1907 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 81 



south to north, the corner of the block falling in the lake twenty-nine chains 

 from the east shore and forty-eight chains from the north shore. The lake 

 from east to west where crossed by the south boundary is nearly three and a 

 half miles in length. 



It will be seen from an examination of the notes that some difficulty 

 was experienced in obtaining suitable data for the several triangulations. 

 From Muskeg Lake, I ran the south boundary west to the grade of the Grand 

 Trunk Pacific Railway and then returning to Muskeg Lake, I ran north to 

 the northeast corner of the block and planted an iron bar, a wooden post 

 having been planted as a witness to the southeast corner, twenty-nine chains 

 east from the corner which falls in the lake. From the northeast corner 

 of the block I ran due west twelve miles and planted an iron bar to mark the 

 northwest corner, thence south six miles to the south boundary and return- 

 ing east to the Grand Trunk grade, I completed the south outline and planted 

 the iron bar at the intersection of this line with the meridian run from the 

 north. 



The surface along the east and north outlines is undulating to hilly, 

 while the west boundary is comparatively level. The block contains very 

 good timber, east of the railway, the best being north of Muskeg Lake. 

 There has been excellent timber in the vicinity of the southwest corner but 

 it has suffered much from the operations of the lumberman who could raft 

 or drive it from here down the north branch of the Savanne River, which 

 is quite a large stream, where it crosses the southwest corner of this block. 



The timber consists of poplar, birch, spruce, tamarac and pine. A few 

 good white pine trees were noticed as we ran the fourth and fifth miles on 

 the north boundary. West of the railway on the south boundary there are 

 some large poplar trees and good size birch as well as tamarac and spruce. 



There is a heavy windfall on the west boundary of this block south of the 

 railway grade, which in conjunction with muskeg makes that part very diffi- 

 culty of access in summer. A strip of country near the railway right of way 

 has been overrun with fire but at no great distance from the right of way. 

 A belt of low flat country runs from the southeast to the northwest and this 

 is followed by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The road here is almost 

 straight for a distance of twenty miles and the black decayed vegetable 

 muck, full of roots, is about three feet deep overlying sand or clay. Those 

 swamps are often underlaid with clay, beneath the vegetable mould, which 

 forms the surface. On the higher ground the surface soil is sandy loam. 

 There are a few rock outcrops, but considerable areas where no rock is seen. 



Muskeg Lake, so called, at the southeast corner of the block is not what 

 its name would indicate a marshy lake, but rocky with in many places fine 

 iandy beaches and islands which would make it a model summer resort. It 

 can be reached by canoe from the railway by following a stream and string 

 of smaller lakes. 



We secured some excellent potatoes grown by Indians at the west end 

 of Muskeg Lake. 



No minerals of economic value were seen in the block. 

 I have the honor to be, 

 Sir, 

 Your obedient servant, 



(Signed) Thomas Fawcett, 



Ontario Land Surveyor. 

 The Honorable, 



The Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines. 



