1921-22 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 77 



Appendix No. 24. 



South Porcupine, Ont., December 1st, 1920 



Sir, — I have the honour, in accordance with your instructions to me dated 

 May 11th, 1920, to submit the following report on the survey of certain township 

 outlines, north of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the District of Sudbury. 



On August the 19th, my party arrived at the Woman River Station on the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway, and the following morning proceeded down the river 

 an approximate distance of four miles to the point where it intersects the meridian 

 run by O.L.S. Speight in 1909. From this point part of the party proceeded 

 north along this meridian to the 12 mile post, the starting point of the survey, 

 the other members of the party proceeded down the river with supplies to be 

 cached at, or near, the place where the first base line would cross the river. 



The survey, which commenced on August 26th, was conducted throughout 

 in strict accordance with your instructions. The base lines were run as chords 

 of parallels of latitude, passing through the township corners. The east limits 

 and west limits of townships were run north astronomically. Frequent observa- 

 tions were taken on Polaris, the notes of which accompany the other returns. 

 In chaining, a clinometer was used at all times, and horizontal distances deduced 

 from the measured slope. Distances across obstructions were measured by offset 

 or triangulation. Many magnetic observations were taken, and the results 

 thereof are shown in the field notes. The lines were well cut out and blazed, 

 and posts of the specified varieties of wood were planted where required. Iron 

 posts of the standard pattern shipped by you to Woman River Station, were 

 planted, and the necessary pits, mounds and trenches constructed as called for 

 in your instructions. 



Unusually low water in the streams this season made transportation difficult, 

 but this was more than offset by the ideal weather conditions. 



Soil. 



The country through the lines passed is mostly rough and hilly, but in 

 small tracts undulating, and can hardly be classed as agricultural. The soil, 

 except in the swamps and valleys, consists of a few inches of leafy loam and 

 12 to 18 inches of sand or clay on bed rock, as a rule. The swamps, like all 

 others of Northern Ontario, have varying depths of moss and muskeg. 



Timber. 



Approximately the western half of Dore and Garnet appears to have been 

 burnt over six years ago, and the ground is now covered with semi-decayed 

 fallen timber, and a new growth of small poplars and birches. The remaining 

 portion of the territory, except in small strips along streams and lakes, apparently 

 had been burnt over about 30 years ago, and is now covered with a thick growth 

 of healthy timber, large areas of which are pulpwood size. A few white and red 

 pines, survived the fires, and are now thriving apparently. The varieties of 

 timber are spruce, balsam, white birch, poplar and banksian pine on the high 

 lands, and cedar, small tamarac and black ash on the low lands. 



Minerals. 



The greater part of the rock throughout the country is granite and green- 

 stone. Many small stringers of quartz were observed, but no large veins. Small 



