uae

This spot is 4,350 feet above sea level, but could be reduced 150
feet, say, by a short tunnel, in length perhaps 600 feet, or reduced
more by a longer one. So from 3,650 feet at the mine to 4,200 feet
at the divide of land is a rise of 550 feet in ten miles, an adverse
grade for coal bound for the coast, 1 in 86, or 1.15 per cent. And
from there on is a water grade, namely, all down hill, enabling the
use of long trains with one locomotive and one ordinary crew of
train hands.

The whole route will be less than 200 miles in all from mine to
mouth of Naas (Nasoga Gulf).

Careful enquiries as to prevalent gales and winds; depth of
channels; rise and fall of tides; wharf facilities for rapid loading
into ships without grinding the coal to dust; all facts discovered
point to Nasoga Gulf as the most suitable harbour.

Alice Arm has an adverse grade from the Naas.

Stewart, on the Portland Canal is too far inland to be con-
venient for shipping in a hurry, and this route would call for a very
long tunnel under the Bitter Greek Glaciers, and heavy terminal
constructions on the mudflats to reach deep water at low tide are a
neessity. :

By tapping the length of the Naas valley will give return
loads to your railroad, as this valley is being acquired, settled and
farmed, and large interests are concerned there to build up its trade
and population.

On the subject of geology, the year’s development has thrown
much more minute hght, as more time was given to take directions
of dips, strikes, movements and irregularities, and to classify the
characters of the strata exposed.

In describing the coal seams exposed and worked upon, Mr.
Campbell-Johnston says :—

SHAMS.

The ‘*BIENOTT** seam lies directly under the main sandstone,
close to the junction of Beirnes Creek and the Skeena River, It
crosses the creek and was seen last year at low water in the bed.
This year the water was very high, so that no coal was apparent
here. Therefore deep cuts through the gravel beds were driven to
get to solid rock formation. ‘These in length towards and parallel
to the seam measured 184 feet with 12 feet deep at face, and neces-
sitated a great width like a railway cutting to prevent the sides fall-