berths are amongst those who complain that they cannot utilise their limits owing to there being no outlet to market. These berths were acquired by public auction in 1879. The number of applications received during the year to cut timber was 107, of which 57 were for licenses to cut timber in Manitoba and the North-West Territories, and the remainder for licenses to cut timber upon Dominion Lands in British Columbia. The number of applications during the previous year was 121. Within the past year 172 Orders in Council which authorized the issue of yearly licenses to appli cants to cut timber on lands in Manitoba and the North-West Territories upon their complying with certain conditions, were cancelled for non-compliance. The total area of the berths described in these Orders was, approximately, 8,600 square miles. The number of berths still under license or authorized in the Province and Territories is 290, but it is probable that the Orders which authorized the licensing of some of these berths will soon be cancelled. Mining Lands other than Coal. Returns from the Dominion Lands Agents show that during the past year 29 entries were made for mining locations other than coal. The revenue from mining lands for the year was $430.75, made up as follows:-Fees for entry and registration of assignments, $231.75, and $199 in payment of a mining location in British Columbia. The total area of mining locations sold up to date is 1,080.86 acres, which realized $5,406,50. No amendments have been made to the regulations since October, 1887. Coal Mining Lands. The number of applications during the year was 88, and 50 of the applicants were given the privilege of purchasing within a specified time the location for which they applied; 37 of them bought the land applied for or a portion thereof. The revenue for the year derived from the sale of coal lands was $74,700, being an increase of $67,050 over the previous year. The total area of coal lands sold up to date is 12,078 acres, and the total amount received therefor $124,508 >2. Ten leases for twenty-one years each were issued in 1883 and 1883 of lands within the Souris Coal District, but the lessees have not complied with the provisions of their leases. By an Order in Council dated the 10th of February, 1888, the price of lands containing anthracite coal was raised from $12.50 to $20, the latter being the price of this class of lands prior to December, 1885. By an Order in Council dated the 11th of July, 1888, the regulations for the disposal of coal lands in the Province of Manitoba and the North-West Territories were made to govern the disposal of Dominion coal lands in the Railway Belt in the Province of British Columbia. Grazing Lands. An Order in Council of the 22nd of February, 1888, amended the grazing regulations so as not to permit a lessee of grazing lands to homestead lands within any tract leased to another for grazing purposes; and by an Order of the 19th March, 18x8, provision is made that a lessee instead of being required to place one head of cattle upon his leasehold for each ten acres thereof, is now required to place only one head for every twenty acres, but be is not to exceed that number. The total number of leases issued by the Department to date is 187. A number of these leases have been cancelled, 44 within the last year. The number of leases now in force is 108, covering an area of 3,252,378 acres. Ranche. No. of The following schedule shows the names of the lessees of grazing lands, the number of their ranches, and the areas covered by their leases :— These lands are situated principally in the District of Alberta and the southern portion of Assiniboia, with a few tracts in the District of Saskatchewan and the Pro-vince of Manitoba. The number of applications received for leases of grazing lands during the year was only 27. Since April, 1887, the time the Department ceased to grant grazing leases except by public competition, there has been a great falling off in the number of applications received. The amount received for rent of grazing lands was $26,248.83, as compared with $39,577. 10 for the year which ended on the 31st of October, 1887. The revenue from this source has been decreasing rapidly since 1886. In that year it amounted to $47,337.01, in 18-7, 839,577.10, and in 1888, as above stated, $26,248.83. The following statement shows the total number of cattle, horses and sheep in what is known at present as the grazing districts of Alberta and Assiniboia, as reported by lessees of ranches, and computed from information derived from other Mr. Pearce in his report to the Commissioner, which is embodied in the Departmental report for the year, touches upon certain matters in connection with the grazing industry which I have not referred to. The following is a statement of the correspondence, applications received, and returns examined: Number of letters sent....... Number of pages of memoranda and schedules........ Timber : Number of berths applied for......... Number of Orders in Council authorizing issue of licenses to cut timber.............. ......... Number of licenses for timber berths drawn up.... Number of permits issued to cut timber..... Grazing Number of applications for grazing lands received.......... Mining Number of applications for coal locations received............ Number of mining locations other than coal sold.... ......... Number of applications for water power......... Your obedient servant, G. U. RYLEY, 4,445 660 107 27 45 125 16 2,467 27 11 19 887 88 37 29 1 4 1 0 5 Clerk of Timber, Mineral and Grazing Lands Office. STATEMENT of Receipts on account of Crown Timber, for the twelve months ending the 31st October, 1888. School Lands during the year, including $5.50, part of Revenue 1886-87....... G. U. RYLEY, 315 65 91,853 89 Clerk of Timber, Mineral and Grazing Lands DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OTTAWA, 31st October, 1888. |