M I N E R A L R E S O U R C E S B R A N C H Joggins - River Hebert - Chignecto: a Summary of Coal Mining Operations for the Years

Transcription

1 M I N E R A L R E S O U R C E S B R A N C H Joggins - River Hebert - Chignecto: a Summary of Coal Mining Operations for the Years Open File Report ME E. H. Hennick Halifax, Nova Scotia 2011

2 ii Information on the various coal seams contained in this summary was obtained through a review of documentation available at the Department of Natural Resources office in Halifax. This information is intended only as a summary of coal mining activity, for individual seams in the district, during the years 1715 to More detailed information is available in the Department of Natural Resources Library. Prepared by: Ernie Hennick Planning Technician Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources

3 iii Table of Contents Page Chronology of Operations on the Fundy Seam... 1 Chronology of Operations on the Forty Brine Seam... 4 Chronology of Operations on the Kimberly Seam... 7 Chronology of Operations on the Queen Seam Chronology of Operations on the Joggins Fall and Bench Seams Chronology of Operations on the Jubilee and Rector-Lawson Seams Chronology of Operations on the Chignecto Seam Table 1. Coal Mine Operators and Periods of Operation in the Joggins-River Herbert- Chignecto Coal District References... 33

4 iv

5 1 Chronology of Operations on the Fundy Seam The seam is also known locally by the names Hardscrabble and Cumberland. Average thickness 31 inches, ash 16.5%, sulphur 6.5% as received The General Mining Association drives an inclined level from the outcrop on the shore. A slope is sunk from the outcrop on the cliff above to intersect the level The General Mining Association sells its Fundy property to Messrs. T. W. Daniel, A. Barnhill and A. Jardine during the year and they transferred it to the Joggins Coal Mining Company in October The Joggins Coal Mining Company sinks a new slope approximately 500 metres from the shoreline. The mine would be known as the Cumberland Colliery and the workings are drained by the inclined level to the shoreline The Cumberland Colliery is closed due to lack of demand and competition from new operators in other districts. The chief competition is Springhill Coal which is being exported to the major market in Saint John by rail The Fundy Coal Company sinks its #1 slope to the east of the Lower Cove road The Fundy Coal Company is conducting repairs on the old inclined level from the shoreline. This level will provide a water drain for its colliery. The Prospect Coal Mining Company reports production from the Fundy Seam. No details on the work are available Operations at the Fundy #1 Colliery cease due to labour troubles. The company employs a few men at a new slope sunk near the shoreline. Work is continuing on the inclined level at the shoreline, as it would in The Atlantic Grindstone and Coal Company Ltd. (Mr. John Rector is the operator) takes over operations on the Fundy seam Operations on the Fundy seam are abandoned Fundy #1 is re-opened by the Atlantic Grindstone and Coal Company Ltd., but the mine produces less than 300 tons per year over the next three years Production at Fundy #1 exceeds 2,500 tons and the inclined level to the shoreline is completely repaired. The level is almost one kilometre in length Operations are suspended at the Fundy #1 Colliery Clark Brothers and Company re-opens the Fundy #1 Colliery.

6 2 Fundy Operations (cont.) 1919 Operations at the Fundy #1 Colliery are again suspended The Fundy Coal Company re-opens the Fundy #1 Colliery The National Coal Company opens the National Mine approximately one kilometre east of Fundy # The Fundy #1 Colliery is abandoned for the final time due to poor coal quality The National Mine is closed The Canadian Coal Company opens the Fundy #6 Colliery to the east of the Fundy #1 Colliery. The workings of the two collieries are interconnected. A sublease was issued to the company by the Emmerson Coal Company. The Trestle Brook Coal Company opens the Trestle Brook Mine approximately 200 metres to the west of the former National Mine. A sublease was issued to the company by the Victoria Coal Company Mr. Charles Burke is now operating the Fundy #6 Colliery on a sublease from the Canadian Coal Company. Pat Boudreau and Company is now operating the Trestle Brook Mine on a sublease from the Victoria Coal Company Mr. Frank Squareback is now operating the Trestle Brook Mine on a sublease from the Victoria Coal Company Mr. Charles Burke abandons the Fundy #6 operation in May, but it is reopened in September by the Fundy Coal Company (chief operating personnel are believed to be Messrs. Sherwood and Swanson). The Trestle Brook Mine is closed The Fundy #6 Colliery ceases operations in March due to poor coal quality. The Shore Coal Company opens the Seashore slopes near the shoreline to access the deeper resource of the Fundy seam, untapped by earlier operations. The slopes are driven in what is known as the "Dirty" seam to avoid the old collapsed workings abandoned in The seam lies approximately 20 feet above the Fundy seam and it measures 30 to 40 inches in thickness The Seashore Colliery is closed in February, but Mr. Hugh Gordon commences

7 3 Fundy Operations (cont.) operations to remove slope pillars in the upper portion of the mine Mr. Hugh Gordon ceases operations at the Seashore Colliery in January The Fundy #7 Colliery is opened by Messrs. Thaddius LeBlanc and Donald Reid. The mine was known locally as the "Black and White". This colliery is the most easterly operation on the Fundy seam, and is located approximately 700 metres east of the National Mine. Copeland (1958) indicates a pit known as the Arseneau existed in this area. No details are available on Arseneau' s operation, but it was likely conducted in the early 1940s as Mr. Albert Arseneau is known to have conducted operations on the Queen and Joggins seams around that time The Fundy #7 Colliery is closed after producing just over 5,500 tons during the past four years.

8 4 Chronology of Operations on the Forty Brine Seam The seam is also known locally by the names Milner and Strathcona. Average thickness 29 inches, ash 13.5%, sulphur 5.2% as received A small amount of production (100 tons) is reported from the "Milner" area in River Hebert. This area is believed to be in River Hebert East Messrs. Dunlop and John Hurley are conducting operations in the "Milner" area Approximately 200 tons are sold from the "Milner" area. Although production on the Forty Brine is assumed to have continued, it was not reported until The Strathcona #1 Colliery is opened in River Hebert East by the Strathcona Coal Company Strathcona #1 is closed and the company proceeds with the prospecting of other seams in River Hebert East The Strathcona #1 is re-opened by Mr. Alder Pugsley (Strathcona Coal Co.) The Strathcona #1 Colliery is now operated by Emmerson Coal Company The New Jubilee Coal Company opens a mine called the Jubilee, south of the highway between River Hebert and Maccan. The mine is closed after producing just over 1,000 tons. The colliery may also have been known as the Shaw Mine The Strathcona #1 Colliery is closed R. J. Bell and Company sinks a 60 metre slope in River Hebert, but its operation closed during the year The Emmerson Coal Company opens the Fundy #5 (aka Green Crow) Colliery in Joggins. At this time the workings are the farthest west on the Forty Brine seam The Canadian Coal Company is operating the Fundy #5 Colliery on a sublease from the Emmerson Coal Company. The Milner #1 Colliery is opened in River Hebert by the Milner Coal Company on a sublease from the Fundy Coal Company. Messrs. Sherwood and Swanson are the chief operating personnel The Fundy #5 Colliery is closed. The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company operates the Milner #1 Colliery, and the Milner Coal Company commences driving a new slope east of the #1.

9 5 Forty Brine Operations (cont.) 1927 The Milner #1 Colliery is abandoned due to faulty ground conditions and thinning coal. Development is continued at the new Milner #2 Colliery to the east. The Bell slope, abandoned in 1922, is used for ventilation. The Burnrite Coal Company opens the Burnrite Mine in River Hebert East. At this time the workings are the most easterly on the Forty Brine seam Mr. Sidney McArthur is now operating the Milner #2 Colliery on a sublease from the Fundy Coal Company The Burnrite Colliery is closed Water troubles are hampering production at the Milner #2 Colliery. The Strathcona #1 Colliery is dewatered and operated by the Standard Coal Company. The company is proposing to work the deeper portion of the seam below those workings abandoned in The Milner #2 Colliery is closed as the coal is not economically workable. The Fundy #5 is pumped out by the Sterling Coal Company. The mine is now called the Green Crow and 650 tons were produced before operations ceased The Standard Coal Company closes the Strathcona #1 Colliery The Bayview #8 Colliery is opened by the Joggins Coal Company Ltd. The workings of the mine will be the farthest westerly conducted on the Forty Brine In October the Hillcrest Mining Company opened its Hillcrest Colliery approximately one kilometre east of Fundy # It is believed J. D. Betts sank some trial pits 700 metres to the east of the Hillcrest Colliery. Indications of good coal did not lead to any development The Hillcrest Colliery is closed in June after producing an average of more than 85,000 tons per year over its mine life. A fire, which took place during a strike, destroyed the bankhead, engine house and mining equipment and led to the closure. This operation had been considered one of the most profitable in the district and prior to the fire the Provincial Government had approved an expenditure of $75,000 for the installation of a washing and screening plant. Messrs. Oswald Fife, William Taylor and D. M. Cochrane propose to work the coal to the dip of the Hillcrest Colliery, through the Bayview #8 Colliery.

10 6 Forty Brine Operations (cont.) Mr. D. M. Cochrane opened the River Hebert Colliery to the east of the Milner #2 Colliery, which closed in The River Hebert Colliery is closed The Bayview #8 Colliery is supplying 50,000 tons of slack coal per year to the Maccan generating station. The mine is also known as the "Green Crow" As of June 23rd the Bayview #8 Colliery is operated by Bayview Coal Company. The Joggins Coal Company Ltd. stopped production on May 12th. The colliery is closed in November Trial pits are sunk in the vicinity of the Betts Pit sunk in the 1940s.

11 7 Chronology of Operations on the Kimberly Seam Average thickness 36 inches, ash 14.1%, sulphur 5.7% as received Mr. Hibbard is working an area in River Hebert, owned by Mr. Gilbert Seaman, to supply coal to Mr. Seaman s Lower Cove grindstone quarries north of Joggins. These operations are believed to be those recorded as "Minudie". Production does not amount to more than 300 tons per year until the Minudie Coal Mining Company establishes a colliery in Mr. Hibbard may have been working this area as early as 1862 (Nova Scotia Department of Public Works and Mines, 1863) Minudie Coal Mining Company proposes re-opening of the Minudie Mine in River Hebert A new slope is sunk at the Minudie Mine The Minudie Mine is basically a winter operation to meet local demand Although operated on more of a year-round basis for the past couple of years, the Minudie Mine is abandoned in July Mr. Leander McAloney sinks a slope very close to what would be later known as the Marsh Mine in River Hebert East Mr. M. A. Sterns opens the Minudie #2 slope approximately 200 metres to the east of the former Minudie #1 slope abandoned in The Minudie Coal Company Ltd. takes over operations at Minudie #2 slope A new bankhead is constructed at Minudie #1, which has been idle for six years The Minudie Coal Company Ltd. is now operating from the #1 slope The Strathcona Coal Company opens a slope in River Hebert East. This new Strathcona #2 slope is south of its present operations on the Forty Brine seam. The mine was also known as the Milner Colliery and it is believed the company was working both the Kimberly and Forty Brine seams, as inclined rock tunnels are noted on the mine plan dated Strathcona #2 Colliery is abandoned as production from the Forty Brine is sufficient for local demand The Minudie Coal Company Ltd. closes the #1 mine.

12 8 Kimberly Operations (cont.) 1917 Minudie #1 is now known as the Kimberly Mine and it is re-opened and operated by the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company on a sublease from the Minudie Coal Company Ltd. The Sterling Coal Company opens its #1 slope to the west of the Kimberly Mine. The mine would also be known as the "Hawk Mine" Mr. Alder Pugsley re-opens Strathcona #2 at River Hebert East. The Kimberly Mine is closed in December The Kimberly Mine is re-opened by the Minudie Coal Company in July of 1919, but the operation is abandoned soon afterwards. The Emmerson Coal Company takes over operations at Strathcona # The Marsh Mine is opened in River Hebert East by Leander McAloney s Marsh Mine Coal Company. This mine is located to the west of the Strathcona #2 and may be a reopening of the McAloney slope originally sunk in The River Hebert Coal Company takes over the Marsh Mine. The Strathcona #2 Colliery is named in reports as #1 after that mine closes on the Forty Brine seam The Sterling Coal Company closes the Sterling #1 Colliery after having worked out the available resource within its lease boundary. The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company opens the Sterling #2 and #3 collieries. The #2 colliery is the most westerly undertaking on the Kimberly seam and it is abandoned by September due to poor coal quality. The #2 mine was also known as the "Redeemer" The Emmerson Coal Company opens the Strathcona #3 Colliery (called the #2 in reports), which is actually a set of old workings known as the Ward slope. The mine is closed the following year The Riverside Mine is opened 500 metres east of the old Kimberly Mine in River Hebert. The mine is operated by the Riverside Coal Company, which obtained a sublease from the Victoria Coal Company. R. J. Bell and Company reports production from the Strathcona #2 Colliery The Riverside Mine is closed.

13 9 Kimberly Operations (cont.) The Standard Coal Company took over operations at the Strathcona #2 Colliery on a sublease from the Emmerson Coal Company and the Boston Coal Company The Strathcona #2 Colliery is closed The Sterling #3 (only a winter operation for the past couple of years) and the Marsh Mine are closed. The available resource within the Marsh Mine was worked out and efforts to secure the right to mine coal to the east and down dip were unsuccessful Strathcona #3 (the former Ward slope), is opened by the Standard Coal Company. The date of operation and production from the Ward slope is unknown The Strathcona #3 Colliery is closed The Kimberly Coal Company opens the Kimberly #2 Colliery; this operation is utilizing the old Sterling #3 slopes The Kimberly #2 Colliery is closed in March Strathcona #2 is re-opened by the Standard Coal Company. The company plans to extract the deeper portion of the seam, which was not made available to the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company in The inability to secure a lease at that time forced the closure of the Marsh Mine A fire at Strathcona #2 curtails production by 30% The Strathcona #2 Colliery, which is also known as the Standard Mine, is closed after a strike The Cumberland Fuel and Trading Company Colliery opens at River Hebert in August. The main slope and fanway are started in a marsh with the first 35 metres driven through mud The Filor Mine is opened by William Taylor to the east of the Strathcona # The Filor Mine closes in February after producing more than 35,000 tons over the past five years The Cumberland Fuel and Trading Company Colliery is renamed the "Cochrane Mine" The Cochrane Mine is now operated by River Hebert Coal Company Ltd. and is now also known as the River Hebert Mine.

14 10 Kimberly Operations (cont.) 1970 A fire destroys the hoist building and surrounding infrastructure and the Cochrane Mine is idle from February to May The workings of the Cochrane Mine tap the barrier pillar of the Standard Mine to the east; Subsequently, deeper workings are abandoned The Cochrane Mine is sealed on April 28, Dumps are stabilized and seeded. Concrete bulkheads and packing are erected in the main slopes and crosscuts to prevent subsidence within the area driven through mud.

15 11 Chronology of Operations on the Queen Seam The seam is also known locally as the Clay seam. Average thickness 31 inches, ash 16.7%, sulphur 6.3% as received The Victoria Colliery is opened near the west bank of the River Hebert by Mr. William Patrick and Mr. William Lin. Three seams are worked through a slope with three air shafts utilized for ventilation. In 1862 a new production shaft would be sunk approximately 600 metres west of the original slope The Victoria Colliery is abandoned and allowed to flood The Victoria #1 Colliery is opened in River Hebert by the Minudie Coal Company Ltd. The colliery is located to the eastern side of the road to the Minudie Mine on the site of the former Victoria Colliery abandoned in At the Victoria #1 Colliery a new stone drift connects the Queen or Lower seam to the Joggins Bench or #2 seam. The main slope serves both seams The Victoria #2 Colliery is opened by the Minudie Coal Company. This slope is located just west of the #1 colliery and the two are interconnected for ventilation purposes. This mine is also operating on the Queen and Joggins Bench seams The Bayview Mine is opened by the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company. It is located midway between Joggins and River Hebert The Victoria #1 Colliery is taken over by the National Coal Company The Victoria Coal Company takes over operations at the Victoria #1 and # The workings from the Victoria #1 slope are discontinued. The Victoria Coal Company opens the Victoria #3 Colliery, which also became known as the "Bush" Mine, to the west of the Victoria #2 Colliery The Bayview Mine is closed due to deteriorating seam conditions The Victoria #3 Colliery is closed, and it is believed that operations from the Victoria #2 slope are limited to the Joggins Fall and Bench seams. The slope driven on the Queen seam provides access to the workings The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company have Mr. Albert Arseneau open a slope located a short distance west of the Victoria #3 Colliery The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company closes the Arseneau Mine. This is the company s final underground mining operation in the district.

16 12 Queen Seam Operations (cont.) 1943 The Waddell slope is opened by the Joggins Coal Company Ltd. The slope is located a short distance west of the old Bayview slope and the workings are the most westerly on the Queen seam The Waddell slope, which over its lifespan was only a seasonal operation to meet local demand, closed. Annual production averaged only 300 tons.

17 13 Chronology of Operations on the Joggins Fall and Bench Seams The seam is also known by the names Main, King, Victoria, Blacksmith and Phoenix. Average thickness in the Joggins area 60 inches with up to a 30 inch clay parting. Average thickness in the River Hebert area on the Bench Coal 28 inches. Joggins area ash 14.8%, sulphur 5.8%. River Hebert area ash 15.0%, sulphur 6.0% With the British takeover of much of Nova Scotia in 1710, coal from the King seam is known to be shipped to fortifications in Nova Scotia (Annapolis Royal) as well as to New England markets British troops, under the direction of Captain John Knox, are mining coal from the King seam for usage at fortifications on both sides of the Bay of Fundy Mr. Samuel McCully of Nappan is operating a small mine at Joggins. No details on the operation are available, but McCully family members are believed to be some of the earliest settlers in the Onslow and Londonderry areas Under pressure from the provincial government, the General Mining Association drives a level from the shoreline and sinks a slope 300 metres inland. The province took action on the advice of renowned Geologist Dr. Abraham Gesner, who was not happy with the monopoly the Association had on minerals in the province. Dr. Gesner had made application to open a mine at Joggins to exploit the known resource The Victoria Colliery is opened near the west bank of the River Hebert by Mr. William Patrick and Mr. William Lin. The Joggins Fall and Bench seams, as well as the Queen seam, are worked from a slope. At the time the Joggins Bench seam was known as the Middle seam and the Fall seam was called the Blacksmith The Barnes Coal Company, under the direction of Mr. James Barnes, is known to be working the Joggins Fall and Bench seams in River Hebert East. The stratigraphic interval is 20 feet and the seams both measure 30 inches in thickness. The bulk of the workings are on the Bench seam In July of 1862 Messrs. John L. Lawrence, Horace Barnes and George Hibbard (Lawrence Coal Mining Company) open a mine on the Barnes Coal Company Property. The company is working the Joggins Fall and Bench seams previously worked by the Barnes Coal Company. The workings at the Victoria Colliery near the River Hebert are abandoned due to faults and a new production shaft is sunk approximately 600 metres to the west, on the road which would later lead to the Minudie/Kimberly Mine After producing more than 20,000 tons, the Lawrence Colliery is closed due to a fire, which destroyed the engine house.

18 14 Joggins Fall and Bench Operations (cont.) 1866 The General Mining Association is hoisting coal from a two compartment shaft, sunk to a depth of 100 feet. The shaft is located approximately 700 metres east of the level on the shoreline. The slope driven in 1846 is utilized for travelling and the level provides natural drainage The Victoria Colliery is closed and allowed to flood The General Mining Association is proposing to work the coal to the dip of its present workings, below the drainage level The Joggins #1 slope is sunk near the hoisting shaft. It is not clear if the General Mining Association drove the slope, as this property was sold to Messrs. T. W. Daniel, A. Barnhill and A. Jardine during the year. This group in turn sold the property to the Joggins Coal Mining Company on October The Joggins Colliery is sold to the Joggins Coal Mining Association. The Joggins Coal Mining Company retained its property on the Fundy seam A small amount of coal is mined at the former location of the Lawrence Colliery. A similar amount (,100 tons) is reported in 1875 and again in Electric signalling devices are employed for the first time in the province at the Joggins #1 Colliery The Joggins #2 slope is sunk approximately 1 kilometre east of the #1 colliery. The company proposes to work the Joggins seam to the east of a large fault which marks the eastern extremity of the Joggins #1 mine workings The Joggins Coal Mining Association sinks another slope (Joggins #3) approximately 800 metres east of the Joggins #2 slope The Boston Coal Mining Company opens a slope in River Hebert East, on the Joggins Bench seam. This slope is believed to be located in the vicinity of the former Lawrence Colliery. Shipments of Joggins coal for the Saint John market have been severely reduced due to the importation, by rail, of Springhill coal since A proposal is made for a branch line connecting Joggins to the main line in Maccan. The Joggins #1 slope is abandoned and operations are transferred to the #2 and #3 slopes to the east.

19 15 Joggins Fall and Bench Operations (cont.) 1884 A furnace shaft is constructed at the Joggins operation, greatly improving ventilation in the workings. A small amount of coal is produced at the Boston Mine, in River Hebert East, for local sale. Mr. William Patrick is known to be working the Rector-Lawson seam in Jubilee, but it is believed he also sunk a pit on some cannel coal which may be the farthest easterly representation of the Joggins Bench seam The Boston Coal Mining Company has ceased operations. The branch railway from Joggins to Maccan is completed in November The Joggins Railway Company and Joggins Coal Mining Association merge to form the Joggins Coal and Railway Company The old level at the shoreline is being cleaned up and re-timbered by the Joggins Coal and Railway Company. This level will be used to drain water from the workings of the Joggins #2 and #3 slopes The Joggins mines are sold to the Canada Coals and Railway Company. A small amount of work is conducted at the Boston Coal Mining Company Property to supply local winter demand Some of the lower workings in the former Joggins #1 Colliery are being pumped out as part of the re-establishment of the water level to the shoreline Ventilation through the use of furnace shafts and the water level at the shoreline is insufficient for the workings in the Joggins #2 and #3 Collieries. It is proposed to install a new fan shaft, which is placed in operation the following year A strike at the Joggins #2 and #3 collieries idles the operations for most of the year Water from the #3 Colliery is hauled in tanks to the 1900 level in the #2 Colliery and then hauled to the water level that drains the workings at the shoreline. Pumps are installed the following year to eliminate tank haulage and greatly improve efficiency The Canada Coals and Railway Company declares bankruptcy and the Joggins Colliery is sold to a group of American interests.

20 16 Joggins Fall and Bench Operations (cont.) 1907 On June 1st, ownership of the Joggins Colliery is transferred to the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company owned by Messrs. Patrick and David Mitchell. In September, the Joggins #7 slope is sunk near the shore to tap the submarine coal beneath Chignecto Bay. A new rail spur is constructed to serve the operation. The Joggins #2 and #3 collieries are closed Initial development work is completed at the Joggins #7 Colliery and the first coal is hoisted in October. Seam thickness is 4 feet Electrical Power for the Joggins #7 Colliery is supplied by the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company, Chignecto Plant. The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company begins development of the Maple Leaf #1 Colliery on the Joggins Fall seam. The colliery is located between Joggins and River Hebert. Development ceases toward the end of the year and is not expected to continue until a rail spur connecting the colliery to the main line, which runs from Joggins to Maccan, is completed A stone drift is driven from the Queen seam to the Joggins Bench at the Victoria #1 Colliery in River Hebert. This colliery was opened in 1912 by the Minudie Coal Company The Betts Brothers open the Silver Leaf Mine, which is a pillar-robbing operation in the upper workings of the Joggins #2 Colliery. The output is sold to the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company completes a rail spur to the site of its Maple Leaf #1 Colliery and the mine is put into operation. The Central Coal Company opens the Wass slope in River Hebert East. The slope is located on the Boston Coal Mining Company property and is also known as Central # The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company opens the Maple Leaf #2 and #3 collieries on the Joggins Fall seam. The Central Coal Company abandons the Wass slope and sinks a new slope 500 metres to the east at the former location of the Boston Coal Mining Company Colliery, which last recorded production in This slope is abandoned in August. It was known as the Central #3 Colliery The Maple Leaf #2 on the Joggins Fall is closed in June, while the #1 and #3 are connected for ventilation purposes.

21 17 Joggins Fall and Bench Operations (cont.) 1921 The Valley Coal Company opens the Valley slope just east of the former Central #1 (Wass) slope. The new slope is also known as the Central #2, but it is closed in May 1921 due to a lack of orders The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company opens the Beech Grove Colliery just east of the former Joggins #3 Colliery and west of the Maple Leaf #3 Colliery. It is proposed to work the Joggins Fall and Bench. The Minudie Coal Company opens the Victoria #2 Colliery in River Hebert. The slope is sunk on the Queen seam, but it also serves workings on the Joggins Bench seam The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company opens the Casey Mine to work the upper portion of the Joggins seam untapped by the workings of the Joggins #1 and #2 collieries. A tunnel is driven from the Fall seam workings in the Maple Leaf #1 and #3 collieries to tap the Joggins Bench seam. Coal quality was deemed suitable and a new slope was sunk. Water trouble, due to a crush in the workings on the Fall seam, limited the extent of the workings on the Bench seam. Coal quality problems in the lower levels of the Joggins #7 Colliery force the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company to concentrate its efforts on pillar removal in the upper sections of the colliery The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company opens the Spud slope and its workings are interconnected to the adjacent Casey Mine by an old level within the former Joggins #1 Colliery. The Beech Grove Colliery is closed due to an increase in the parting between the Joggins Fall and Bench seams. The Boston Coal Company opens the Boston Mine on the site of the Central #3 Colliery, which was abandoned in This is also the site of the old Lawrence Colliery, which was originally opened in The company is operating on the Joggins Bench seam. Development work may have commenced in The National Coal Company takes over operations at the Victoria #1 Colliery. The Carter Coal Company, on a sublease from the Cumberland Railway and Coal Company, opens the Carter Mine #2 in the Jubilee area. These workings are the most easterly to be conducted on the Joggins Bench seam The Maple Leaf #1 and #3 are closed.

22 18 Joggins Fall and Bench Operations (cont.) The Victoria Coal Company is now operating the Victoria #1 and #2 Collieries The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company opens the Maple Leaf #4 Colliery. The Phoenix Coal Company takes over operations at the Carter #2 Mine and it is renamed the Phoenix Colliery. Coal thickness is 24 inches with an 11-inch parting. Workings in the original Casey Mine are abandoned in February, and the workings in the Spud Mine just to the west are now known as the Casey The Joggins #7 Colliery is closed. The Phoenix Coal Company closes its operation during the Summer The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company closes the Casey Mine and initiates a pillar removal operation in the upper reaches of the old Joggins #2 and #3 collieries, which were abandoned in The Betts Brothers conducted similar operations in this area in Operations at the Victoria #1 Colliery are abandoned The Boston Coal Company abandons its operation in River Hebert East. Average annual production was approximately 10,500 tons. The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company opens the Maple Leaf #5 Colliery on the Joggins Bench seam. This colliery is located on the site of the former Maple Leaf #2 Colliery on the Joggins Fall seam Pillar removal in the upper levels of the Joggins #2 and #3 collieries is abandoned. The Victoria Coal Company opens the Victoria #4 Colliery in River Hebert East. The company purchased the areas owned by the Boston Coal Company and it is operating on the Joggins Bench seam. Workings at the Victoria #2 Colliery are limited to the Joggins Fall and Bench seams. The slope on the Queen seam serves as access. An explosion at this colliery resulted in the death of seven men The Maple Leaf #5 Colliery is abandoned. An explosion at the Victoria #4 Colliery results in six fatalities The Victoria #2 Colliery is closed due to trouble with faulted ground and water.

23 19 Joggins Fall and Bench Operations (cont.) 1934 Mr. John Rector has a small operation approximately 200 metres east of the bankhead of the Maple Leaf #4 Colliery. The mine may be that noted in Annual Mines Reports as the "Midway", which ceased production in Operations are believed to have been conducted at the Maple Leaf #5 Colliery in December. No production figures are available. Mr. John Rector removes less than 100 tons of coal from the Jubilee area, west of the Phoenix Mine closed in An incline was driven to intersect the overlying Joggins/ Phoenix seam, but work was abandoned during the year The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company closes the Maple Leaf #4 Colliery in May. The seam thickness in the lower sections of the mine decreased to 17 inches The Beech Hill Coal Company opens the Beech Hill Mine in River Hebert. It is proposed to work the Joggins Bench between the upper reaches of the abandoned Victoria #2 and Maple Leaf #4 collieries The Victoria Coal Company closes the Victoria #4 Colliery in May due to faults and water trouble. The mine was also known by the name "Bright Light" The Beech Hill Colliery is closed in February. The Maple Leaf #5 Colliery is re-opened by Mr. Albert Arseneau. The colliery is abandoned later in the year due to faults and water trouble The Riverside Coal Company opens the Riverside Mine under a sublease from the Victoria Coal Company. The mine is opened to the east of the old Boston Mine, which closed in The Riverside Mine is closed in August. In Jubilee, Mr. William Taylor drove a couple of tunnels from the underlying Rector- Lawson seam to the Joggins/Phoenix seam, but due to poor quality and bad roof conditions operations ceased during the year.

24 20 Chronology of Operations on the Jubilee and Rector- Lawson Seams Seam thicknesses do not exceed 28 inches, ash 19.2%, sulphur 7.5% as received Mr. John P. Lawson and Mr. Patrick Ward construct a railway from the Maccan River to their mine site on the north side of Harrison Lake. A 30-metre deep shaft is sunk through three seams with the intention of working a 20-inch seam first. No production is recorded from this site until The company also sunk a slope on the so-called "Big Bed" seam but abandoned that work in Most of the production from the Maccan Mine is now through a slope on the east side of a large fault; the shaft has been abandoned The Maccan Mine is known as the Lawson Mine; production ceases in June Mr. William Patrick opens a slope on the Rector-Lawson seam at Jubilee. A pit is sunk on 2 feet of cannel coal, which may be the farthest easterly representation of the Joggins Bench seam An engine house fire at the Patrick Mine curtails production and the mine is abandoned the following year. Mr. S. E. Freeman takes over operations in the Lawson area Production reported by Mr. Freeman is just over 100 tons annually The Lawson area is abandoned after an engine house fire The Jubilee Mine is opened by Messrs. N. C. Schureman, U. J. Wetherby and Amos Terris. The mine is located just over two miles west of the Lawson area Mr. Jeff Lockhart is removing crop coal in the Lawson area The Jubilee Mine is also called the "MicMac" and it is leased to Mr. J. H. Patrick In November, the Jubilee Mine is taken over by the Bayside Coal Company of Boston. A second slope was sunk near the #1 slope, but on another seam The Lawson property is now controlled by the Eastern Coal Company Ltd., but no operations are conducted until The Jubilee slopes are closed. The colliery was also called the "Empire" Mine The Jubilee #2 slope is pumped out in January by Mr. P. W. McNaughton, but the operation was closed later in the year.

25 21 Jubilee and Rector-Lawson Operations (cont.) 1910 The Black Diamond Mine is opened by the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company. The mine is located between the Lawson area and the Jubilee Mine The Black Diamond Mine is closed in July Mr. Elvin Long and Company commences operations in the Lawson area to the west of the fault. This area was previously abandoned in The Black Diamond Mine is re-opened in April by the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company The Atlantic Coal Company re-opens one of the Jubilee slopes in May Mr. Leonard Betts takes over Long s operations in the Lawson area on a sublease from the Eastern Coal Company Ltd. The Black Diamond Mine is closed in June. Mr. W. L. Barnes is operating at Jubilee on a sublease from the Atlantic Coal Co Mr. Barnes abandons his Jubilee operation in February and takes over operations in the Lawson area under a sublease from the Eastern Coal Company Ltd Isiah McCarthy and Son re-opens the Jubilee operation in January on a sublease from the Atlantic Coal Company. Operations ceased later in the year Operations in the Lawson area are abandoned in January The Carter #1 Mine is opened by the Carter Coal Company on a sublease from the Dominion Coal Company. This mine is believed to be the re-opening of William Patrick's former operation, which was abandoned in The mine is located just west of the Black Diamond operation that closed in The Lawson Coal Company commences operations in the Lawson area, to the east of the fault, last worked in The main slope is refurbished and a return airway is sunk approximately 250 metres to the east The Carter #1 Mine is closed and operations are shifted to the Carter #2 Colliery, a half mile to the west on the Joggins Bench seam The Enterprise Coal Company takes over operations in the Lawson area and more than 10,000 tons are produced. The Lawson Coal Company averaged almost 6,000 tons annually from 1922 to 1926.

26 22 Jubilee and Rector-Lawson Operations (cont.) 1928 Operations in the Lawson area cease Mr. John Rector removes less than 100 tons of coal from the Jubilee site. An incline was driven to intersect the overlying Joggins/Phoenix seam Mr. John D. Betts opens the Lawson #3 mine to the west of the Eastern Coal Company Property last worked in The Lawson #3 Mine is closed after having produced less than 500 tons Mr. William Taylor starts a new slope in the Jubilee area. A couple of tunnels are driven from the underlying Rector-Lawson seam to the Joggins seam, but due to poor quality and bad roof conditions operations ceased in 1951.

27 23 Chronology of Operations on the Chignecto Seam Seam thickness varies from 24 inches up to a 12 foot layer with numerous partings. Ash content varies from 10% to 20% depending on location, sulphur 6.5% as received Mr. William Patrick is known to be prospecting in the Chignecto area. The Styles area, which is five miles east of Chignecto, is also prospected Mr. William Patrick is mining coal along St. George's Brook and Baird Brook. Mr. John P. Lawson and Mr. Patrick Ward sink a slope on the so-called "Big Bed" seam in Maccan. This 4 foot coal seam represents the most westerly occurrence of the Chignecto Seam. The workings were abandoned in May Mr. John Babson takes over Mr. Patrick's operations and ships more than 15,000 tons to New England. Mr. James Robinson is producing in the Styles area A 90-foot deep production shaft taps a 10 foot coal seam to the east of Baird Brook. A furnace shaft is sunk near the crop and all coal is hauled to the Maccan River for shipment. On St. George's Brook only 3.5 feet of coal is mined from a 12-foot coal layer. Boiler problems in May forced the closure of the operation. The New York and Acadia Mining Company commences operations to the west of Baird Brook on an area later known as the Scotia Property Operations at Baird Brook and St. George's Brook are idle. The New York and Acadia Mining Company is operating on two seams (2'10" and 3" thick, respectively) separated by 10 feet of rock The New York and Acadia Mining Company ceases operations. Workings in the Scotia area are continued on a seasonal basis by private operators, however Although no production has been recorded from the Styles area it is believed that seasonal workings have been operating since Messrs. Blight and Smith form the New Dominion Coal Company. It is believed they may have opened the Ladysmith Mine, in Fenwick, as they were known to be prospecting the area between the St. George and Styles areas.

28 24 Chignecto Operations (cont.) 1877 The Cumberland Coal Mining Company drives an adit west from the banks of Baird Brook with the intention of intersecting the New York and Acadia (Scotia) mine workings The Cumberland Coal Mining Company drives an adit east from the banks of Baird Brook to intersect the easterly workings on the Chignecto seam, abandoned in A new shaft is sunk on the banks of a brook at the Styles Mine Messrs. McInnes and Gillespie, of the Acadia Iron Company, purchase the Chignecto and St. George operations and plan to supply coal for coking at Londonderry The railway to the Chignecto Colliery is upgraded and locomotives are used to haul coal to the Maccan River for shipping. Output reaches more than 12,000 tons, far exceeding the former average annual production of just over 1,000 tons Spontaneous combustion is becoming a problem in the Scotia workings. Plans are made to maintain a significant barrier pillar between these workings and those of the Chignecto Colliery. Underground mine workings in the Scotia area are limited by depth due to the license held by the operators of the Chignecto Colliery. This license will subsequently be transferred to the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company and the southern limitations on mine workings in the Scotia area will remain intact Mr. George Wilson is operating at the Scotia property Spontaneous combustion is hampering the Chignecto Colliery. Work is still carried out on an intermittent basis in the Styles area Mr. Blight, of the New Dominion Coal Company, commences development of the Fenwick property, but operations are abandoned in Work at the Chignecto Colliery ceases in July. A small work force is kept on hand to work crop coal to the east along the seam. Mr. Alexander Dewar is conducting operations in the Scotia area Seasonal operations on near-surface coal continue to the east of the Chignecto Colliery. Output is less than 1,000 tons. At Leicester (east of Styles Mine) five seams are exposed by Mr. Sharp (possibly in the Stanley area), but no development takes place.

29 25 Chignecto Operations (cont.) 1894 On the Chignecto and Scotia properties, seasonal operations are taking place with annual production of less than 500 tons. Mr. William Patrick sinks a slope near Maccan Station. Its location is uncertain, but it may be the operation put into production in 1895 by Mr. J. T. Smith Mr. J. T. Smith commences operations at Maccan Station A number of new slopes are sunk at Chignecto and Scotia by various entrepreneurs, including Messrs. Ripley and Blenkhorn In July the Maritime Coal, Power and Railway Company takes over the former Chignecto Colliery and in October they commence production. After being operated by Mr. G. J. Harrison for the past couple of years, Smith's Mine, at Maccan Station, is closed in July A fire in the workings of the Chignecto Colliery forces its closure from February to April. The company sinks two 15 metre deep shafts to the west of Baird Brook while an attempt is made to extinguish the fire Production at the Chignecto Colliery exceeds 45,000 tons. Production from the Scotia area is recorded by the Scotia Coal Company, which is believed to be controlled by Ripley and Blenkhorn The Maritime Coal, Power and Railway Company commences development of its Chignecto #3 Colliery to the east of its present operations. The Eastern Coal Company Ltd. purchases the J. T. Smith property at Maccan Station The Eastern Coal Company Ltd. is sinking two slopes to the east of J. T. Smith's operation, which closed in Boreholes are being utilized in an attempt to locate the workings of the Smith Mine, for which no mine plan is available. The Maritime Coal, Power and Railway Company is constructing a power plant at Chignecto The Scotia Coal Company is still operating on the Scotia Mines Property The Scotia Mines are taken over by the Great Northern Coal Company.

30 26 Chignecto Operations (cont.) 1909 Spontaneous combustion continues to hamper operations at Chignecto, but for the first time production exceeds 50,000 tons The Eastern Coal Company Ltd. ceases operations at Maccan Station due to fault trouble. In June, an explosion at the Chignecto Colliery results in two fatalities The Great Northern Coal Company ceases operations on the Scotia property The Maritime Coal, Power and Railway Company closes its Chignecto operation. In the months leading up to the closure, production was exclusively from pillar extraction Messrs. John McKinnon and W. L. Barnes commence pillar extraction on the Scotia property. Barnes may have been working here as early as Messrs. John McKinnon and A. L. Jones are operating on the Scotia Property under a sublease from the Provincial Mining Company Ltd. In October, the Maritime Coal Railway and Power Company re-opens the Chignecto #3 Colliery and opens its #4 slope. The Styles slope is pumped out and deepened with 45 inches of coal being worked. No details are available on any work conducted beyond this year The Fenwick Coal Company commences operations in March on the former Blight property which was abandoned in The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company commences development of its #5 Colliery. This operation will be the farthest easterly by the company and it is just west of St. George's Brook. The workings are not interconnected to the westerly workings from the #3 and #4 slopes. Operations on the Scotia/Great Northern property are now being conducted by the Twin Seam Coal Company. The company is working two seams The Fenwick Coal Company ceases operations in February, but the mine is re-opened in November by the Export Coal Company. The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company abandons its #5 slope. All coal is now hauled through its #4 slope The Athol Coal Company opens a couple of new slopes at Fenwick.

31 27 Chignecto Operations (cont.) The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company closes its #4 slope in September Operations of the Twin Seam Coal Company are abandoned in July In June, the Athol Coal Company ceases operations at Fenwick The Provincial Mining Company Ltd. is conducting seasonal operations on the Scotia Property In July, the Styles Coal Company commences development work at the Styles property, which has been inactive for ten years. The company obtained a sublease from Ms. Bessie Hickman. Operations are believed to have been abandoned later in the year The North Springhill Mining Company Ltd. opens a prospect slope on the Hoeg Road just west of the Styles Property. Mr. John Thompson is operating on the eastern portion of the Scotia property under a sublease from the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company Seasonal operations are being conducted at Fenwick by the Amherst Coal Company Ltd. They are abandoned in A seasonal operation is initiated on the estate on Mr. M. W. Lawlor. No details are available on the location of the mine, but it is believed to be in Chignecto Mr. John McKinnon obtains a sublease from the Provincial Mining Company Ltd. and is again operating on the Scotia Property, which he last worked in Mr. J. H. Legere opens the Lawson #5 Colliery on the west side of the Maccan River, north of Harrison Lake. He obtained a sublease from Mr. Charles Smith Mr. John Rector takes over Mr. Legere's sublease and is operating the Lawson #5 Colliery The North Springhill prospect slope is abandoned. The Lawson #5 Colliery is abandoned in June The Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company abandons its Chignecto Plant upon completion of a new generating station in Maccan Mr. Herbert Quinn is now operating on the Scotia Property under a sublease from the Provincial Mining Company Ltd.

32 28 Chignecto Operations (cont.) 1936 Mr. Quinn abandons operations on the Scotia Property early in the year Mr. John Vallance opens a 2.5 foot seam at Stanley to the east of the Styles property. These operations will be the most easterly conducted on the seam The Stanley operation is abandoned after being taken over by a Dr. McCully. Seasonal operations on the estate of Mr. M. W. Lawlor are abandoned Messrs. Oswald Fife and William Taylor open their New Chignecto prospect at the extreme western end of the Scotia property After producing less than 500 tons the New Chignecto prospect is abandoned The Chignecto Development Company opens the Rambutte Mine at North Springhill, on the Hoeg Road, just west of the North Springhill Prospect slope The Rambutte Mine is closed in October Delta Coal Incorporated removes a 5,000 tonne bulk sample from the area between the Maritime Coal, Railway and Power Company #5 slope and St. George's Brook.