1911-12 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FOEESTS AND MINES. 121 



cultivation than the land covered with virgin forest. The soil is the usual clay or 

 clay loam, with occasional sections of sandy loam. At the railway crossing there 

 is a considerable clearing where vegetables and hay crops have been grown success- 

 fully since railway construction first began. 



I beg to recommend the opening up of roads in two townships at this point, 

 and the construction of a trunk road along the right of way for a distance of about 

 25 miles east and west from the river. The cost of this work, together with the 

 work in the vicinity of Cochrane, and near the Quebec boundary, would amount 

 to about $150,000. 



District of Nipissing. 



At present there is a road between the towns of North Bay and Mattawa, 

 which is passable for winter traffic and for light vehicles during the dry season. 

 It follows in a general course the line of the Canadian Pacific Eailway. The road 

 is in bad condition in places, and in other sections the location of the road would 

 require to be changed, in order to avoid bad hills. The distance between North 

 Bay and Mattawa is 46 miles. This road will give to the settlers of the township of 

 Chisholm access to a good market at North Bay or Callander for their farm pro- 

 duce. 



I would recommend the expenditure of $75,000 on this work. 



District of Algoma. 



I beg to recommend the expenditure of $75,000 in the construction of a trunk 

 road along the Transcontinental Railway east and west from the town of Hearst at 

 the junction of the Algoma Central Ontario and the Transcontinental Railways, 

 for a distance of about 25 miles; also the opening up of trunk roads in advance of 

 •settlement on the boundaries and centre lines of two townships at this point. 



On completion of the Algoma Central Ontario Railway, within probably a 

 year or 18 months, there should be no better point in the Clay Belt to commence a 

 settlement than in the vicinity of this Junction and divisional point of the railway. 

 The land is well adapted for agricultural purposes, and owing to its splendid loca- 

 tion and easy distance (160 miles) from navigation on Lake Superior, settlers 

 should find an easy market for all the pulp timber on their land. A town of some 

 importance will soon spring up at Hearst, and there seems no reason why the land 

 should not be rapidly settled on if colonization roads are opened in advance of 

 settlement. 



Salaries. 



A further sum of approximately $25,000 will be required to pay the wages of 

 inspectors, engineers, and office staff required to carry out the above works. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



J. '^. Whitson, 



Ttoad Commissioner. 



