British Columbia's Merchantable Timber Departmental Publications 



Writing in a recent number of the Canadian 

 Forestry Journal on the " Maintenance of British 

 Columbia's Forests," the Hon. T. D. Pattullo, 

 Minister of Lands, says: 



How much merchantable timber have we ? This 

 question is being asked to-day the world over. While I 

 write, an Imperial Forestry Conference in London, 

 England, is trying to find the answer, so far as the British 

 Empire is concerned. 



To the south of us, State Foresters and timber experts 

 are seeking to provide Congress with an answer to the same 

 question, as well as answers to further questions arising 

 out of the leading query. 



There has been considerable controversy in the various 

 trade journals, both as to stands of timber and the best 

 methods of handling them economically. One expert 

 makes an estimate, and another immediately produces 

 widely different figures. That the experts differ is not 

 the important point that they are both making a genuine 

 effort to arrive at a fair estimate, is the vital fact. 



One of the good results of the war is that a general 

 stocktaking of natural resources is going on, and it has 

 been found that this is particularly necessary in regard to 

 timber. After four years of destruction, during which 

 ordinary work was at a standstill, the world is hungry for 

 timber and its products. How long will our visible supply 

 of raw material last ? Frankly, we do not know. For- 

 tunately, we are trying to find out. 



Reforestation Methods 



It has been a habit for years past to think and speak 

 of our timber resources as being unlimited, with the 

 result that we have been mining instead of cropping it, as 

 is done, for instance, in Sweden, where every available 

 stick of timber is utilized. The unlimited supply idea has 

 depleted Wisconsin forests; has left very little timber in 

 Michigan, and is rapidly depleting the stands of the 

 Southern States. It is estimated that the original stand 

 of 650 billion feet in the Southern States has been reduced 

 to 139 billion feet. 



There is no occasion for hysteria, but we, in British 

 Columbia, must look facts calmly in the face and lay our 

 plans accordingly. We must, after careful survey, decide 

 on the best methods of timber conservation. 



Much is being said these days of reforestation, and 

 extensive experiments along this line are being made by 

 some of the large pulp and paper companies in Eastern 

 Canada. Experts are not agreed that the hope for the 

 future lies entirely in reforesting. They seem inclined to 

 the belief that it will prove rather as an assistance to the 

 forest to reproduce naturally. In other words, that 

 natural reproduction of the species native to each locality 

 is the goal to be aimed at, but that, where necessary, 

 nature should be helped out by artificial means. 



In natural reproduction and rapid growth, the coast 

 of British Columbia is peculiarly fortunate, thanks to her 

 moist climate and mild winter. It is estimated that we 

 have 97,000 square miles of productive forest land and that 

 on most of that area, young timber is growing after 

 previous destruction of the crop by fire and logging. 

 While it is true that much of this young forest is at some 

 distance from present means of operation, by the time it has 

 reached maturity, distances will have been shortened, year 

 by year. The important point is that the timber is there, 

 while it is equally important that it should remain there. 



Any of the following publications will be sent 

 free on request. 



Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.- -A descriptive 

 statistical booklet on the three prairie provinces with 

 full information on the West. 



The Park Lands of Central Alberta. Descriptive of 

 the area tributary to the Calgary and Edmonton line 

 of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Alberta. History, 

 description of soils, development, lands open for 

 settlement, and information for settlers. 



Irrigation Farming in Sunny Alberta. Full description 

 of Alberta's irrigated lands, their progress, production 

 and possibilities. 



Improved Farms in Eastern Canada. Lists of unoc- 

 cupied farms in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick 

 and Nova Scotia, together with area, adaptability and 

 prices. 



Business and Industrial Opportunities in Western 

 Canada. Full listings of industries existing and 

 business openings in the provinces of Western 

 Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and 

 British Columbia. 



Canadian Pacific Reserve Farm Lands in Lloyd- 

 minster and Battleford Districts. Information 

 of Canadian Pacific lands in these districts, history, 

 farming information, progress, and possibilities. 



Canada's System of Government. Canadian govern- 

 ment briefly outlined to portray its democratic traits. 



The Story of Canadian Nickel. History of the nickel 

 mining industry. 



Canadian Oil Exploitation and Prospects. An expert 

 engineer's history of Canadian oil development and 

 future possibilities. 



Canadian Water Power Development. Authoritative 

 and exhaustive survey of water power reserves and 

 possible development. 



Paper Pulp from Flax Straw. An investigation 

 engineer shows the possibility of the development of 

 a new industry in the West. 



A Canadian Grain Handling Plant. How Canadian 

 grain is stored and shipped. Authoritative article on 

 Canadian elevators. 



Value of a Settler to Canadian Railroads. Computa- 

 tion from reliable statistics of a farming settler's 

 revenue-producing worth to Canadian railroads. 



Bituminous Sands of the Athabasca Region. 

 Description with known values, and possibilities of 

 development of the widely known tar sands of 

 Northern Alberta. 



The New Canadian Oil Field. Dealing with the Arctic 

 oil region of the new strike. 



Water Powers of the Maritimes. Authoritative article 

 on the undeveloped power systems of the Eastern 

 provinces. 



Water Powers of Manitoba. The water powers of this 

 province dealt with exhaustively. 



Oleomargarine. History of oleomargarine in Canada 

 and its future prospects. 



Synopses of Natural Resources. Forty-five pamphlets 

 dealing briefly but concisely with Kaolin or China 

 Clay, Oil Shales, Mica, Fluor-spar, Asbestos, Molyb- 

 denum, Magnesite, Fruit, Flax Fibre, Nickel, Coal, 

 Clays, Salt, Copper, Zinc, Silver, Gold, Pyrites, Iron, 

 Potash, Talc, Feldspar, Platinum, Phosphate (apatite), 

 Manganese, Graphite, Cement, Barytes, Gypsum, 

 Irrigation, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Corundum, 

 Sulphates of Sodium and Magnesium, Timber and 

 Pulpwood, Fish, Fur, Peat, Grazing Lands, Mineral 

 Waters, Building and Ornamental Stone, Whaling, 

 Sealing, Wheat, Oats and Barley, and Water Powers. 



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