1926 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 13 



expenditures on fire protection were considerably higher than last year, but 

 this was largely due to the capital outlay on the new hangar built at Sault Ste. 

 Marie, where, under one roof, eighteen seaplanes are comfortably housed and 

 workshops, store rooms, office apartments are adequately provided. This 

 structure is the only one of its kind in Canada and has no superior on the con* 

 tinent, and this, our centre air base, is the only air harbour in the whole of 

 Canada classed as A-1. 



In addition to patrolling for and suppressing fires, the seaplanes are utilized 

 in surveying, sketching and photographing timber areas and other natural 

 resources. The vast areas covered and the time saved, as against the old 

 system of cruising large limits, means the perfecting of an inventory of resources 

 that enables the Crown to provide for the early development of its potentialities 

 and the establishment of going concerns. 



Several commercial enterprises were undertaken by the flying corps and 

 the results attained exceeded expectations. The transportation of men and 

 supplies by air ships afforded mining men the opportunity of getting access to 

 and undertaking extensive development work in Red Lake District, where com- 

 mercial rates were imposed and the aggregate receipts in connection with same 

 substantially aid in carrying interest charges on the investment. For detailed 

 report see Appendix No. 28. ,^ 



Reforestation 



Intensive work- was continued at the three Provincial Forest Stations of 

 St. William in Norfolk County, Orono in Durham County and Midhurst in 

 Simcoe County, while considerable transplanting was conducted at the Trans- 

 plant Nurseries situated in Prince Edward County at the Sand Banks and irt 

 Grenville County at Kemptville. The nursery stock carried at the above 

 mentioned stations approximates twenty-seven million conifers and two million 

 hardwoods. For detailed information on this work and other branches covering 

 municipal and private plantations, see Appendix No. 28. 



Colonization Roads 



The amount expended upon this service was S474,409.34, as against 

 $447,444.66 during 1924. Of this total over 50 per cent, is directly chargeable 

 to by-law requirements of municipalities under which the Crown spends an 

 amount equal to that covered by vote of the township. Forty per cent, was 

 directly granted and expended by the Province on the construction and main- 

 tenance of roads, the balance, 10 per cent., being conserved in the purchase of 

 road-making machinery, inspection of roads and bridges, compeiis.iti ):i to 

 injured workmen and certain incidentals. 



Accruals and Collixtions 



The largest revenue ever collected in the history of the Department of Lands 

 and Forests was that received during the fiscal year ending 31st October, 1925, 

 some $5,013,867.85, exclusive of SI 66,808.25 collected by the Northern Develop- 

 ment. The total accruals from timber dues, ground rent, fire protection, bonus,, 

 etc., were $4,420,271.17, as shown on statement under Appendix No. 7. Orr 

 this Woods and Forests Account, including certain outstandings, the sum of 

 $4,610,922.53 was received. The sale of lands for agricultural townsites and 



