APPENDIX A LVII 



In British Columbia a survey of the forest lands is in progress 

 and lands desired for settlement must be examined by the Forest 

 Board and declared suitable for settlement before any grant is issued. 

 The timber lessees pay a certain tax per acre to which the Government 

 adds an equal amount, and these payments constitute a fire protection 

 fund with which, during the year 1913, 415 fire rangers were employed 

 in addition to 60 engaged by the railways. Many miles of road and 

 fire lines were cut through the forests and look-out stations, as well 

 as 529 miles of telephone line for the fire protection service were 

 constructed. 



More or less effective steps are also being taken by other provinces 

 looking to the protection of their forests from fire. 



One of the most important developments in connection with forest 

 conservation is the establishment of the St. Maurice Forest Protec- 

 tion Association, formed in 1912, when the companies holding timber 

 and pulp-wood limits in this valley, recognizing that individual effort 

 was quite inefficient, combined and organized their fire protection 

 work into one service, placing it under an officer who should have 

 exclusive charge of this important work. The Association has now 

 charge of an area embracing 7,279,000 acres. It has made the whole 

 of this area accessible to its fire rangers by cutting out over 500 miles 

 of paths and trails and has connected all its stations by telephone. As 

 a result, during the first year of its operations no less than 97 incip- 

 ient fires were extinguished and no loss was incurred, while in the 

 summer of 1913 which was exceptionally dry, 306 fires were extinguished, 

 the actual fire damage amounting to less than one thousandth of 

 one per cent of the value of the timber on the territory patrolled. 

 More recently the Lower Ottawa Forest Protective Association Ltd., 

 has been organized which provides for the proper patrolling of over 

 6,250,000 acres, or nearly 10,000 square miles of timber lands on the 

 watersheds of the Gatineau, Lièvre, Rouge, Coulonge and Nation 

 rivers in the Province of Quebec. 



The results already obtained by the St. Maurice Forest Protec- 

 tive Association demonstrate that by the adoption of intelligent 

 co-operation between timber owners and Governments absolute pro- 

 tection against fires can be secured in the normal season. 



It is hoped that the excellent examples set by these associations 

 will be followed in all parts of the Dominion. 



Other undertakings on a smaller scale which are being set on 

 foot in various provinces of the Dominion seem an indication that the 

 importance of preserving our forests is being realized by the people 

 of Canada. The development of a strong public opinion supporting 

 the Government in the appointment of properly qualified and thor- 



