8 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Over twenty per cent, of new locatees found their pioneer lots in the District 

 of Thunder Bay, while Kenora and Rainy River accounted in about equal 

 proportion for thirty-six per cent. The balance was absorbed in the various 

 other Districts, with Sudbury a good leader. 



The land allotments for Free Grant settlers are considerably limited, the 

 transactions being confined to townships that have now been opened for some 

 years. There is always a certain percentage of those acquiring Free Grant 

 locations failing in their efforts to carry out what appeared like bona fide inten- 

 tions at the time of applying. In due time, after every leniency is extended by 

 the Crown, consistent with the Regulations and in consonance with the justifiable 

 circumstances of individuals, if duties are not performed their rights are forfeited 

 and, with the resumption of the land by the Crown, other parties are free to 

 make their venture. 



From the general figures herein quoted, and the detailed statement as 

 provided in appendix No. 12, it may be readily seen that by far the greater 

 number of those entering for free grant land are in the sections comprised within 

 Northern Ontario, although the older or Southern part of the Province is really 

 the cradle of Free Grant Homesteaders. Because of a closer supervision over 

 located lands, and a more systematic segregation of farm or tillable land from 

 unproductive areas, and to many years' demand upon the good portions of the 

 original free grant townships, there are now but few entries in older Ontario, 

 and these are for the most part sons or relatives or immediate friends of those 

 whose pioneer efforts have, although beset with difficulties, kept them on the 

 land and created an urge to induce others to share their lot. 



As a result of the gradual diminution of free grant available land for pioneer 

 settlement in Old Ontario the Department during the past year closed two 

 Agencies in the Parry Sound District — those of Emsdale and Powassan; one 

 in Haliburton — that of Minden; and one in Peterborough County — that of 

 Apsley. The occasional application falling within any of the territory covered 

 heretofore by any of these Agencies will be dealt with by the head office at 

 Toronto, while the responsibility of enquiring into and settling disputes or 

 examining land will be assumed by the nearest Crown Timber Agent in each 

 case. A considerable saving by the closing of these offices will be effected. 



Locatees who proved up and secured their patents under the Free Grant 

 Section of the Act numbered 205, and the land covered by such comprised 

 27,310 acres. 



Free Grant lands proper are set aside in given areas for the benefit of all 

 married or single men beyond the age of eighteen years. However, for the 

 special purpose of encouraging veterans of the Great War — those who served 

 with the Canadian contingent and saw service overseas — all Crown lands in the 

 Province opened for sale or as free grant are subject to entry free. Although 

 this privilege has been widely advertised and annually open to those eligible 

 comparatively few have accepted the opportunity, and of those who do the 

 majority fail to meet the expressed objective. Some fifty-six were located within 

 the year, but fifty- two were cancelled; as against forty-one and sixty-eight 

 respectively for the previous year. 



The hardships met with during the early pioneer days, where individuals 

 with meagre means strive to hew out and undertake to establish homes, are 

 not unrecorded in the Department, and it is with this picture ever present 

 that the officials try to be lenient, particularly with the returned men. The 

 impossible, however, is so often attempted by land-seekers that forfeitures must 

 inevitably follow. Failures, however, upon fertile wooded areas in newer parts 



