1925 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS II 



industries. It is the desire to afford going concerns opportunities to get addi- 

 tional supplies to secure investments, improve labour conditions and maintain 

 community life dependent upon the logging and lumber industry. 



In the Mississaga watershed, Algoma District, several townships were sold 

 at prices which averaged in t^he case of red and white pine, nearly $3 per thousand 

 feet higher than like timber in former sales in the same section. These sales 

 were the means of re-establishing on a firmer basis an industry of large propor- 

 tions on the north shore of Lake Huron and of continuing in times when labour 

 conditions are below normal, a number of going concerns. Certain areas within 

 both the Quetico and Timagami Reserves were also sold by public competition. 

 Areas of hardwood timber country in the Algonquin Provincial Park were 

 especially cruised and found to contain valuable hardwood timber past maturity 

 and deteriorating in quality. To provide against unnecessary loss, this timber 

 was offered for sale. With a view to adequately maintaining the prime purposes 

 for which the Park was created, special restrictions as to types, diameters, etc., 

 were provided in the Conditions of Sale, and competition was keen, the prices 

 received being regarded as exceptionally good. 



Other hardwood tracts were sold in Merrick Township, Nipissing District, 

 and in Proudfoot, Parry Sound District, each area having been acquired by a 

 mill owner for manufacturing purposes. The prices for hardwood areas ranged 

 from $4 per thousand feet B.M. for poplar to v$6.75 per thousand feet B.M. for 

 birch and maple, in addition to dues in each case. All this hardwood thus sold 

 will be manufactured within tlie Province, as this class of timber is now subject 

 to the manufacturing condition under the special legislation passed in 1923. 



A tract of poplar was also sold in the township of Stratton, the purchaser 

 being the Canadian Splint and Lumber Corporation, Limited, and this will furnish 

 supplies for the match splint factory at Pembroke. 



A complete list of the limits sold during the year will be found in appendix 

 No. 41. 



Logging axd Lumbering 



The general tone of depression evidenced in the latter part of the season of 

 1922-23 seriously affected the ability of the lumber operators to meet their 

 financial obligations as was pointed out then. The outlook gradually improved 

 and with a confidence born of faith in the industry, the operators proceeded with 

 their cut and while not continuing as extensively as the year previous in log 

 timber for lumbering, nevertheless, produced an output from Crown Lands of 

 approximately 335 million feet of pine (including some 61 million feet of 

 jackpine), and 62 million feet of other timber, less only by some 20 million 

 feet of pine, but greater by 5 million feet with regard to other classes of log 

 timber for lumber. The past year saw a marked increase in the railway tie 

 production, it being in excess of the previous one by over 1,300,000 pieces. 



Pulpwood operations exceeded expectations, the year showing a cut of 

 688,000 cords as against only 573,000 cords for the preceding season. 



These facts prove most interesting when one considers the rather uncertain 

 condition of the Canadian pine and spruce market in Eastern Canada during 

 the past year. F^xtreme caution was exercised by all dealers and a continuation 

 of the unsettled condition to the end of the fiscal year created doubts in the 

 minds of several operators on the advisability of pushing bush operations for the 

 coming season. Signs are slowly pointing towards a restoration to normal with 

 the result that recent surveys by Departmental outside agents, while indicating 

 a reduced output, predict larger operations than were anticipated by the trade 

 two months ago. 



