CHAPTER IX
Settlement Areas®
I the estimated area of the province of Quebec (594,434 square
0 miles) only a comparatively small portion has been organized
into municipalities. The area of the lands subdivided into avail-
able lots by June 30, 1927, was 8,361,458 acres, and the available farm
lots, not granted, covered an area of 8,192,092 acres.
As the land is cleared the Provincial Government surveys new town-
ships and sells lots at 60 cents an acre. The settler pays one-sixth of the
price of sale on taking out a location ticket and the remainder in five equal
annual instalments, and after having fulfilled certain conditions, he receives
full title of ownership. The number of acres of Crown lands alienated
bv sales and free grants since 1920 is as follows: —
920, July 1st, to 1921, June 30.
1921 1922 “
1922 - 1923 5
1923 1004
1924 25
925 26
026 1027
178,626 acres
221,362 «
217,761 «
177,580 «
.66,598
179,292 ¢
169.366
The Government of the province strongly encourages the work of
colonization as essential to the progress of the country. Not only does it
concede lands on especially favourable conditions, but it has expended,
during the past five years, more than ten million dollars in extending
necessary aid to colonists, by building and improving roads representing
in length twice the distance from Halifax to Vancouver. During late
years, the Colonization Department has opened and improved 5,000 miles
of road, so that practically all colonization districts have been connected
with the centres of the province.
In general, agriculture and industry facilitate colonization, the settler
obtaining employment in the winter season in the lumber camps or the
nearby industrial development. For instance, settlers in the Témisca-
mingue and Abitibi districts may obtain temporary employment and also
find a ready market for farm produce in the gold and copper mining opera-
tions of Rouyn and Boischatel.
The most important of the districts open for settlement are Témis-
camingue, Abitibi, Lake St. John, Témiscouata, Matapédia, and Chaleur
bay. The regions that appear to be preferred by settlers are Abitibi,
Témiscamingue and Matapédia.
TT Revised bv the Department of Colonization, Mines and Fisheries, Quebec.
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