Location of the iron ore refined at the Saint-Maurice forges, on the north bank of Lake Saint-Pierre, near Pointe-du-Lac. (National Library, Map Dpt, Paris)

The esteemed François Poulin de Francheville has taken all due dispositions to ensure that the workers in his employ at the Saint-Maurice foundries might live decently. A freshly issued decree authorizes him to dispatch 150 wheat bushels to Trois-Rivières. This grain will be sown by the workers on their plots, and will allow them to make a decent living there.

As our readers will have understood, the iron-rich ore which is to be found in the Trois-Rivières area will be extracted and processed locally. In the century that preceded ours, intendant Jean Talon had noted its existence. Later, an expert had reached the conclusion that the ore could be mined but for fear of a bad investment, local authorities had given up all hope of witnessing the rise of truly Canadian industry.

Four years ago, François Poulin de Francheville, a merchant in Ville-Marie who owns the lands where the mines are located, asked and obtained permission to operate them. Production will begin in November as as experienced miners arrive.