66^ REPORT OF THE No. 3 



head of rapids, but possibly a dam could be constructed at or about position of 

 Post No. 10 as shown on plan, though no natural dam site was noted. 



Three-quarters of a mile below Stone Rapids is the head of the Long Rapids, 

 surface elevation 494 feet. A fair natural dam site exists just below island 

 "P." Total length of dam with crest at 520 feet would be about 700 feet. 

 Another natural dam site exists half way down the rapids, marked surface 

 elevation 451.5 and where there is a drop to elevation 408.3 in about five chains. 

 This is perhaps the best way to develop power at this rapids as a dam thirty feet 

 or more above elevation 451.5 feet would only be 400 feet long. Possibly a 

 a two stage development would be more economic. 



The total drop in the four rapids, Conquering Rapids, Thunder House Falls, 

 Stone Portage Rapids and the Long Rapids is 255 feet. The distance from head 

 of Conquering Rapids to foot of the Long Rapids is four and one-half miles by 

 river, so that the total development by low impounding dam at head of Con- 

 quering Rapids and penstock lines would be a very expensive undertaking. 

 The water shed area determination is an important factor. Whether it is 

 possible to utilize Coal River as a power canal in whole, or in part, or to make 

 development by canal in lieu of penstock or open flume cannot be stated now, 

 but it appears doubtful. This water power location requires considerable «;nr- 

 vey and study to ascertain economic development. The water shed area common 

 to Conquering Rapids, Thunder House Falls, Stone Portage Rapids and the 

 Long Rapids is about four thousand square miles (noted as 6,500 square miles in 

 1911 Commission of Conservation Report). 



(Note^ — Datum of elevations is base of rail at centre of bridge at Mattice as 

 750 feet.) 



Below the Long Rapids there is no possibility of water power development 

 on the Missinaibi River. The banks are fifty to one hundred feet high in clay 

 as far as the Opazatika River, eighty miles from the north boundary of the 

 Township of Sankey. Below this the banks of the river are fifteen to forty feet 

 high in clay which is the same formation as throughout the clay belt. 



From the foot of the Long Rapids to the mouth of the Mattagami River 

 there are numerous rapids and gravel bars, work being arduous, both ascending 

 and descending at all stages, except at high water period. This position is safe 

 only for men expert with the pole and canoes cannot be loaded to full capacity. 



Indications show that the greater part of the Missinaibi River region has 

 been visited years ago by fire, destroying what was at one time a wonderful 

 forest. Great areas of timber have since grown up, such as poplar to fourteen 

 inches, spruce to twenty inches and balsam and birch, but there still remains 

 many places of almost barren land covered only by heavy growths of small 

 poplar. 



Opazatika River. 



The Opazatika River has throughout this survey an average width of 

 five chains. From the north boundary of the Township of Idington the river 

 runs almost direct north to Allan Lake about fourteen miles between clay banks. 

 Allan Lake is about two miles long, east and west, and its area is about two 

 square miles. A short stretch of about one mile east and west is the connection 

 to Zadi Lake which is two miles long, east and west, and averages about one 

 mile in width. All this distance is easy navigation for canoes or motor boats. 

 Zadi Lake is partly in the Township of Neeley, District of Algoma, and partly 

 in Township of Nixon, District of Timiskaming. From the foot of Zadi Lake 

 for five miles down stream the river flows, east and north, to Eleanor Lake, and 

 the water is swift with one portage. 



