191S-20 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 101 



Of this wood ^2 cars have been shipped out, representing 1,165% cords, making 

 a total cut by the Macdonald Company of 10,951 cords, of which there remain at 

 the siding and in the woods 9,545% cords. At headquarters we took out with our 

 own men and some hired help 1,544 cords, 63 cars of which were shipped con- 

 taining 1,00'3 cords, the balance, 541 cords, being drawn out to the sand pit 

 siding ready for shipment. During the summer some of the staff were stationed 

 at each of these points to guard against loss by fire. Water barrels were also 

 placed along the line of railway; these our men kept full of water, our greatest 

 danger being from passing trains. We did not, however, lose a single cord. 

 I would strongly recommend that all this wood be disposed of during the coming 

 winter. It is now in fine shape, but if left another season will deteriorate on 

 account of dry rot, etc. That left in the woods should be drawn out on the 

 first snow. 



Considerable work was done by our men at headquarters. The water system 

 has been extended so that we have a hydrant convenient to all the buildings. 

 The two houses and all the outbuildings were painted, and the year's wood and 

 ice cut and put in. The telephone line too was kept in order. We had very 

 little poaching. Fines were imposed to the amount of $150.00 after our men 

 got back to their beats, but before that poachers took advantage of the fact that 

 our men were away cutting wood. 



I should like very much to see a good public hall erected here. It could be 

 done at comparatively little cost, our men doing the work during the summer 

 months. Such a place is badly needed for holding court, and during most of the 

 year we could have divine service, had we a place suitable, as several ministers spend 

 a great deal of time here. It would be convenient for public meetings and 

 lectures, holding poll and many other ways. The Government furnish large 

 dancing pavilions in much less important places. We do not want anything for 

 that purpose, but we do need a good hall badly. I trust you will give this matter 

 favourable consideration. The principal expense would be for material. We have 

 hundreds of visitors here from all over the globe, and I am confident such a 

 l)nilding would be much appreciated. 



On the limits acquired by the Government from the Munn Lumber Company 

 in the Park, there are many million feet of the choicest hardwood. This has 

 now become valuable, and I would strongly recommend that some arrangement 

 be made whereby the matured timber could be judiciously taken out and the 

 Province get the benefit of the revenue. After timber matures there is no advantage 

 in leaving it stand, as it soon becomes diseased and the younger timber becomes 

 infected also. There is a very fine growth of young timber all tlirough the Park. 

 The timber to be taken out would consist of birch, maple, beech, ash, elm in 

 small quantities, and hemlock, spruce and balsam. A lot of this timber would be 

 convenient to the mills at Whitney and Bel wood ; the remainder would best be 

 manufactured by a portable mill. Or the whole could be sold to one party and mill 

 moved as the timber was cut out. There is such a large territory of the finest 

 liiirdwood, that it should be easy to dispose of it to good advantage. 



Yours very truly, 



(Sgd.) G. W. Bahtlett, 



Parli Superin t en de nt. 

 JJonourahle G. Howard Ferguson, 



Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines, 

 Toronto, Ontario. 



