkable that there was not more excitement at 

 the end of 1903 ; there would have been a boom the next 

 spring. Although there was much about Cobalt in the 

 Government reports, it caused no real excitement. In the 

 spring of 1904 a few prospectors went up. They had to carry 

 their packs on their backs, as the road was so bad that the 

 horses were not able to carry them. They found the Lake 

 absolutely deserted, not a sign of activity anywhere. During 

 the summer of 1904 prospectors came in here, but were unable 

 to discover anything and went home disgusted. 



