Historic Sites of Manitoba: Inter-West Fuel and Peat Company (Lac du Bonnet)

In 1907, a group of local capitalists built a peat-processing plant 4.83 kilometers (3 miles) southwest of Lac du Bonnet on the previously operated Canadian Pacific Railway branch line that connected Lac du Bonnet to the main line at Molson, Manitoba. At this location, the Inter-West Peat and Fuel Company had been operating for only a few days, having loaded five railway cars of peat ready for shipment, when the factory part of the plant was destroyed by fire. It was scheduled to be reconstructed in the spring of 1908 and expected to be in operation by July of that year. The estimated cost of the plant was $25,000 and would be capable of producing 100 tons of peat daily. The factory, 40 feet by 50 feet, was constructed of concrete and corrugated iron.

The machine for compressing the peat was reported to have an average pressure of 40 tons per square inch. (There is no evidence that the new plant ever came into production.) Peat, dug from the bog, artificially dried and compressed into 3½-inch cubes, had the same weight and density as anthracite coal and gave an intense heat when burned. It was used for household fuel and in the manufacture and refinement of iron and steel. The company had reserves on 1,036.03 hectares (2,560 acres) of peat land south of Lac du Bonnet. At that time, the factory was the only one operating in Western Canada.

This plaque was erected in 2007 by the Lac du Bonnet Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee.

Inter-West Fuel and Peat Company Plaque (2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Location (lat/long): N50.26187, W96.05382 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lac du Bonnet Brick Plant

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lac du Bonnet Sawmill

Historic Sites of Manitoba: John Duncan McArthur Commemorative Plaque

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Alex McIntosh Commemorative Plaque

Historic Sites of Manitoba: William Walter Wardrop Commemorative Plaque

Sources:

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 17 March 2012

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