MINING PROSPECTING IN CANADA ’

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 June 1936, Page 3

MINING PROSPECTING IN CANADA ’

ACTIVE SEASON PREDICTED ANOTHER GEOLOGICAL SURVEY During the present season prospecting "throughout Canada is likely to be more active than at any previous season in the history of mining in the Dominion (writes Reuter’s Canadian News Service). The Canadian Minister of Mines (Mr Crerar) has announced that fifteen reports on last year’s million dollar geological survey programme have been completed and information contained in these reports will be of great advantage to the prospecting and exploration companies operating this season. The information gained by the parties sent out last year “will be a powerful factor in mineral development for many years to come,” said Mr Crerar. As a result of the striking success of last year’s survey, more parties will be sent out this year as soon as the woods are dry. Last year about 1,000 men were engaged in the 190 parties which took the field. Among the men were 800 science undergraduates. Parliament voted $1,000,000 to defray the expenses of the exploration parties, and all but $150,000 was spent. The balance is available for this year. A further $350,000 was voted in the main estimates, bringing the total to $500,000. Last year about $200,000 was spent in the purchase of equipment of various sbx-ts and this will be available for this year’s operations. Last year’s records show the readiness and adaptibility of Canadian youth for pioneer life. The 800 young men, accompanied by 200 experienced woodmen, were sent into the wildest country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, making long canoe trips, running rapids, living under canvas and often spending the night in the open. Only one life was lost, a regular employee of the department. No one was taken who could not swim, and many of the young men had had previous experience in the woods. The parties this year are starting out earlier and will be longer in the field. One of the principal objects of the surveys is to provide prospectors with data to guide them to the most likely places to find mines.