Page 59 - Early History of the Coal Trade Part 2

ISSUE : Issue 36

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1984/6/1

ony were reduced to the lowest ebb, and that the coal mines, which were the only source of revenue, were in a state of bank? ruptcy. In the course of the year 1813 Messrs. Ritchie and T. Leaver took a lease of the mines at a royalty of three shil? lings and eightpence per ton, which they held until January 31, 1818, when, having got into difficulties, they were obliged to transfer their interest in the mines to their assignees, Messrs. G. W. Bown and J. Leaver, who held them until the expiration of the lease in December 1820. As it was generally expected at this time that the island of Cape Breton would soon be an? nexed to the government of Nova Scotia, the acting Governor, Captain Stewart, con? sidered it advisable, upon the termination of the last lease, to renew it only for one year to G. W. Bown at a royalty of three shillings and sixpence per ton. The island of Cape Breton having, by an or? der of the King in Council, in the year 1820, been annexed to the government of No? va Scotia and constituted a county of that province, under the name of the "County of Cape Breton," Sir James Kempt, the Gover? nor of Nova Scotia, in the autuirai of the same year, visited the island, with the ob? ject of making himself acquainted with its wants and resources. He seems to have de? voted his special attention to the coal mines, concerning which he stated, in his report to Lord Bathurst, that the average sales for several years had been about 8,000 tons, and that, in any one year, they had never exceeded 10,000 tons, yield? ing a revenue of 1,400 to 1,600 pounds per annum to the Government. He found fifty- two men employed at the mines, and esti? mated, from the best information he could get, that the cost of raising and shipping the coal was about seven shillings and six? pence per ton. Mr. G. W. Bown's lease hav? ing expired. Sir James Kempt let the mines to Messrs. T. S. and W. R. Bown for a term of five years from January 1, 1822, at a royalty of four shillings and three pence per ton, stipulating that the lessees should keep the works in efficient condi? tion to meet the demand, and that they should not sell at a higher rate than thir? teen shillings and twopence per ton. Table I shows the quantity of coal sold in each year, from the opening of the mines in 1785 to the close of 1826, when they came into the possession of the General Mining Association; the prices at which the coal was sold, and the rate of royalty per ton when they were worked under lease. Owing to the absence of regular returns in the Record Office, the table is not quite complete, but the shipments in the years 1823-24 and 25, v'hich are missing, probab? ly did not vary much from those of the three years preceding. It will be observed, by reference to the table, that the sales did not increase much until the year 1799, Vogue Cleaners Prince Street, Sydney * Quality Same-Day Dry Cleaning * SUEDES REPAIRS Bagnell's Gift Boutique Camera Supplies, Handcrafts, and Souvenirs Open Year 'Round - 7 Days a Week In the Heart of Louisbourg ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE OF CAPE BRETON Joe's Vfeirehouse The Food Emporium Cape Breton's Newest and Largest Restaurant SPECIALIZING IN AGED PRIME CUTS OF ROAST BEEF & STEAKS & ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE SALAD BARS IN THE MARITIMESl Midway Motors Ltd. Middle River R. R. No. 3, Baddeck, Victoria Co., N. S. BOE IBO 295-2290 Local Dealer for CHRYSLER Products Dodge Aries 2-Door Coupe 1CABARET OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 'TIL 3 A.M Live Entertainment Nightly| 424 Charlotte Street 539-6686 539-0408 RESTAURANT CABARET BANQUET FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE Ycxjr Ccxntry Homestead Is It Properly Insured? Joseph Salter's Sons Ltd North Sydney Telephone: 794-4717 (59)

Cape Breton's Magazine