1885.] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 309 



Betters to the Editor. 



PINE TIMBER STATISTICS OF " THE VALLEY OF TEE 

 gander;' NEWFOUNDLAND. 



SIR, — Without expressing myself in the firm language of "A 

 Lumberman," will you allow me to throw a little light on the 

 calculations of the autliors of " Newfoundland" as put forward in 

 your last number at p. 236. 



In the first place, these gentlemen do not appear to be aware that 

 in English computation a billion is to a million as a million is to 

 one. In the sum of their estimated production, the figure represent- 

 ing a biUion is not to be found. 9,216,000,000 feet expressed in 

 words at length mean nine thousand two hundred and sixteen 

 millions of feet ; but of what sort of feet is not mentioned. We 

 come at that definition by the estimate of 1000 feet per tree, which 

 is about the fair average of lai-ge merchantable pine timber in the 

 rough, counting by the American system o{ superficial feet, 12 of which 

 are equal to a cubic foot. This would give a load and two-thirds, or 

 over 80 cubic feet per tree — a much larger average than the cargoes 

 yield, which are shipped in the square from Canada to the United 

 Kingdom, one with another. 



But, sir, it is when we come to the valuation that the great 

 mistake obtrudes itself upon us. 



For something about 2 dols. per Petersburg standard of 1 6 5 cubic 

 feet, you can get a cargo of sawn pine shipped from St. John, N.B., 

 after its felling, land-portage, hewing, rafting, and navigating by river 

 from remote distances, and then sawing, sorting, and shipping free on 

 hoard. Such trees as are described in the Valley of the Gander would 

 be dear enough to the lumberman to fell, square, and fetch away to 

 a shipping port or a sawmill, at a royalty of a shilling apiece, and 

 a hard living at that, unless within a few furlongs of navigable 

 water, and a good road to it. Compare this with the estimated 

 value of the average growing tree, accepted and affirmed, by the 

 authors of " Nevjfoundland." Twenty dollars are equal to four 

 pounds sterling ! Between one shilling and eighty shillings there 

 is in any case rather a wide margin ! 



But one might go further and appeal for judgment to the New- 

 foundlanders themselves. A man disposed to settle in that well- 

 timbered valley, and having a little money in his purse, would he 

 not pay a gang of lumberers liberally ^to come and clear his lot for 

 him, and give them the timber into the bargain ? — Sir, your 

 obedient servant, Uay.mond Browne. 



