NEW COAL FIELD.

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1911, Page 3

NEW COAL FIELD.

SMOKELESS FUEL FROM BRITISH

COLUMBIA,

The report of the discovery in the north of British Columbia of a large bed of anthracite, or smokeless, coal reached London recently, and was generally confirmed by a telegram from the Minister of Mines in that Canadian province. As the Minister of Mines is the Hon. R. Mcßride, Premier of the province, there is good reason for accepting the substantial accuracy of the news, though the ex. tent of the coal field has yet to be ascertained. The telegram reads: —

"Immense body of anthracite coal exists at the head waters of the Skeena, about 150 miles north of Hazelton. There are locations on it of eight years' standing. Serious development by three companies has been carried out this season.- James McEvoy, formerly of the Geological Survey and later of Crow's Nest, reports that he has developed at least three workable seams of anthracite coal. The field is very important; its extent is not yet known. Four hundred miles have been staked out."

Should it be large the discovery will be of extreme importance to British Columbia. So far only soft coal has been discovered there, with the exception of a seam of anthracite worked at Crow's Nest, which lies in the extreme south-east of the province. The new coal field is situated only 150 miles north of the main line of the Grand Trunk Trancontinental Railway, and if it fulfils hopes will provide shipping using the new port of Prince Rupert with a supply of smoke less fuel.