30 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



A few examples as to values and assessments, and other informa- 

 tion furnished by County Clerks, will give an additional idea of con- 

 ditions. In Belmont and Methuen 50,086 acres are estimated as waste 

 land, and 8,088 acres as timber land; the latter is assessed at an average 

 of S3. 50 approximately, some of it as low as 50 cents, and its true 

 market value is supposed to be $5 ; the waste land is considered still 

 worth $2, and is assessed at from 50 cents to Si. 00 ; the taxes being 

 1 2 mills on one-third to one-half the supposed market value. 



In Harvey township the timber land is stated to be 23 per cent 

 (much less than in the survey) and 50 per cent as waste and cut-over 

 land, which must include, of course, much of the poplar area. The 

 farm area, stated as 15 to 20 per cent (14% in the survey) is supposed 

 to be worth $20, a high value relatively, but is assessed at about S10.80 

 in the average; the timber land, worth S 5 to S3 o, is assessed at from S2 

 to Si 2, in the average $6, and the waste or cut-over lands at their Ml 

 value of $1 to Ss ; the rate here being 20 mills. Here a flourishing 

 lumber industry exists, four companies still operating and some of 

 them have a superior fire-ranging system, the Jackson and Tindle 

 Company employing a system of watchmen clocks to control the 

 ranger. 



In Glamorgan, one of the poorest townships, with a population of 

 447 people, 33f per cent is assessed as timber land and 40 per cent 

 as waste, the latter remaining untaxed, while the former, supposed to 

 be worth $10, is assessed at from Si to S3, the value of the timber being 

 hardly considered, while the farm land is assessed at $1 to S5 per acre, 

 the average being $4, supposed to be its true value ; the rate of taxation 

 is iqi^ mills. At least 10 per cent of the land in farms is entirely unfit 

 for that use. The total returns per farm are about S200, mostly 

 derived from cattle, and there is but little chance for outside earnings, 

 except by cutting pulpwood, which sells at S3 -75 per cord, and other 

 wood in small quantities. Much of the pulpwood is sent to Pennsyl- 

 vania. The lumbering of pine was finished in 1903. Lumbermen en- 

 couraged location of lots by settlers in order to escape government 

 dues under the license system. No tourist traffic or summer hotel 

 business exists, although the township abounds in lakes and is very 

 accessible by rail. 



In Haliburton county, the 9 townships mostly in possession of the 

 Canada Land and Immigration Company, include 2 50,000 acres of timber 

 land (partly outside the watershed) and are assessed at $2 while the true 

 value is supposed to be Sio per acre ; the 75,000 acres of waste and cut- 

 over lands are assessed at half their value, which is stated as $2.00 — 

 half for the land, half for the timber — while the 35,000 acres of farm 

 land are assessed at full value, namely $5 ; the rate being io>^ mills. 



