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T.C. Haliburton
NS c1800
Overview
Hurley on the long pond
Works
Highways
Waterways
Railway
Windsor
King’s College
Windsor Gypsum
NS 1st Historian
Why He Wrote
Jack of All Trades
O’Brien
Clifton
Right of Way
TCH’s Long Pond
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Thomas Chandler Haliburton’s Windsor – 1829
From – An Historical and Statistical Account of
Nova-Scotia by T. C. Haliburton
Gypsum Quarry Near Windsor
"…The chief trade of Windsor consists of the exportation of Plaister
of Paris or Gypsum, to St, John and St. Andrew’s, in New Brunswick; from
whence it is transported to the United States, and applied to agricultural
purposes, This fossil is found in the western part of Nova-Scotia, but
commencing in Falmouth, occurs in various places in the midland and eastern
sections, and also in the Island of Cape Breton. In the County of Hants,
and particularly in Windsor and Newport, it exists in greatest profusion.
It protrudes itself in Windsor in many places above the surface; on the
north side of the St. Croix it rises into a high mural precipice for several
miles, and in Newport it forms one continued ridge through the centre
of that extensive peninsula, enclosed by the St. Croix and Kenetcook.
In all these places it is accompanied and often intermingled with lime-stone,
to which it bears a strong affinity, the one being a sulphate and the
other a carbonate of lime, The ground where it occurs is generally much
broken, and abounds with deep circular cavities, known by the Miners,
under the name of "kettle holes," in which the bones of animals
and the skeletons of Indians have sometimes been found, who had falled
into these caverns, and were unable to extricate themselves from their
prison.
This fossil is by no means a solid body, and is seldom found in any great
extent in a compact form, or unbroken strata of pure gypsum. Large veins
of loam are scattered through the rocks, and a red and blue clay, with
layers of lime. It is quarried by the aid of gunpowder, and broken into
suitable sizes for exportation, by a pick-axe. As it enters so largely
into the composition of the soil, its inulility 1
as a manure, in Nova-Scotia, has been assumed by practical farmers, although
no regular experiments have ever been instituted to ascertain its effects.
In the United States its value has long been known; and nearly one hundred
thousand tons have been annually exported from different parts of the
Province to that country.
"The manner in which it operates on vegetation remains enveloped
in mystery, By some its efficacy is attributed to its power of accelerating
purification; and by others, to its absorbing moisture and imparting it
to the soil; while many ascribe it to the valuable nutriment it affords
to plants. Perhaps its extraordinary powers may be justly inferred, from
a union of these several known peculiarities, than to the agency of any
one in particular. Besides gypsum and limestone, this township contains
freestone; and indications of coal have been discovered near the south
mountain.
Taken From –
An Historical and Statistical Account of Nova-Scotia
In two volumes. Illustrated by a map of the province, and several engravings.
By Thomas C. Haliburton, Esq.
Barrister at Law and Member of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia
(originally) Printed and Published by Joseph Howe, Halifax 1829
Edition consulted – Candiana Reprint Series No. 51
Mika Publishing Belleville, Ontario 1973
Volume 2, Pg 100 – 110, Section III.
Middle Division.
This Division contains three Counties,- Hant’s County, Lunenburg County,
and Queen’s County
– The County of Hants
HRL SG ADULT 971.6 H172 h 1973
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