176 



in 1883 had an approximate value of $7,802,550. A small but increasing business 

 is likewise no\v bein done with South America. 



ci 



The city of Ottawa is the headquarters of the timber-manufacturing interest 

 of Canada. The wood goods sawn here are principally pine boards for the United 

 States mai'ket, and it is no exaggeration to say that the Ottawa valley production 

 of sawn timber is at present the largest in the world. This reached a total of 

 about 1,320,000 loads in 1882. Such a production far exceeds that of any district 

 in Europe. 



New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, however, must for the present be regarded 

 as the seats par excellence of Great Britain's supply of American spruce. The 

 chief ports that are engaged in shipping this class of goods, are St. John, 

 Miramichi, Dalhonsie, Richibucto and Bathurst, the bulk being despatched from 

 the two first named. 



In connection with this question, it is necessary to consider whether the 

 Dominion of Canada can keep up or increase her present output, without 

 endangering the future of her forests, and what proportion of that output will be 

 required at home and in the United States. 



In seeking an answer to these queries, only white pine, red pine and spruce 

 need be considered, seeing that the quantities of oak, elm, birch and ash now being 

 exported, are comparatively small. 9 



So far as red pine timber is concerned, the supply has gradually diminished 

 to a quarter of what it was in 1863. A substitute for it has been found in pitch 

 pine, so that it is not much missed. 



Hewn and sawn white pine is a most valuable description of timber, and 

 when of the finest grades, is unrivalled for many purposes, such as house build- 

 ing, and other wood-work. It has been largely and continuously imported into 

 the United Kingdom for more than fifty years, and a fully equivalent substitute 

 will be difficult to find. The White Sea redwood approaches nearest to it in 

 point of quality, but the latter in addition to its smaller dimensions and greater 

 knottine.ss has other defects that diminish its value in comparison with the 

 former. 



The quantity of hewn white pine received at Quebec in 1876, was about 

 19,243,733 cubic feet, whereas in 1883, it was but 11,198,557 cubic feet, or taking 

 the average for the years 1871 to 1875 inclusive, it exceeded 14,000,000 cubic 

 feet per annum ; while for the five seasons, 1879 to 1883 inclusive, it was but 

 8,412,654 cubic feet. On the other hand the supply of white pine deals to 

 Quebec has not decreased in so pronounced a manner, for although in 1876 it 

 reached 278,363 loads, and only 147,979 loads in 1883, the average of the five 

 years ending 1885, was 187,187 loads, against 238,731 loads on an average for the 

 five years ending with 1880. Such figures in conjunction with the history of 

 the quantity exported of late years, bear abundant evidence to the fact that a 

 diminished quantity is available for export to Europe. 



Reference may be made to the attempt which was made in connection with 

 the tenth census of the United States to ascertain the quantity of mature white 

 pine then existent in that country and ready for the axe. Professor Sargent, who 

 had charge of this part of the census, reported in 1882 in these words : " The 

 entire supply (of white pine) growing in the United States and ready for the axe 

 does not to-day greatly, if at all, exceed 80,000,000,000 feet ; and this estimate 

 includes the small and inferior trees which, a few years ago, would not have been 

 considered worth counting. The annual production of this timber is not far from 

 10,000,000,000 feet, and the demand is constantly and rapidly increasing." 



According to this semi-official statement, there was, some years ago, only 

 about eight years' supply, and now there is supposed to be only six or seven 



