DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1931 19 



advisable to encourage in some slight way those operators to whom a reduction 

 at least in Crown dues may appeal, and provision for the season of 1931-32 

 along this line will be made. 



Operators were granted the same privileges of paying their accounts for 

 this year as obtained last year. Fifty per cent, of all charges against timber 

 were payable on or before the 31st of October, 1931, and the balance without 

 interest in two equal instalments, the first on the 30th of April and the second 

 on the 31st of October, 1932. A certain number accepted this basis of payment 

 in connection with their 1930-31 accounts, but the large number failing to do 

 so indicated the troublous times through which the manufacturers are passing. 



The halt to the operations this coming winter will throw thousands out of 

 their usual employment, and add to the numbers seeking Government relief. 

 Every step is being taken to urge licensees, where any hope exists, to operate a 

 limited number of camps and thus lessen the pressing problem of unemployment. 



Timber Areas Sold 



The instability of the lumber and wood market lessened the demand for 

 timber, and, apart from those whose going concerns were in need of additional 

 stock or jobbers who had tie contracts or a limited market for short orders of 

 pulpwood, no one needed raw material. Consequently the number of sales 

 during the year were only thirty as against over fifty for the year 1930. 



Of these areas fourteen were only one square mile or less in extent, the 

 others varying in size up to the last sold, which was 763^ square miles, situate 

 in the District of Nipissing and acquired by the Standard Chemical Company, 

 Limited, of Toronto, whose plant is at South River and where continuance now 

 by the acquirement of this block of hardwood is assured for twenty years, 

 conditional, of course, on the hardwood market remaining constant on the 

 return of improved conditions. 



A reference to Appendix No. 1 1 will disclose in detail the purchaser in each 

 case, the area sold, the prices bid, and the nature of the proposition. Considering 

 the uncertain trend of trade and the general decline in values, the prices, which 

 in each instance were at least equivalent to the upset ones, were reasonable. 



No large areas of importance are in contemplation of sale for the coming 

 year, unless it be that certain burnt pulpwood and timber will be offered if a 

 market for salvaged material of this type can be found. 



Quantities Cut 



The number of timber licenses issued and in good standing during the 

 seasonal year ending 30th April, 1931, was 954 for an area of 19,350 square 

 miles, as against 1,010 for 21,744 square miles in 1930. Those are in addition 

 to the pulp concessions covering 54,4083^ square miles. 



On these licensed limits the Red and White Pine cut amounted to 112,918,120 

 feet B.M., or only 56 per cent, of the previous year's output. Jack Pine logs 

 accounted for 27,697,407 feet B.M., slightly less than half of the cut for the 

 year 1930. Other types of log timber, such as Birch, Maple, Hemlock, et cetera, 

 were cut to the extent of 30,221,313 feet B.M., or only 44 per cent, of the previous 

 year. Railway ties numbering 667,813 were made in the bush and these are but 

 50 per cent, of those for the season of 1929-30. 



The greatest reduction in bush operations, however, is recorded in the 

 pulpwood line. It is true that during 1929 and part o f 1930 the cordage cut 

 was very large, as shown on last year's report, viz.: 17393,299 -cords; and while 



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