In 1867 came Confederation, and slide and boom dues having ceased to be Provincial revenues were tranferred to the Department of Inland Revenue, and as the Crown Timber Office, Ottawa, dealt with timber cut on the north side of the Ottawa from the mouth of and including the River Gatineau to the source of the former, and on the south side from the County of Carleton to the head of Lake Temiscamingue, and the sources of the streams tributary to the Ottawa from the Ontario side, after long correspondence it was finally decided in 1868 that as the same timber, and the same proprietors would have to be dealt with, it would be conducive to the satisfactory collection of the Dominion and Provincial revenues to continue the Crown Timber Office as a Dominion office, which would also collect the Provincial revenues, and account for them to the respective Governments of Ontario and Quebec, all three Governments paying an equal share of the cost of the office, which arrangement remained in force till 1st July, 1889.

In 1875 the system of taking bonds was resumed and continued until 1889, but in a few instances the amounts of slidage on several rafts of timber belonging to the same party were allowed to accumulate and were collected at the close of the season in cases where the parties were of undoubtedly sound financial standing.

In July, 1889, the collection of slide and boom dues was assumed by the Department of Public Works, the revenue was $96,542.97 and the quantity of saw-logs which passed through the works was 4,500,518 pieces.

The revenue, as stated above, includes the revenue from tolls for the use of works on the tributaries of the Ottawa as hereinafter described.

River Gatineau-Province of Quebec.

Ascending the Ottawa River, the River Gatineau, which falls into the Ottawa about two miles below the city of Ottawa, is the first tributary on which we find works yielding revenue.

The works consist of a large guide boom which directs the timber and saw-logs from the strong current at the mouth into a safety pond of about 72 acres in extent, where the timber passes through a creek to the rafting ground.

These works were commenced in 1848, in which year the revenue was $835.78; in 1855, $1,125.82; in 1864, $4,980.18; and in 1889, $11,264.23.

River Madawaska-Province of Ontario.

About 40 miles above Ottawa on the Ontario side, this tributary falls into the River Ottawa, has extensive improvements upon it constructed by the Government, which, I understand, were begun in 1843-44, and re-constructed in 1845-46, and extended and improved in 1854, and again in 1884.

The revenue from the Madawaska works has been for the years mentioned as follows, viz. :—In 1845, $52.87; in 1855, $3,260.75; in 1864, $9,867.85; and in 1889, $28,427.15.

River Coulonge-Province of Quebec.

This river joins the River Ottawa about 48 miles above the mouth of the Madawaska.

The slide on this river was constructed in 1865. The revenue from these works has been in 1865, $1,171; in 1889, $3,616.30.

Black River-Province of Quebec.

About nine miles above the Coulonge the Black River falls into the Ottawa. The works on this river were originally constructed by private parties, but in 1867 the Government purchased them at a cost of $12,500; in 1870-71 the slide was

renewed.

The revenue from these works has been for 1867, $1,741.30, and in 1889, $3,613.90.

River Petewawa.

This river flows from the south into the Ottawa at 112 miles above the city of Ottawa. The improvements, which were commenced in 1857 and gradually extended from time to time since, are more numerous, and the cost vastly greater than the works on any other tributary of the Ottawa, owing to the short intervals at which rapids, swift currents and chutes are encountered.

The tolls on timber passing through all the works on this river are the highest to be found in the tariff; they amounted to $1,260 in 1858, $5,006.25 in 1864, and $17,763.36 in 1889.

River Dumoine.

Which enters the Ottawa from the north at about 150 miles above this city, is the last tributary ascending the Ottawa with Government improvements yielding

tolls.

The first slide and booms were constructed by a joint stock company incorporated in 1851, under the name of the Rivière Dumoine Boom and Slide Company.

In 1862-63 the Government enlarged and improved the works, and in 1871-72 built a new silde at High Falls of a greater length than any that had been constructed as a public work in the Ottawa Valley, viz.: 3,384 feet; this new slide is used only for the passage of square timber.

The revenue from this river was in 1865, $757.75, and in 1889, $966.00.

For a full description of the various works on the River Ottawa and its tributaries I would respectfully refer to the tabular statement on page 688 of the General Report, Public Works, 1867-1882.

Annexed hereto are statements showing the dues accrued on each of the Government slides and works on the Ottawa, and the quantities of timber and saw-logs that passed through said works during the year ending 30th June, 1890.

The revenue for slidage and boomage for the year
ending 30th June, 1890, was.......

Of which there has been collected....... $84,889 11

$ 96,542 07

Written off by Order in Council

......

Ordinary dues uncollected 1st July, 1890
Chaudière boomage in suspense...................

221 02 4,529 79

6,903 05

96,542 97

There was also collected of dues outstanding on 30th
June, 1889.........

Making the gross collections for the year............. $102,415 67

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

$ 17,526 56

A. GOBEIL, Esq.,

Secretary Department Public Works,
Ottawa.

EDWARD T. SMITH,

Collector of Slide and Boom Dues.

STATEMENT showing the Dues accrued on each of the undermentioned Government Slides and Works on the River Ottawa and its tributaries, during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1890.

STATEMENT of the number of pieces of timber, saw-logs, &c., that passed through the Government Slides and Works on the River Ottawa and its tributaries, during

the fiscal year ended 30th June, 1890:

White pine timber.........

Red........

The revenue accrued on the above was $95,458.56.

EDWARD T. SMITH,

Collector of Slide and Boom Dues.