93 liEPOliT OF THE No. 3 



astronomical courses and lengths of all traverse lines with offset distances to the 

 shores and contour lines; and field notes showing traverse lines of all the islands, 

 numbered consecutively. 



We have the honour to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servants, 



(Signed) Speight & Van Nostkand, 



Ontario Land Surveyors. 



The Honourable the Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines, 

 Parliament Buildings, Toronto. 



Appendix No. 26. 



Toronto, January 22nd, 1919. 



To the Honourable the Minister bf Lands, Forests and Mines, Ontario. 



Sir, — I beg to. submit herewith a report of operations conducted by this 

 Department under the Northern and Northwestern Ontario Development Act — 

 Amending Acts, 1916 and 1918. 



Loans to Settlers. 



Up to October 31st, 1918, a total of 1,839 applications for loans have been 

 received, asking for a total amount of $699,755.00, an average of $380.51 per 

 application. These were given careful consideration, and in all eases where bona 

 fide settlers have shown actual need of financial assistance this Department has 

 been pleased to co-operate, providing existing improvements to land warranted 

 an advance, and it was clearly demonstrated the money was to be used to advantage 

 in improving the property, or the living condition of the settler and his family. 



A total of 1,305 loans have been issued to settlers, amounting to $407,286.00, 

 the average loan being $312.10, and the development noted throughout the various 

 districts in the way of increased land under cultivation, improved buildings, and 

 larger holdings of live stock, would clearly indicate that good use has been made 

 of the loans received and that settlers have been able to devote more of their 

 time to work on their own lots in clearing up land, but the scarcity and high 

 cost of labour for this class of work considerably retarded advancement along 

 this line. The higher price of building materials, and live stock, prevented the 

 new settler from accomplishing much over and above the result of his own labour. 



Eepayment of loans has been very satisfactory, in spite of adverse weather 

 conditions for harvesting in some districts. This is evidenced by the fact that 

 90 per cent, of the interest payments have been received, and payments on account 

 of principal, through payment of some loans in full, equal 99 per cent, of pay- 

 ments due. 



