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Birthplace
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T.C. Haliburton’s
NS c1800
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NS 1st Historian
Windsor
King’s College
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on 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
[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 [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.
Excerpt 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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