1910-11 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 49 



Appendix No. 19. 



Survey of Base and Meridian Lines in the Temagami Forest Reserve, 



District of Nipissing. 



Alvinston, Ont.^ Nov. 22nd, 1910. 



SiR^ — I beg to submit the following report on the survey of base and meridian 

 lines in the Temagami Forest Reserve, in the District of Nipissing made under 

 instructions from your Department and dated May 17th, 1910. 



On 22nd July, I proceeded to Sudbury and after arranging for teaming 

 supplies and engaging men I proceeded to Wahnapitae Lake, and from there north- 

 erly by canoe to Lake Chinicoochichi. The return was made to Sturgeon Falls 

 doAvn Sturgeon River. 



The survey as shown on the accompanying plan and field notes was commenced 

 at the north west angle of Mackelcan, where after waiting two days for an obser- 

 vation I produced the line between the Townships of Aylmer and Mackelcan, but 

 succeeded in getting an observation at 73 chains from the north boundary of Mack- 

 elcan. This meridian was run north for a distance of eighteen miles and at the 

 6th, 12th and 18th mile posts the base lines were run east and west therefrom. 

 The second meridian line was however run south. AH observations were made from 

 Polaris at elongation and are shown in the field notes accompanying this report. 

 The plan shows the location of the lines and the approximate waterways. 



The magnetic variation runs from 414 to 8 14 degrees west and is not at all 

 constant. 



Twelve iron posts were planted and marked as shown in the field notes, and 

 at the head of each mile a wooden post was planted, except where the end of a mile 

 came in water when a witness post was put in marked \\ith the proper chainage. 



General Features and Soil. 



The country is in general of a rolling character and is sometimes broken 

 sharply by rocky hills and cliffs. Many lakes occur and the character of country 

 near the lakes is nearly always rocky. A few narrow muskegs occur. The Sturgeon 

 River might be said to mark the divide of country with regard to timber and some- 

 what with regard to soil. It is a rough broken stream with a very small flow at 

 low water. Numerous expansions occur. 



Travel in any direction almost, can be made over the lakes. The portages are 

 well cut out where travelled. 



There are a few burnt areas but such are small. Some brule occurs as well. 



The soil is of a sandy nature and not of great depth. The country can 

 never be termed " agricultural " for where the soil is not underlaid with rock 

 about three or four inches from the surface, the land is full of boulders and stones. 

 The timber is however valuable, and there are numerous seams of white quartz and 

 some indications of mineral. 



There are numerous small falls and rapids on the Sturgeon River, but the flow 

 is very small at low water. 



Timber. 



Nearly the whole area is covered with a growth of red and white pine, jack 

 pine, birch, poplar, spruce and cedar and the forest is as a rule thick. 



