DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1934 23 



three tenders each in three cases and two tenders each in the remaining three 

 cases. In the Red and White Pine sale $7.65 per M feet B.M. was bid includ- 

 ing dues, while an exclusive Jackpine area brought $7.75 per M feet B.M., 

 this timber being required for Railway tie purposes to meet a standing con- 

 tract. The largest area disposed of was part of McBride Township, in the 

 District of Sudbury, from which the lumber is watered to Timmins. It was 

 purchased by Rudolph and McChesney, whose mill is situated at this point 

 from which they deliver largely to the Mining Companies. 



At the close of the operating season, April 30th, 1934, the area under 

 Timber License was 10,407 square miles, represented by 602 timber licenses, 

 while the pulp concessions cover an area of 53,01 lM square miles. 



COMMUNICATIONS 



The figures in the Records Branch, where all the incoming and outgoing 

 letters, documents, maps, etcetera, except those of the Minister's office, the 

 Land Tax and Forestry Branches, are recorded show an increase in both 

 directions. Some 58,312 were received, or 1,427 in excess of the previous 

 year, and some 62,030 were mailed as against 61,528 for the year 1933. 



It may be remarked that all notices of mining claims recorded or can- 

 celled are cleared through and entered in the Records Branch of the Depart- 

 ment of Lands and Forests, and as the unit of claim is 40 acres the entries of 

 these comprise against each half lot four times as much work as a land trans- 

 action where the unit of measurement is a half lot or 160 acres. Now files 

 are being constantly created and transfers are being made from current filing 

 vault boxes to reference vaults. The space required for such and for future 

 expansion is an important factor in the allotment of vault area, and unless 

 ample vault accommodation can be regularly provided for current material 

 and normal growth the problem of housing original documents and keeping 

 permanent records that cannot be deemed obsolete will be acute. 



INSTRUMENTS ISSUED 



Appendix No. 14 details the number of patents, leases, licenses and other 

 instruments that have been engrossed, recorded and issued throughout the year. 

 The total numbered 1,596, being 241 greater than the preceding year. Included 

 in this number are Mining patents, leases, licenses and mining rights, the 

 Patents Office attached to the Lands Branch having been the entry and clearing 

 medium of all such mining documents prior and subsequent to the creation of 

 the Department of Mines in 1920. 



The importance of the Patents Office cannot be too emphasized as here is 

 maintained a record of every parcel of land alienated, leased or granted in the 

 Province of Ontario, and the land descriptions and names are so catalogued as 

 to provide a ready source of information bearing upon all land grants. 



