1915-16 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. xi 



^larie, Deseroiito and Hamilton, respectively, produced pig iron in quantity 41 per 

 cent., and in value 48 per cent, greater than in the correspohding period of 1915. 



Silver. — The mines at Cobalt continue to produce, though on a slowly dini- 

 inishing scale. The number of fine ounces contained in the shipments of the nine 

 months was 975,538 below the record for the same period of last year, but owing to 

 the much higher prices that have prevailed for silver the return of the mining 

 companies was $1,719,571 greater. Silver started the year at 56.76 cents per 

 ounce and rose to a maximum in May of 74.27 cents, when it receded to 63.06 in 

 July, reaching 68.51 cents again in September. In -1915, the monthly average was 

 49.75 cents per ounce. , Nipissing still leads in production. Mining Corporation 

 coming next, followed by Kerr Lake, Coniagas, McKinley-Darragh-Savage, Seneca- 

 Superior, Temiskaming, etc. The flotation process is likely to assist materially 

 in increasing the production of silver at Cobalt. It has been introduced at the 

 Buffalo mine, where it is treating successfully low-grade tailings containing 5 or 6 

 ounces per ton. From the gold ores treated during the ^Deriod 66,347 ounces of 

 Oliver were obtained, and from the copper ores 607 ounces. 



Collections. 



The total revenue of the Department from all sources was $1,860,557.37. Of 

 ihis $83,555.03 came from agricultural lands and town sites; mining lands 

 $36,578.69; mining and crown leases $66,974.79; miners' licenses, permits and 

 recording fees $66,906.98; royalties $15,083.52; supplementary revenue tax 

 $186,827.12. From woods and forests the revenue was $1,335,320.78 made up of 

 the following items, bonus $419,827.94; timber dues $822,332.81; ground rent. 

 $89,520.03; transfer fees $3,640.00. (See Appendix No. 4, page 9.) 



DlSBUESEMENTS. 



The total expenditure of the Department for ordinary services was $627,347,95.. 

 Some of the principal items were: Agents' salaries and disbursements $17,251.77;. 

 homestead inspectors $12,593.23 ; Crown timber agents $29,402,13 ; wood ranging 

 and estimation of timber $166,197.58; fire ranging $111,118.20; forest reserves, fire 

 ranging, etc., Temagami reserve $37,789.21, Metagami reserve $7,936.76; Mis- 

 sissaga reserve $18,722.89; Nipigon reserve $18,881.24; Eastern reserve $2,804.68;. 

 Sibley reserve $832.50 ; mines and mining $51,524.01 ; mining recorders $24,000,43 ; 

 surveys $63,884.33; contingencies, lands and forests $28,679.47; bureau of mines. 

 $12,085.06. 



A further sum of $111,171,05 was expended under the direction of the Depart- 

 ment, distributed as follows: Algonquin Park $35,473.13; Quetico Provincial Park 

 $11,268.87; expenditures under Bounty Act, 7 Edward YII, cap. 14, $25,550.91; 

 Veteran's Commutation $600.00; Royal Nickel Commission $37,578.14. (See 

 Appendices Nos. 6 and 7, pages 11 and 33.) 



Woods and Forests. 



The revenue accrued from woods and forests for the year ending 31st October/ 

 1916, was $1,405,425.06, which was $224,224.54 less than that of the preceding- 

 year. 



