MEANS OF ACCESS.
In 1908 the most used route to the Montreal River district started from Latchford, a station on the Timiskaming and Northern Ontario railway, 93 miles north of North Bay. From this village, situated on the Montreal river, a line of small steamers made daily trips up the river for 56 miles to Elk lake. This up-river terminus was then a rapidly growing village. In the spring of 1907 it consisted of a single shack and a cluster of prospectors’ tents; when seen in October, 1908, it had a population of over 200 people and all the conveniences of a village of that size, including a post office with regular mail service, a mining recorder’s office, lately removed from Latchford, general stores, hotels, etc.
From this point, which forms the headquarters and point of departure for Montreal River prospecting parties, a variety of routes lead westward. The Montreal river may be ascended to the Forks, where its two branches unite, but the stream is rapid, and, especially in high water, difficult of ascent, besides offering a very indirect route to the most frequented districts. The Bloom Lake route, a map of which accompanies the Report of the Bureau of Mines, Ontario, 1907, was, during 1908, very commonly used. This route, 9 miles in length and consisting of a chain of small lakes and portages, leads, from a point on the main river 11 miles above Elk Lake, directly west to the East branch. From the East branch a multiplicity of courses are open. Both East and West branches are easily navigable, being for the most part lake-like and sluggish, broken by occasional swift river-like stretches in which rapids occur. Good portages exist at all these places so that travel either up or down stream presents no difficulty. Numerous good canoe routes connect the two branches and Duncan and Pigeon lakes, and allow of easy access to the country in the west.
But since the writer left the field the great influx of prospectors has caused marked improvements in the connexion of the area, especially the Gowganda district, with outside railway points. A sleigh road has been opened from Charlton on the Timiskaming and Northern Ontario railway to Elk Lake, and thence about 32 miles south-westward to the east shore of Gowganda lake. It is understood that heavy grades make travel somewhat arduous, but the trip from Elk Lake is made easily in a day.
On February 4, a sleigh road about 65 miles long was completed between Gowganda and Sellwood, the present terminus of the northern extension from Sudbury of the Canadian Northern railway. A regular stage route now connects Sellwood, Phoenix, Burwash lake, Elkhorn lake, and Gowganda. However, neither the road to Elk Lake nor that to Sellwood are yet suitable for summer use, so that with the coming of spring, canoe travel must be again resorted to. It is also reported that preliminary surveys for the extension of the railway to Gowganda are in progress. Meanwhile a business centre is springing up on the east side of Gowganda lake. A sawmill was put in operation on February 3, but has since been stopped owing to its location within a government timber reservation. A town plot has been laid out at the foot of the lake and lots are now purchasable from the Ontario Department of Lands, Forests and Mines. Buildings are being erected as rapidly as the supply of material permits. A branch of the Royal Bank of Canada has been opened, and the Canadian Bank of Commerce and others propose to be on the ground within a short time. Postal connexions have been established via Sellwood, and as soon as possible a mining recorder’s office is to be opened. So swiftly are events transpiring that before the present report takes printed form, this paragraph will be in need of revision. However, only the developments of a permanent nature and of essential interest to prospective visitors to that region have been given. For the 1909 field season Gowganda will probably be the headquarters for prospecting parties in the neighbourhood of the East and West branches and Wapus creek.