viii REPORT OF THE No. 3 



chase additional areas and in this way obtained 6,210 acres; last year 155 pur- 

 chased for 5,191 acres, so that the average parcel purchased during the past year 

 is somewhat larger. 



Certain locatees, numbering 217, for good and sufficient reasons, were allowed 

 to sell their improvements and assign their locations, their assignees succeeding to 

 their rights and obligations. 



In Free Grant townships 449 patents were issued to parties, the great majority 

 of whom were actual settlers who had completed their residence and other settle- 

 ment duties. The other patentees were those who had acquired title for summer 

 resort purposes. 



No new townships were placed on the market during the year. Generally 

 speaking the transactions in respect of Free Grant lands and Homesteading were 

 practically the same as in the preceding year, although the numbers seeking free 

 homesteads have very naturally decreased and this is borne out by the figures as 

 compiled in detail under Appendix No. 14. 



The obvious lull is due partly to war conditions and partly also to the gradual 

 lessening of ready accessible, arable Free Grant lands. The old sections have been 

 largely sought in the past and, of the Free Grant lands now open, only a small per- 

 centage of the first-class farming areas remains. In the earlier development of 

 land settlement the Free Grant sections were eagerly seized upon, and in this way 

 practically all the Rainy River Valley has been settled as well as Thunder Bay 

 District, and a goodly proportion of the agricultural sections of Kenora. The fact 

 that within recent years the new townships opened have been in the Great Clay 

 Belt and are subject to Sale Regulations, has noticeably affected the tabulated re- 

 sults in Free Grants. Moreover, in 1915 several townships in the Sudbury section 

 were withdrawn because of their inclusion in the sulphur area. 



With the older arable portions of townships cruised and well settled, with no 

 new lands being opened for Free Grants, and with the standstill condition of im- 

 migration and other war tendencies, it is not unreasonable to presume that for the 

 continuance of the war, at least, there will be no appreciable increase in the number 

 of Free Grant settlers. 



MiLITAEY GeANTS. 



The total number of Military Certificates issued to date, under the Veterans 

 Land Grant Act, 1 Edw. VII, Cap. 6, and amendments thereto, is 13,998. During 

 the year 96 letters were received from men or from the next of kin of veterans who 

 had served on the frontier during the Fenian Raid, but had only now heard of this 

 grant and asked for application forms. As the time for receiving these applica- 

 tions expired on 30th September, 1908, these application forms could not be sent 

 to them. 



During the year there have been 87 certificates located covering 13,986 acres 

 in the townships open for veterans, making in all a total of 8,261 certificates 

 located. 



There were 3 certificates surrendered to the Crown for the $50.00 commuta- 

 tion money ; this makes a total of 3,267 certificates surrendered. 



In 14 cases the certificates have been surrendered and applied in payment of 

 lands purchased from the Crown, covering in all 2,240 acres, making a total of 774 

 certificates that have been applied in this manner. 



