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with the heated ones of the plains. To -ameliorate a climate presenting such 

 contrasts there is only one method that of planting wherever the nature of soil 

 will permit it, and forming the settlements under the shelter of these plantations. 

 Of so great importance is this to our western country that, in my opinion, upon 

 its solution depends whether that region will realize the sanguine expectations 

 now entertained of its being able to support an immense population ; or whether, 

 after many sore disappointments, perhaps, it will deserve the name of the Lone 

 Land. If some of the most fertile regions of the earth have been reduced to the 

 condition of sterile wastes through the destruction of their wooded lands, I think 

 it not unreasonable to infer that a country exposed to a severe climate cannot 

 continue to be productive when, instead of being vigorously planted its already 

 scanty stock of timber is further encroached upon by the new settlers." 



The inquiry being raised as to whether a reduction in the amount of exports 

 would not tend to enhance prices, and thus bring increased profits to the business, 

 the opinion was expressed that any further reduction in the export of the first 

 quality of pine would make it so scarce that its sale would be restricted to a few 

 markets of England, and a substitute would be found for it in many quarters 

 where it is now used. The best means of preventing fluctuations in the market 

 would be to export no more than experience had proved to be a fair average 

 demand. So long as lumbermen manufactured in defiance of every law that 

 should regulate the rate of supply, they must take the chances as to the prices 

 which their goods will fetch in the foreign markets. 



With regard to the demand of timber for ship-building, a tendency had been 

 observed towards its decline, sailing vessels being superseded by iron steamships, 

 in the carriage of all the costlier and finer classes of meischandise. 



In reference to some remarks on the lumber and ship building trade of 

 Prince Edward Island, a member stated : " We import some of our large beams 

 used in ship-building, for keelsons, etc., from Quebec ; they are of pine and 

 tamarac. We build our vessels of a class just about the same as our juniper 

 vessels formerly. We can class from seven to nine years. We own vessels in 

 Prince Edward Island, and can produce them cheaper than in Quebec. We find 

 that wooden ships are taking the place of iron ships, and derive a great advantage 

 from the fact." 



In a report of a similar committee upon immigration and colonization, made 

 in 1879, in considering the capabilities and prospects of the north-western regions 

 of the Dominion of Canada, the following answer was given by Mr. Thayne to 

 the question as to how the present growth of wood might be maintained, so as to 

 prevent its exhaustion : 



" P>y a system very different to the one pursued in the older Provinces of 

 the Dominion, where the forest lands have been treated without due regard 

 either for present purposes or for the future wants of the country. Here, how- 

 ever,' the opinion was universal that the timber was inexhaustible, and that its 

 destruction was advantageous to the country. It is only of late years that the 

 fallacy of this belief has been brought home to the minds of those who have 

 examined the matter. In the North-west the case is very different ; no compe- 

 tent authority affects to maintain that the timber supply is equal to the wants 

 of such a population as the fertile lands might be expected to support. The 

 obvious policy of the government would, therefore, be to have the timber-pro- 

 ducing regions surveyed at the earliest date, before any vested interests are 

 created, and set apart permanent reserves wherever the adjacent lands require 

 shelter, or where a large population is likely to settle. These reserves should be 

 under the direct control of the government, who might either lease them, subject 

 to the condition that the lessee should maintain a regular supply or, better still, 



