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"dead leaves and grass as dry as tinder, which took fire from a spark. Hence the month 

 should be included in the time during which settlers should be forbidden to burn bush. 



Mr. Thistle, Ottawa, speaking as a lumberman of fifteen years standing, and also 

 as a land surveyor, referred to the difficulty of disposing of the debris, owing to the circum- 

 stances under which lumbering operations are carried on in this country — the extent of the 

 limits, the widely scattered shanties, &c. He was favorable to the idea of inducing Gov- 

 ernments to co-operate with the lumbermen by the appointment of police for this special 

 duty, who would act conjointly with their own men. The speaker went on to give a 

 graphic description of the burnt lands of the Upper Ottawa and to the north of that 

 region, and concluded by remarking that there was no doubt in his own mind that ten 

 times as much lumber was burned as was cut. 



Mr. Wright suggested that it might be well to consider whether it would be possi- 

 ble and profitable to convert the lumber refuse into potash or charcoal or convert it to 

 use in some other way. 



Mr. J. R. Martin, Cayuga, said it was an undoubted fact tha" many forest fires were 

 started by shantymen to make work for themselves when things were getting slack. The 

 idea of appointing policemen to patrol the forest lands was a good one ; every constable so 

 acting would be at once a conservator of the trees and of the peace. He had heard of 

 gangs being systematically formed in Wisconsin and Michigan for the pnrpose of firing 

 the woods. He regarded favorably the suggestion, if practicable, of converting the lum- 

 bering debris to use. 



Mr. Ward confirmed what has been said as to the wanton destruction of valuable 

 forest trees — the yellow birch for instance which was sometimes set on fire for the very 

 pleasure of seeing its instantaneous and brilliant blaze. There should be a heavy punish- 

 ment inflicted in the case of every conviction of such atrocious conduct. 



The Chairman, in a few words, expressed his satisfaction at the practical tone of the 

 discussion, and his opinion that there should be provision made for the severe punishment 

 of men who would destroy a forest but not think of burning a barn. 



Hon. Mr. Joly moved — That it is the duty of this Congress to draw the attention of 

 Governments to the necessity of better precautions against forest fires. He thought re- 

 spectful representations on the subject would receive due attention from the Governments 

 of the United States and Canada. 



Mr. Joly's motion was carried, and, on motion, it was resolved that the Committee 

 should consist of Mr. P. White, M.P., Mr. J. K. Ward, Dr. Mohr, Hon. Mr. Bryson, 

 Dr. Hough, Mr. B. C. Fernow, Hon. Mr. Joly, Mr. William Little, Mr. Charles H. 

 Sargent and Mr. E. D. Baker. 



The remainder of the day was taken up with the reading of papers, many of them of 

 very great value, to which fuller reference will be made in a subsequent part of our report. 



The evening session was of a more popular character. It was held in the Queen's 

 Hall, and was well attended by a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen. The Hon. Mr. 

 Joly introduced the Hon. Gen. Eaton, Commissioner of Education for the United States, 

 who had kindly consented to address the meeting. 



Hon. Gen. Eaton said that, having had opportunity to observe most of the forests in 

 the United States, he was able to appreciate the importance of this meeting. But he was 

 here in his capacity of education. Forestry was a subject on which the general public 

 must first be informed before they can take the remedial measures called for by the needs 

 of our forests. Man should not be the enemy of the tree when God had placed them side 

 by side to react upon each other for man's better health and greater happiness. The 

 tree was man's friend, and he should be so taught to consider it. We must have text- 

 books for the schools and scientific magazines, to set forth the importance of forestry. 

 Since Dr. Hough had been appointed a commissioner to investigate the whole subject on 

 this continent and in Europe, a great advance had been made in the education of the 

 public mind. What was specially needed now was a scientific journal such as was pro- 

 jected by Dr. Hough. A text-book had already been prepared, and it was desii-ed to 

 introduce the subject into the two hundred normal schools of the United States, that 

 thence "ihe knowledge might descend to the children that God made the tree, and that it 

 was their friend. 



