Dawson, J. William (1871) (assisted by B. J. Harrington). Report on the Geological Structure and Mineral Resources of Prince Edward Island. Printed by authority of the Government of Prince Edward Island, John Lovell, Montreal.

The geologist William Dawson, at the time principal of McGill University (see Dawson (1868) for a more extensive biography}, was employed by the government of Prince Edward Island to carry out a survey of the geology and mineral resources of the island, assisted by B. J. Harrington. The field visits on which their report was based was carried out during July and August of 7877. Most of the report is concerned with the geological structure of the island, but a part especial/y concerns the large peat deposits occurring at three sites in western Prince County. Observing the forests of the island to be fast depleting, the authors put forward the possibility of utilising the island ’s small peat resource as a fuel. Despite their speculations, there is no evidence in the literature that peat was ever used as a domestic fuel on the island, even though local shortages of firewood were being reported at that very time in the township (Lot 1 1) that contains the Black Bank bog — see the evidence of James Warburton to the Land Commission (1875).

U79 foresfs are I. Peat as Fuel. The question of fuel is likely, from the rapid disappearance of the

d’sappea”"9' forests, to be a matter of extreme importance in Prince Edward Island. The

cheapness of coal in Nova Scotia, along with the easy transport by water to most

parts of the Island, and the convenient inland transportation which will be afforded

The forests by the railway now in progress, must prevent any serious difficulty; but it is worthy

require of consideration whether measures should be taken by the Government for the

protection. protection of the remainder of the forests, and whether the time has not come for the utilization of the large deposits of peat existing in some parts of the Province.

[p. 32]

there can be no doubt that the three deposits lie, ’the Lennox Island bog’, ’Squirrel Creek bog’ {near Bideford}, ’Black Bank bog’], without mentioning others, are capable of supplying a very large quantity of good fuel. [The authors then present estimates that the total volume of peat in the three bogs was 2,29 7,448 tons, which

A few large peat deposits.

at $4 per ton, they valued at $9, 789, 720i] [p. 33] A substitute For domestic purpose, peat has proved itself an economical fuel, even when simply for fifeWOOd? cut and air—dried, but this is more especially for farmers whose supplies of wood have

run out, and who have peat bogs on or at no great distance from their farms. [p. 40]

The farmers living in the vicinity of Black Banks or Squirrel Creek, might easily avail

themselves of the large quantity of fuel contained in these deposits. I should, however, especially recommend trying the peat of Black Banks on the locomotives of the projected railroad. [p. 40]

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