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.