vi EEPOET OF THE No. 3 



Sales. 



Under Part 1 of the Public Lands Act, 98,209 acres were sold for farming 

 during the year as compared with 146,307.19 acres for 1915, a very appreciable 

 decrease, but one not altogether unexpected in view of disturbed economic labour 

 and immigration conditions due to the war. During 1915 in the Temiskaming and 

 Hearst Section of ISTorthern Ontario 889 persons purchased farms, while for the 

 •past year only 641 settlers secured holdings, or an average for the two war years of 

 765, whereas the average for the two years prior, 1913 and 1914, part of which was 

 covered by the early stages of the war, was nearly^ 200 greater. 



The reduction in the last two years is largely, if not wholly, attributed to the 

 above-mentioned conditions occasioned^ by .the . war, a large percentage of those 

 whom we would expect to settle having enlisted for active service. Already over 

 400 actual settlers have requested and been granted protection by virtue of their 

 enlistment, and no doubt others have donned the khaki without taking the neces- 

 sary precautions to advise the Department, but careful enquiries are made if a 

 question arises as to the possibility of a land holder being a soldier when his claim 

 is sought to be cancelled. 



Eanching Leases, Etc. 



Throughout the year many enquiries have been made as to the ranching 

 business which the Department is endeavouring to encourage on those areas of Innd 

 that have been partly burnt over, denuded of the timber and untillable in the 

 general acceptance of the term. Large tracts of such areas exist in different 

 parts of the Province, both in Old and New Ontario, where the land is hilly and 

 broken with intervening valleys producing excellent fodder. Practically the entire 

 Trent Valley section or that region between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay lying 

 in a north-westerly line consists of tracts of land that have lain waste for years and 

 only await the arrival of a practical cattle or sheep raising man. 



Four ranching leases were issued during the year, the lessees being required to 

 put on and maintain a certain number of head of stock, cattle or sheep, or both, the 

 number determinable by the size and capabilities of the land. Rentals are at the 

 rate of 5 cents an acre per annum and a short or long term lease of 7 to 21 years 

 with reasonable conditions prevails. The success attained by some ranchers within 

 the last three years has urged others to promote the cause and is sufficient to justify 

 the belief that ranching on Crown Lands in the Province, now in its infancy, will 

 ,arow to large proportions. 



There were in addition to the four leases above mentioned fourteen Crown 

 Leases issued during the year for various purposes such as mining, water lots, 

 church sites, water powers, etc. 



Licenses of Occupation to the number of 42 were issued, the majority for 

 mining purposes, while seven of them covered water lots and three lumbering 

 operations. 



The long established system of dealing with water lot applications has been 

 materially changed, and now preparatory to treating such cases an official inspec- 

 tion and a careful valuation is made, the report of the engineer being the basis upon 

 which the Department acts as to leasing, granting or issuing Licenses of Occupa- 

 tion. The departure has already considerably augmented the public revenues. 



