River Diversion
The diversion of the Seine River to bypass the lake is a highly interesting bit of work, in which every modern mechanical device will be employed by experts in rock and earth removal. Bulldozers, power shovels, mass blasting, will be used and officials are already on the hunt for pumps, shovels, ore handling equipment and mining tools for the excavation end of the job. The Dominion Government, in line
with its policy of active assistance, has agreed to give this operation's a high priority rating. At last Canadians are beginning to wake up to the essential nature of iron supplies.
The geology of the enclosing rock is, roughly, beds of lime rocks on one side and volcanics on the other. The nature of the ore itself and its origin have given rise to interesting scientific argument and speculation, which is not of great moment to the ordinary man; the ore is there and that is the pertinent fact.
When the financial arrangements are concluded, shortly, one of the biggest and most fascinating mining jobs in Canada will get under way. There will have to be close co-ordination of varied types of jobs. such as pumping, excavating the by-pass around the lake, building the 125-mile power line, constructing the spur line and handling works at the mine and providing the ore docks. All told, this is the sort of job that the trained engineer with plenty of experience will enjoy.
What it may mean to Canada is a matter of fascinating speculation at this time. Apart from almost unlimited quantities of high-grade ore for Canadian steel miles, and for export to American mills, the Steep Rock deposits combined with cheap hydro-electric power and using the nickel. cobalt and other alloy metals produced in this country, could mean the establishment of a high-grade steel industry making special alloy steels which would compete in the markets of the world with the long famous Swedish steels, and become the heart of an ever-growing metallurgical and fabricating industry.
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