viii EEPOKT OF THE No. 3 



gold in many places. One deposit exhibited a width of 75 feet and much free gold. 

 A rush followed upon the discoveries being made known and there is every likelihood 

 of many claims being staked out during the coming months. Should the veins 

 prove to be of workable value and depth, there are good prospects for the establish- 

 ment of a permanent gold mining camp, since the bodies of ore are large. 



Nickel-coj^per mining in the Sudbury district has also been active, and the 

 aggregate output of nickel and copper in the form of matte will probably prove to 

 be greater in 1909 than in any previous year. The Province of Ontario now pro- 

 duces from 60 to 70 per cent, of the world's supply of nickel. The producing com- 

 panies are the same as before, namely, the Canadian Copper Company, Copper 

 Cliff, and the Mond Nickel, Victoria Mines. The Dominion Nickel-Copper Company 

 have undertaken the exploitation of the Whistle mine and other deposits of ore 

 near Blue Lake on the North Nickle Eange, and are proposing to construct a 

 branch line of railway from the Canadian Northern through the Tovmship of 

 Norman to the mines. 



The total revenue from mining sources for the ten months was $254,114.78. 



Collections. 



The total collections of the Department from all sources for the ten months 

 ending 31st October was $2,028,224.48. Of this amount $235,098.04 was derived 

 from mining lands; $338,426.66 from royalties; $885,892.44 from woods and 

 forests; $49,730.03 from supplementary revenue; $108,701.00 from mining licenses 

 and $110,772.95 from recording fees. (See Appendix No. 4, page 7.) 



Disbursements. 



The gross expenditure of the Department for all services during the ten months 

 was $522,813.23. The principal services were : Agents' salaries and disbursements, 

 $40,475.76; forest ranging, $46,656.69; fire ranging, $132,827.26; forest reserves, 

 $65,992.22; mines and mining, $17,197.79; exploration and investigations, $12,- 

 639.00; mining recorders, $22,651.77; surveys, $83,357.33; veterans' commutation, 

 $8,050.00; provincial mines, $13,777.72; refunds, $14,064.53; parks, $11,847.82; 

 contingencies, $31,609.19. (See Appendices Nos. 6 and 7, pages 9 to 47.) 



Woods and Forests. 



The total revenue from Woods and Forests for ten months was $885,892.44, 

 consisting of Bonus, $285,571.41; Timber dues, $529,422.50; Ground Eent, 

 $68,528.53; Transfer Fees, $2,370.00. (See Appendix No. 4, page 7.)- The revenue 

 from Timber dues, being for ten months only, ending 31st October, is small as com- 

 pared with amounts appearing in previous reports. The explanation is that the 

 accounts for the previous season's cutting were not collected, as they do not accrue 

 due until the 1st December following the winter in which the cutting took place. 

 The Bonus consists of deposits made on account of the sale held in the month of 

 September. For a number of years a system of issuing permits to cut timber for 

 railway and other purposes had prevailed. The system was originally established to 

 meet an emergency which had largely passed away, and it appeared reasonable that 

 80 far as possible no timber in that region should be disposed of except by public 

 sale. Plenty of notice was given of the intended change and in conformity with 

 such notice no permits were renewed after the 30th April last. It seemed proper 



