15<S 



therefore, that it must be much less than in former years. By quality, I mean 

 not the size but the texture of the wood."* 



In answer to the question as to why the importation of timber into England 

 from Canada had fallen off, it was replied : " T imagine that the reason why the 

 export of square timber from Canada has not kept pace with the home demand, 

 is your inability to supply the description of it that is most particularly wanted. 

 I think also that your profits have diminished because so much of your timber is 

 of poor quality. I think it is safe to contend that the reason why more of your 

 best pine is not purchased is that it cannot be had, and I fear that your power of 

 producing it is not likely to flood the home markets.-f- 



" No doubt there is still some excellent timber in Canada. What I have been 

 attempting to explain is, that however good the produce of certain sections may 

 be, or however well some portion of the present supply may compare with that 

 of former years, still the total quantity of such wood brought to market is 

 small when compared with that of former years, perhaps not one-fifth of a 

 season's manufacture." 



With respect to the probable duration of timber supply, at the present rate 

 of consumption, exportation, and waste, Mr. Thayne did not like to give a 

 definite opinion for the following reasons : 



1. Because he could not find data sufficiently reliable to guide him to a safe 

 conclusion ; 



2. Any calculation that would ignore the quantity of young timber standing 

 in the woods, but which may become available in the course of twenty or thirty 

 years, would rest on an unsound basis ; and, 



3. Because there are so many sections of timber-producing land in these 

 Provinces which, though not extensive when considered separately, still form, in the 

 aggregate, no mean source of supply, and which, though now lost sight of, would 

 soon be opened up, provided a profitable demand should spring up. Having 

 made this statement, he added : " I feel bound to say that every test I have 

 applied to ascertain the quantity of merchantable timber actually standing in 

 any section of the country has convinced me that the resources available are 

 much smaller than public opinion supposes them, particularly those woods 

 adapted to the export trade." 



In reply to a member, the witness said : " No doubt the duration of the 

 timber suppty of the United States is a point of much interest to this country. 

 Any interruption of the supplies now drawn by the eastern States from the west 

 would at once compel the former to resort to your markets. Under such circum- 

 stances it is easy to foresee that Canadian lumbermen would seek an outlet nearer 

 home for their produce. It would, moreover, be easy for the New England dealer 

 to compete with the English buyer, burdened, as the latter will always be, by a 

 heavy ocean freight." 



* To this statement Mr. Cockburn, a member of the committee said : " I must join issue with you on 

 this point, as the quality we are getting now is very fine. In fact, I believe that the soft pine now is of 

 better quality than that formerly dealt with. The pine growing in the free grant lands, or in Northern 

 Ontario, meets with a very ready sale. The quality is found by experience to be very fine. A.t one time it 

 was supposed to be very inferior, but happily, experience has shown it is of a very superior quality, al- 

 thought not so large. Though smaller it can take its place beside the larger Michigan pine. " Another 

 member remarked that formerly the difference in price between first quality and fair average was less than 

 now, but that at present regard is had, not so much to size as to quality, a small log being sometimes worth 

 more than a large one. 



t It was here remarked, by a member, that large pines came from Michigan, up to 22 inches. Good 

 pines were obtained from Laurentian range region of Ontario, of a size that only goes to 18 or 19 inches, 

 strong and clear, which sells as fast or faster than the Michigan, though smaller. Another member re- 

 marked that the texture of Canadian wood is not so open as the American ; it is closer in grain. But we 

 should bear in mind that these woods, although competing favorably with Michigan timber of the present 

 day, do not compare with the larger timber produced in Canada some years ago. We produced as good a 

 <1 uality of a larger size, fifteen years ago. 



