1916-17 DEPAllTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. xi 



Iron Ore and Piy Iron. — In addition to exported ore, 138,808 tons were 

 shipped to Ontario smelters. Of the total of 983,321 tons of ore smelted, only 

 93,536 tons, or 9.5 per cent., were Ontario ore. The total pig iron produced was 

 513,232 tons, worth $9,841,438 as compared with 501,410 tons, worth $6,686,965 

 in 19 16 for the corresponding period. This shows an advance of nearly 50 per 

 cent, in the value of pig iron. 



Collections. 



The total revenue of the Department from all sources was $3,579,196.06. Of 

 this $63,079.87 came from agricultural lands and town sites; mining lands 

 $57,054.50; mining and crown leases $80,544.18; miners' licenses, permits and 

 recording fees $62,256.41; supplementary revenue tax $1,657,643.37. From woods 

 and forests the revenue was $1,695,703.08 made up of the following items, bonus 

 $640,835.35; timber dues $832,467.24; ground rent $100,408.33; transfer fees 

 $6,665.10; fire protection charge $115,327.06. (See Appendix No. 4, page 9.) 



DiSBUESEMENTS. 



The total expenditure of the Department for ordinary services was $903,164.27. 

 Some of the principal items were : Crown Land agents' salaries and disbursements 

 $16,861.54; homestead inspectors $16,333.25; Crown timber agents $32,040.62; 

 wood ranging and estimation of timber $120,152.20; fire ranging $337,933.50; 

 forest reserves, fire ranging, etc., Temagami reserve $39,694.04; Metagami reserve 

 $8,252.02; Mississaga reserve $26,854.08; Nipigon reserve $27,75^.36; Eastern 

 reserve $2,704.17; Sibley reserve $100.00; mines and mining $52,578.66; mining 

 records $25,925.15; surveys $43,214.75; contingencies, lands and forests $48,- 

 137.30 ; bureau of mines $10,362.50. 



A further sum of $88,554.93 was expended under the direction of the Depart- 

 ment, distributed as follows : Algonquin Park $33,623.89 ; Quetico Provincial Park 

 $9,056.50; A^eteran's Commutation $150.00; Royal Nickel Commission $45,721.64. 

 (See Appendices Nos. 5 and 6.) 



Woods and Forests. 



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

 1917, amounted to $1,496,063.45 or $90,638.39 in excess of previous year. 



The revenue collected also shows a satisfactory increase over preceding year, 

 $1,695,703.08 being collected as against $1,335,320.78 for year ending 31st October, 

 1916, an increase of $360,382.30. 



The production of pine timber — saw logs and dimention timber — is nearly one 

 hundred million feet board measure less than that of previous season, and almost 

 two hundred million feet, board measure, less than that for year ending October 

 31st, 1915. The falling off in production of timber other than pine was not so 

 marked, being only one million four hundred and seventy-seven thousand eight 

 hundred and sixty-three feet, board measure, less than previous year. 



While the production of pine timber has steadily declined, shortage of labour, 

 due to the war, has contributed largely to the falling off of the past two years. The 

 lumber firms have experienced great difficulty in manning their camps and in 

 many cases have been forced to lessen the number of camps. 



