Codex Lethbridge
Transcription: 6
Transcription:
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to this River. But, like most of the other streams the Indians have its name changed before it has run its limpid waters a hundred miles East. After having received the waters of the Bow river, it is called Saskatchewan, which means:
Strong or Swift Stream – Kisiskatchewan
This is the south branch of the Saskatchewan; and about three hundred miles north of this place, the North-branch taking also its source in the Rocky Mountains, runs eastward and both branches have their confluent not far from a place now called Prince Albert.
The first man to handle the pic and shovel, and explore these rich coalfields was Nicholaus Sheran [underlined in blue], an Irishman and a catholic. He came to these, then wild regions in the year of our Lord 1870 [crossed or underlined in blue]
He built himself a hut on the North side of the River, thus taking possession of the spot. This residence, ever since, has been called the Sheran Mine or the Sheran Estate. Nick Sheran lost his life by drowning in the Old Man River, about fourteen miles from Coalbanks, when he was lending a charitable hand to Colonel MacLeod and family, to cross the river at Kipp. [“at Kipp” seems to have been added in pen]
His body was never recovered, to the great distress of his sister Mrs MacFerland, who spared neither time nor money to give her brother a better grave than the wet and sandy bottom of the River.
In the year 1881 [underlined in blue] application was made to the Dominion Government for the leave of some mining locations in different parts of Alberta. Explorations were made in several localities by M.W. Stafford [underlined in blue], sent by sir
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A. T. Galt [underlined in blue] who, with some other gentlemen formed a company [underlined in blue].
Coal was taken out at Blackfoot Crossing and at Medecin Hat. Specimen of coal were sent for to Edmonton and Red Deer River in the North, and from along the Missouri in the South. But the coal taken from Coal-Banks was pronounced far superior to all other.
The coal is free burning bitumious, excellent for steam producer as well as for domestic purposes. It belongs to the lower cretaceous formation. The vein is about five feet thick.
On the 11th Day of December 1882, [underlined in blue] a mine was opened on the southside of the Belly River, just opposite the Sheran Mine. During the winter a few men were kept busy, as coal was sent for from MacLeod and even from Fort Benton. In this latter place it was sold $22°° per ton, while at MacLeod it was delivered for about $ 15°° The price at Coalbanks was only $3°°
But the intention of the newly formed company was to take the coal to Medecin Hat, where the Canadian Pacific Railway was then being constructed.
X [blue cross in the margin] With a capital of £50.000 Sterling, the Company prepared to build a fleet of barges and a steamer to convey their coal to the C.P.R. by water.
Shipbuilders were sent for to Yankton and Kittsburg and a steamer, called the Baroness, was launched and floated down to Medecin Hat, on the first day of Jun 1883 [underlined in blue].
As the season of navigation on the Belly River proved to be very short, it was decided to build two more steamers and some sixteen new barges; making it altogether three steamboats and twenty-five barges. But,
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to this River. But, like most of the other streams the Indians have its name changed before it has run its limpid waters a hundred miles East. After having received the waters of the Bow river, it is called Saskatchewan, which means:
Strong or Swift Stream – Kisiskatchewan
This is the south branch of the Saskatchewan; and about three hundred miles north of this place, the North-branch taking also its source in the Rocky Mountains, runs eastward and both branches have their confluent not far from a place now called Prince Albert.
The first man to handle the pic and shovel, and explore these rich coalfields was Nicholaus Sheran [underlined in blue], an Irishman and a catholic. He came to these, then wild regions in the year of our Lord 1870 [crossed or underlined in blue]
He built himself a hut on the North side of the River, thus taking possession of the spot. This residence, ever since, has been called the Sheran Mine or the Sheran Estate. Nick Sheran lost his life by drowning in the Old Man River, about fourteen miles from Coalbanks, when he was lending a charitable hand to Colonel MacLeod and family, to cross the river at Kipp. [“at Kipp” seems to have been added in pen]
His body was never recovered, to the great distress of his sister Mrs MacFerland, who spared neither time nor money to give her brother a better grave than the wet and sandy bottom of the River.
In the year 1881 [underlined in blue] application was made to the Dominion Government for the leave of some mining locations in different parts of Alberta. Explorations were made in several localities by M.W. Stafford [underlined in blue], sent by sir
[End page]
[Right page]
A. T. Galt [underlined in blue] who, with some other gentlemen formed a company [underlined in blue].
Coal was taken out at Blackfoot Crossing and at Medecin Hat. Specimen of coal were sent for to Edmonton and Red Deer River in the North, and from along the Missouri in the South. But the coal taken from Coal-Banks was pronounced far superior to all other.
The coal is free burning bitumious, excellent for steam producer as well as for domestic purposes. It belongs to the lower cretaceous formation. The vein is about five feet thick.
On the 11th Day of December 1882, [underlined in blue] a mine was opened on the southside of the Belly River, just opposite the Sheran Mine. During the winter a few men were kept busy, as coal was sent for from MacLeod and even from Fort Benton. In this latter place it was sold $22°° per ton, while at MacLeod it was delivered for about $ 15°° The price at Coalbanks was only $3°°
But the intention of the newly formed company was to take the coal to Medecin Hat, where the Canadian Pacific Railway was then being constructed.
X [blue cross in the margin] With a capital of £50.000 Sterling, the Company prepared to build a fleet of barges and a steamer to convey their coal to the C.P.R. by water.
Shipbuilders were sent for to Yankton and Kittsburg and a steamer, called the Baroness, was launched and floated down to Medecin Hat, on the first day of Jun 1883 [underlined in blue].
As the season of navigation on the Belly River proved to be very short, it was decided to build two more steamers and some sixteen new barges; making it altogether three steamboats and twenty-five barges. But,
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