CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 47 



year, I let the stumpage on one million feet. 'Again in 1892 it produced two million 

 feet and again in 1900 the operator paid me stumpage on two million more. In 1897 

 I am looking for a further crop of two millions. So much for the old Scotch pro- 

 verb : 



' Be aye stickin' i na tree ; it'll be growin' when ye're sleepinV 

 The lands of Mr. Gibson have not been subject to much forest fire, partially owing 

 to the distance from railway lines, but mor=? particularly to the vigilance which the 

 owner displays in dry times. 



Another large tract is that located on the upper waters of the south-west Mira- 

 michi, embracing an area of 160,000 acres, which, I understand, has lately passed into 

 the hands of an American syndicate at a price of upwards of $600,000. The timber 

 growth is much the same as on Mr. Gibson's property. 



SURVEYS OF TIMBER LINES. 



No timber lands can be properly managed without a system of carefully prepared 

 surveys and block timber lines, as well as accurate maps. Generally speaking the Crown 

 Lands are blocked off in areas of six square miles, the lines running astronomically 

 north and south and east and west, 2$ miles each way. On some rivers blocks are laid off 

 5 miles each way, and in the Restigouche country the blocks are as small as 1,000 acres. 

 The practice is to run the base lines 5 miles apart and large expenditures have in this 

 way been made by the government. The sub-divisions of the licenses are surveyed after 

 first getting an order from the Crown Land office, accompanied by a plan, showing in 

 detail previous lines run, while the order contains a description of the lines to be sur- 

 veyed. All these surveys have been made by blazing lines through the forests with the 

 ordinary compass. The system is open to considerable objection, but it is found prac- 

 tically to satisfy those whose interests are involved. 



A recommendation has been made to erect iron monuments at the corners of blocks, 

 it being found that corner posts soon decay or are swept away by forest fires. 



VALUES OF TIMBER LANDS. 



My experience would warrant the statement that timber lands have doubled in. 

 value within the last ten years. 



For the right to cut on Crown Lands, not including stumpage, fairly good timber 

 lands would be worth $200 per square mile and first-class lands $500 and over a square 

 mile, according to location. The price of soil right lands has probably increased in 

 the same proportion, prices ranging from two to five dollars per acre, although some 

 properties have lately been sold much above these figures and running as high as ten 

 dollars per acre for prime black spruce lands, easy of access and comparatively free 

 from fire danger. 



In summing up this paper, which has already grown to too great a length, I would 

 recommend : 



1st. More effectual means for the protection from fires. 



2nd. The separation of the timber lands from agricultural lands. 



3rd. A carefully selected corps of permanently employed foresters. 



4th. Restrictions as to the cutting of undersized timber. 



Perhaps I may be expected to add reforestation, and while much can be said about 

 tree planting, I am of the opinion our efforts at present will be better met by a more 

 efficient preservation of our forests and more careful cutting of the standing timber. 

 New Brunswick has yet a noble heritage in her forests. Let us then work together to 

 preserve this heritage so that we ourselves and future generations may reap the benefits 

 which nature has so lavishly bestowed. 



In conclusion, again, let us not forget the old Scotch saying: 



' Be aye stickin' in a tree ; it'll be growin' when y're sleepin'. 



