vi REPORT OF THE No. 3 



mining purposes and collected on account of Crown Leases $7,469.66. The total 

 area of lands of the Crown disposed of during the year was 137,704.48, and the 

 total collection on account of lands sold and leased was $479,445.34. (See Appendix 

 No. 3, page 7.) 



The Temiskaming region has continued to attract the attention of settlers. 

 As soon as the Transcontinental Railway is in operation there will no doubt be a 

 large influx of people to the clay belt through which that railway runs. 



The Porcupine discoveries and developments have caused considerable excite- 

 ment, and large numbers of prospectors and others have been attracted to that 

 region. The exploration and working of the mines will give employment to a 

 great many people and create a market there for all kinds of natural products. The 

 construction of the Porcupine Branch of the T. & N.O. Railway wiU not only give 

 access to that region for mining purposes, but will open up as well a large area of 

 land suitable for agricultural purposes. 



The Department has continued and extended the system of inspection of lands 

 taken up for settlement purposes in order to enforce the conditions of building, 

 residence and clearing so as to prevent lands being held for speculation purposes, 

 or the cutting of timber. Where settlement conditions are not carried out accord- 

 ing to the regulations, the sales are cancelled, the lands resumed and again opened 

 for sale. The knowledge that the Department intends to strictly enforce the per- 

 formance of settlement conditions has had a good effect in causing people to go into 

 residence upon their lands and remain there. 



Tihe further surveys and explorations w^hich have been made in the clay belt 

 have demonstrated the reasonableness of the estimates made of the area of land 

 suitable for settlement in that immense region, which is destined to be one of the 

 most valuable agricultural sections of the Province, capable of supporting a large 

 population by the products of the soil, and incidentally causing manufactures and 

 business of various kinds to spring up. 



Free Grants. 



There are still considerable areas of land suitable for settlement available in 

 the Free Grant districts, although in many of these districts the best land has been 

 taken up. There is a desire on the part of many to move to the West and to the 

 clay belt of Ontario, where the land is better and greater opportunities are avail- 

 able. 



The Townsliip of Wabigoon, near the Town of Dryden in the Rainy River 

 District, has been opened for location, and part of the Townsihip of Ware in the 

 Thunder Bay District. The Department is, by inspection, enforcing the perform- 

 ance of settlement duties and cancelling those locations where there is a default in 

 the conditions. The Department is also endeavoring to prevent lands that are un- 

 suitable for farming being located merely for the purpose of getting the timber. 

 The number of locations during the year (has been 1,379 for 194,760 acres, and 

 946 locatees have earned and obtained their patents. 



Military Grants. 



The total number of Military Certificates issued to date, under I. Edward 

 VII., cap. 6, is 13,993. 



Eighty-five Location Certificates were issued this year and 300 new locations 

 were made, bringing the total number of locations to 7,495. 



