The construction of the Ontario Northland Railway led to the discovery of silver at Cobalt. Further discoveries were also made at Elk Lake, Matachewan and Gowganda. The district is now one of the great producers of gold and silver. Between the ore-bearing rock of Cobalt and the gold reefs of Kirkland Lake, lies an extremely rich agricultural area with 1,000,000 acres of rich topsoil. In addition to its mineral and agricultural wealth, the district is rich in power and forest resources and its lakes and rivers make it a sportsman’s paradise.