DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1929 15 



Cooperation with the Dominion Government's aerial photographic work 

 was carried on by making control surveys on the ground for the purpose of 

 definitely fixing points on the aerial maps. 



The total expenditure under survey work for the past year was $122,058.55, 

 being an increase of $10,209.12 over the former year's expenditure. 



During the past year the development of water powers consisted of a 

 development by the International Nickel Company, Limited, of Canada at 

 "Big Eddy" Dam, on the Spanish River, to the extent of 28,200 horsepower. 

 11,000 horsepower was installed at High Falls on the Michipicoten River by the 

 Algoma District Power Company. 



The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario have completed develop- 

 ment of 2,200 horsepower at Trethewey Falls on the South Muskoka River; 

 1,000 horsepower at Elliott Chute on the South River and 5,000 horsepower at 

 Lower Ear Falls on the English River. The Commission are also carrying on 

 construction for the development of 54,000 horsepower at Camp Alexander on 

 the Nipigon River. 



The construction of the Lac Seul Conservation Dam, as per contract with 

 Messrs. Morrow & Beatty of Peterborough, was duly completed on the 1st May, 

 1929, and the dam put into operation. 



The revenue from water power rentals was $204,857.14, being an increase 

 of $50,406.29 during the past year. 



Several plans and specifications of dams to be constructed or repaired on 

 different streams throughout the province have been filed for approval, as 

 required under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, 



Timber Administration 



Throughout the year the department, desirous of continuing the accepted 

 policy of providing for old and existing rather than for new and prospective 

 industries, limited the sales of large areas to those where representatives of going 

 concerns applied. 



The question of the disappearance of the forests by more than a gradual 

 process is no longer a debatable one. The general public, through a continuous 

 educational campaign carried on by the press and government, freely admit the 

 need of providing and taking advantage of every means to conserve the forest 

 growth and at the same time seek to stabilize the great industry that has through 

 several generations grown to such tremendous proportions. 



Legislation, to which reference has already been made under heading of 

 "Legislative Enactments," is a most powerful instrument towards giving the 

 "punch" to enforcement. Sympathetic co-operation between the government 

 and timber operators has been so effective during the last few years that the old 

 barriers of individual prejudice and attempts to bleed the forests which kept the 

 state and the operator apart, are almost entirely broken down. The old practical 

 idea has given way in part to the technical and the latter in turn to the former, 

 each recognizing that the practical and theoretical can be made to harmonize 

 to the economic advantage of both. The impossibility of creating an inter- 

 national or even a Dominion-wide stabilizing or standardizing force to maintain 

 a proper balance of trade in the lumber and pulp business creates an uncertain 

 situation in the manufacturing field. Prices and production with their attendant 

 problems are factors that demand an astuteness and acumen in all industries of 

 the present day depending upon forest products. Southern and western imports 

 of certain types of lumber and building supplies, resulting from cheaper labour, 

 compete with and often undersell Ontario products while an over-production and 



