DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1935 9 



The stock holdings remain approximately the same as at October 31st, 

 1934. 



While, after nearly three years from the inception of the Relief Land 

 Settlement Plan, 81.9% of the selected applicants who were offered placement 

 remain on the land, it is obvious that it is too early to make a final forecast 

 as to the success of the movement. 



In view of the circumstances generally, and the situation of settlers in the 

 North at large, it is considered wise to await further manifestations before 

 giving consideration to any extension of the work or expressing a definite 

 opinion upon the ultimate success of the undertaking, much as it is hoped 

 that those undertaking the venture will find it of profit to themselves and of 

 permanent benefit to the country. 



SUMMER RESORT LANDS 



Transactions in connection with summer resort sites appear in Appendix 

 13, in a separate table. Interests of both visitor and citizen alike in the 

 summer possibilities of Ontario continues. The Departmental files show a 

 steady, consistent flow of enquiries, the most of which are followed in due 

 course by privileges of one kind or another, and the Department is endeavouiing 

 to co-operate in every way possible towards the increase and extension of this 

 kind of business. 



The designation of the Trans-Canada Highway, north of Lake Superior, 

 is producing numbers of enquiries, and the road when completed will be the 

 attraction of many who will enjoy the primitive beauty and unique game and 

 fishing privileges that the Highway will make accessible. 



PROVINCIAL PARKS 



Our large public parks, comprising two in Old Ontario, Algonquin and 

 Rondeau, and one in North-Western Ontario, Quetico, continue to be important 

 attractions. The growth of the automotive industry, and the improvements 

 in our road transportation, have opened up new avenues of travel and provided 

 additional facilities for our people to take advantage of our wide-open air 

 spaces, including the Parks and Reserves. The Department is undertaking 

 to make selections along the Trans-Canada and other Highways of strategic 

 points to provide for the general public. It is observed with regret that so 

 little shore-line along the Great Lakes is free and open to the common folk, 

 and this results in frequent conflicts between the travelling public and riparian 

 owners. It would not seem inadvisable, to meet the situation, for the Govern- 

 ment to make provision in some substantial way to acquire from time to time 

 on the shores of the lakes, contiguous to our own populated centres and readily 

 accessible to the millions of tourists from the South, choice park locations, and 

 thus encourage all to enjoy the treasures with which nature has so generously 

 endowed us. Ontario's offerings in the way of wild life and natural surround- 

 ings are unsurpassed, and these we should cultivate in a larger measure than 



