118 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Appendix No. ^i. 



Report on the Construction of Roads in Northern Ontario. 



(Under the Provisions of ^ Geo. V., chap. 2.) 



To the Honourable W. H. Hearst, 



Minister of Lands, Forest and Mines. 



Sir, — I have the honor to submit a general report of the "work done in the 

 construction of roads in Northern Ontario for the season of 1913, in conformity 

 with the Provisions of the Act 2 Geo. V., chap. 2. 



Attached to this report is a description of the different works performed. 



The season's work commenced in the latter part of April, except in a few 

 instances where it was found profitable to construct bridges, and take out timber 

 for crosslaying during the winter season. 



The season was found very favorable for road construction, and considerable 

 progress has been made. The operations extended from the Quebec boundary on 

 the east to the Rainy River Valley and Keewatin on the west. 



During the season, 764 miles of road were constructed or partly constructed 

 and improved. Of the total mileage, 500 miles were graded, part of the graded 

 load being macadamized or re-surfaced ; 379 miles of the total were cut out of the 

 virgin forest. 



A good deal of the work of the season of 1912 consisted in cutting out new 

 roads, which, however, owing to the wet season it was found impossible to burn 

 off. In 1913 all of these roads have been burnt off and many of them graded and 

 ditched. Several of the roads cut out this season, although burnt off and suitable 

 for winter traffic, have not yeb been graded. 



The sum of $1,081,172.28 has been expended during the past year, up to the 

 3'lst of October, on the operations, thus making a total expenditure out of the 

 $5,000,000 loan of $1,274,255.08. 



As the operations extended over a very large area it was necessary to purchase 

 a good deal of machinery and camp outfit to carry on the work. This machinery 

 has been well cared for, and will serve for a good many years. 



In the older sections the trunk roads as constructed were carefully selected 

 where they could be made most permanent at the least cost; and where they would 

 serve the greatest number of people, taking into consideration the newer sections 

 which would be opened up later on. The old roads often followed the ridges or 

 high land and were in many instances found crooked and unsatisfactory as to 

 grades or drainage. These were straightened out, the grades modified, and special 

 attention given to drainage ; old culverts were replaced with more permanent ones ; 

 the materials used consisting of stone, corrugated iron pipe or durable wood 

 where it could be procured. Swampy or low lands were well drained, corduroyed 

 in places, and re-surfaced with gravel or stone. Many of the old bridges had to 

 be renewed. 



In the district of Temiskaming along the line of the Temiskaming and 

 Northern Ontario Railway and its branches, and along the Grand Trunk Pacific 

 Railway, east and west from the Town of Cochrane, it was found necessary, 

 besides constructing trunk roads along the boundaries of townships and through 



