62 EEPORT OF THE No. 3 



Appendix No. 24- 

 Algonquin Provincial Pabk. 



Algonquin Park P.O., November 4, 1915. 

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



Honourable Sir, — I beg to hand you my report on the, Algonquin Provincial 

 Park of Ontario for the fiscal year ending October Slst, 1915. 



We, your staflP, deplore the fact that the Empire is still in the midst of a war 

 that is being felt to the most remote corners of the land. Even here in the heart 

 of the forest we feel its effects and look forward to the day when, with God's l)less- 

 ing, the arm of the would-be oppressor shall be broken and peace restored. 



Our permanent staff at the close of the year consists of superintendent and 

 thirty men, two of whom, H. A. Callighan and Capt. Mark Kobinson, have been 

 called to Join their regiments, the former doing duty at Niagara Camp, the latter 

 acting as assistant recruiting officer at Barrie. 



Our staff has done good work during the past year. Infringements of the 

 Park Act have been few and of a minor character. 



We have had a most favorable season as to bush fires, having had frequent 

 rains, and I am glad to report no damage whatever from this source. The Grand 

 Trunk I'ailway, carrying out the instructions of the Railway Commission, had a 

 car constructed v,dth two large tanks and a ]>oworful pump fitted with a good 

 supply of hose. This was stationed at our headquarters with a competent man in 

 charge; the company's chief fire inspector, Mr. McKinnon, was also stationed 

 here. The tank car, although not required this year to any extent, is an ex- 

 cellent thing, and would render most valuable assistance in the early stages of fire 

 along the right-of-way. An emergency equipment of blankets, axes, shovels, pails, 

 etc., was secured and stored at headquarters, and every possible precaution taken 

 against fire. 



Next season it is proposed to erect look-out towers at several of the highest 

 points in the Park; these would be a great help in locating fires and enable us to 

 reach them more quickly. There are many points in the Park where such towers 

 could be erected to advantage, such as " Skymount " where with a tower of thirty- 

 five feet the lookout would be able to locate a fire over an area of ten square miles 

 on both sides. This point would be connected with headquarters by telephone, 

 as could several others at a very moderate cost. 



A number of men with the Park team of horses have been employed in clean- 

 ing along the railway. They clean and stump the right-of-way, and draw the 

 debris out of the woods, for some distance back from it. They have done ex- 

 cellent work, which not only adds to the appearance of the Park when passing 

 through by rail, but will be a lasting benefit in the added protection it affords 

 against fires from the locomotives. During the past year some twenty-two miles 

 have been so cleaned on each side of the railway and a great deal of the debris 

 burnt. The remainder will be burnt during the fall. The Grand Trunk "Railway 

 pay for half of this work. Much improvement has been made at headquarters, the 

 work being done by the permanent staff as opportunity afforded. We have kept a 

 few live animals in the animal house for the benefit of the many people who visit 

 the Park and delight in seeing specimens of the native animals. We have not 



