1909 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. vii 



of its timber and then abandon it. The close inspections we are now making are 

 having a good effect and people are realizing that they must take up land to farm 

 it, not dispose of the timber and then leave it. In the carrying out of this policy 

 it is inevitable that there should be disappointment and complaint on the part of 

 those who cannot get the timber they want, and sometimes on the part of the 

 licensees when the Department locates lots covered by their licenses which are good 

 for agricultural purposes. 



During the year 1909 two new townships were opened for settlement, Morson 

 and Temple, the former in the Rainy River Valley, attached to the Stratton Agency, 

 and the latter in Kenora district, attached to the Dry den Agency. These townships 

 were opened under Section 4, ChaJ)ter 8, Edward VII., which provides that the 

 pine and minerals may be included in a free grant location or sale. Settlers in 

 these townships, after having been in occupation for six months with a house 

 16 X 20 feet, and six acres cleared and under crop, are entitled to dispose of all 

 pine trees free of any charge. Already a number of settlers have availed them- 

 selves of the opportunity of locating in these townships. 



Military Grants. 



During the year 1909, only 30 Military Certificates were issued; this brings 

 the total number granted, under 1 Edward VII., Cap. 6, to 13,987. 



Location certificates issued this year numbered 250, and 350 new locations 

 were made, bringing the total number of locations up to 7,195. 



$50.00 each were paid for 161 military certificates surrendered to the Crown, 

 making a total of 3,211 disposed of in this way. 



There were 434 notices issued to military settlers and assignees of veterans, 

 calling upon them to show that they were in actual occupation and the nature of 

 the duties they have performed. 



The Mining Industry. 



The production of ores and minerals proceeded vigorously during the ten 

 months ending 31st October, 1909, but until the statistics for the calendar year are 

 compiled, an exact comparison cannot be made with previous years. 



The silver mines of the Cobalt camp again surpassed all their previous records, 

 and judging from the output during the ten months, the total yield for 1909 will 

 be not less than 25,000,000 ounces, and will possibly exceed that quantity. The 

 chief producing mines continue as before, namely: Nipissing, Crown Reserve, 

 Kerr Lake, O'Brien, Buffalo, Coniagas, Trethewey, Temiskaming, McKinley-Dar- 

 ragh-Savage, etc. The output of silver in Ontario for 1909 will probably be about 

 one-half that of the entire United States during the same period. 



The newer silver fields are coming into yield, namely, South Lorrain, Elk Lake 

 and Gowganda; shipments from mines in all three districts will doubtless be made 

 when the winter roads are available. 



Towards the close of the ten months' period, reports of the discovery of rich 

 gold ores came from the neighbourhood of Porcupine Lake in the Townships of 

 Tisdale and Whitney, lying north of the height of land between Hudson Bay and 

 the great lakes, and about 30 or 35 miles due west of Matheson Station on the 

 Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway. Investigations showed the reports 

 to be correct; a number of quartz veins from one foot to 25 feet and over in 

 width and of considerable length having been located, with fine showings of free 



