1915-16 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 109 



lost. And we hope tliereby to induce a good number to make their permanent 

 home in the North. 



OnTAIUO GoVERiXMENT EMIGRATION OFFICE, LONDON, ENGLAND. 



The cut opposite shows the Ontario Government Emigration Office, which 

 was built in 1911. The main object of this office in the Old Country is to adver- 

 tise the agricultural resources of the Province and to encourage the emigration of 

 farm hands and domestic servants. 



For the past two years, or ever since the war started, their energies have been 

 almost entirely devoted to doing what they could to assist our soldiers who have 

 gone overseas, such as visiting the wounded, and to securing passports and vouching 

 for Ontario people who require permits to enable them to travel in restricted areas. 



H. A. Macdonell, 

 Oct. 31st, 1916. Director of Colonization. 



Appendix No. 36. 



Report on the Construction of Roads and Bridges, the Ci-<earing of Land 



AND Operation of Experimental Fa;rm and Garden Plots, and the 



Distribution of Seed Grain, Under the Provisions of the 



Northern and NoPtTH-wESTERN Ontario Development 



Acts, 1913 and 1915. 



(During the Season of 1916.) 



To the Uonouruhle, tlie Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines: — 



SiR;, — I have the honour to submit a general report of the work done in the 

 construction of roads and bridges, the clearing of land, the operation of Experi- 

 mental Farm and Garden Plots, and the distribution of seed grain, under the 

 provisions of the Northern and North-western Ontario Development Acts, 1912 



1915, during the season of 1916. 



The season's work on the construction of roads and bridges was continued 

 throughout the winter of 1915-16, in re-surfacing roads with gravel, constructing 

 bridges and taking out bridge timber. 



In compliance with the Act passed at the Session of 1915, authorizing the 

 distribution of seed grain and other seeds to settlers, it was found that in certain 

 sections where the crops had been a failure in 1915 that unless the settlers were 

 provided with seed grain they would be unable to purchase the same and Avould 

 have been in a destitute condition this winter. The amount of seed granted to 

 each settler on unpatented lands was limited to approximately $25.00. Oats, 

 potatoes and grass seed were purchased and distributed to the amount of 14,566 

 bushels to 1,097 settlers. The seed was forwarded to them to the nearest railway 

 station at actual cost, the amount being placed as a lien against their lot, re-payable 

 the 1st of December at six per cent, interest. Few, if any, complaints have been 

 received from the applicants and general satisfaction has resulted. 



With reference to the construction of roads and bridges, the season of 1916 

 has not been entirely satisfactory; snow fell to a great depth during the winter of 

 1915-16, from four to five feet in many sections of Northern Ontario. Heavy rains 

 fell during the early part of April, and the winter broke up very suddenly. 



