1917-18 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 101 



Appendix No. 30. 



Heport on the Constructiox axd Maintenance of Highavays and Bridges 



Under the Provisions of the Northern and North Western 



Ontario Development Acts of 1912 and 1915. 



(During the Season of 1918) 



To the Honourable, the Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines: — 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report of the work done on the 

 Construction and Maintenance of Roads and Bridges under the provisions of the 

 above Acts, during the season of 1918: — 



Operations were carried on in the Districts of Rainy River. Kenora, Port 

 Arthur and Fort William, Sault Ste Marie, St. Joseph Island, Manitoulin Island, 

 Algoma, Sudbury, Nipissing, Parr}- Sound, Muskoka and Renfrew. 



In the Eastern ])art of the Districts the work throughout almost the entire 

 summer season was considerably retarded by the damp or rainy weather in th'e 

 Western Districts in the vicinity of Port Arthur. In the A'alley of the Rainy 

 River and in the District of Kenora the weather conditions were very favourable — 

 comparatively dry weather. Labour, however, was difficult to procure in all the 

 Districts, wages higli and food supplies for men and teams expensixe. Those engag(»d 

 on the work were chietly settlers where they could be procured. In the Agricultural 

 districts during the periods of seeding, haying and harvesting, operations were 

 suspended, in order to convenience the Settlers who wished to work on the reads. 

 Very fair results were obtained throughout the season for. the money expended. 

 During the past season fewer miles of new roads were cut out than in previous 

 seasons. Much of the work was confined to the re-construction and maintenance 

 of old roads, by grading, improving and surfacing with either gravel or stone. 

 The maintenance alone of trunk roads constructed within the last six years within 

 the area covered by this season's work was no small task. Over 500 miles had to 

 be looked after, dragged, re-surfaced in places and repaired. No new roads were 

 cut out this season in advance of settlement; in many instances settlement is now 

 considerably in advance of our roads. It was found, however, that in most instances - 

 the settlers were quite willing to forego all the comforts that might be derived 

 from new roads during the war, but are living in hopes of relief as soon as condi- 

 tions improve. During the past season, up to the 31st of October, Three hundred 

 and forty-five thousand dollars was expended on the construction, repairing and 

 maintenance of roads or bridges in the above mentioned Districts. 



There is a growing, demand by the settlers and business men in Northern 

 Ontario for more roads and better roads. The earth or clay roads of the past will 

 not satisfy them. Motor Cars and Trucks are rapidly becoming the vehicle of the 

 day, and unless the roads are well surfaced with gravel or stone, and of a more 

 permanent character, they will not meet the requirements. There is still, unfortu- 

 nately, too little interest taken by the users of the Government Constructed roads 

 in their maintenance or upkeep — and unless some legislation is passed in the near 

 future, making it incumbent on the Municipalities through which these roads pass 

 to contribute towards their maintenance they will become a considerable burden 

 on the Province, or will soon become impassable in sections. The public all appre- 

 ciate good roads, but are apparently not very willing in certain localities to con- 

 8 L.M. 



