1907 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 241 



est in the question or facilities for information in different parts of the 

 country, presents some considerations which have a wider significance than 

 their bearing upon the specific subject of the investigation, and are of 

 general applicability to the problem of utilizing forest products with the 

 minimum of waste and to the greatest advantage. 



Extract of Baric. 



The Committee concluded that the bark consumed in local tanneries 

 was applied to a legitimate use, benefitting both the settler and the country 

 at large; the settler was enabled to defray the cost of clearing the land by 

 the sale of the bark and at the same time had opportunity to dispose of the 

 timber to advantage, as the work of clearing gradually proceeded. The 

 export of bark and the manufacture of "Extract of Bark" they regarded in 

 a very different light. The quantity of bark exported annually from Can- 

 ada to the United States was estimated at not less than 100,000 cords, which, 

 at ten cords to an acre, represented 10,000 acres annually stripped for the 

 supply of American tanneries. This process resulted in the wholesale 

 destruction of timber, the trees being generally left to rot on the ground, 

 largely increasing the danger of forest fires. The rate of consumption was, 

 however, liable to be indefinitely increased by the establishment of works 

 for the manufacture of "extract," capable of being transferred from place 

 to place so long as a supply of the raw material was obtainable anywhere, 

 which was likely to have a much more serious effect upon the hemlock for- 

 ests, as the extract thus made could be sent to any part of the world, whereas 

 the exportation of the bark was, by the cost of transport, limited to a com- 

 paratively small radius. It was argued on behalf of the manufacture that 

 it furnished employment, distributed large sums in wages, and gave an 

 impetus to other industries, etc., but while admitting the force of this con- 

 tention the Committee regarded these benefits as more than counterbalanced 

 by the wasteful and destructive nature of the industry. "One of these 

 factories," says the report, "upon a basis of calculation afforded by those 

 concerned in them, will consume all the bark available within a radius of 

 about ten miles, at the present rate of consumption, within a period of 

 from ten to twelve years, when it must be moved to a new field of operations. 

 The injurious effect of its removal from the neighborhood will be such as 

 t' far m9re than counter balance any temporary advantage that may have 

 been derived from a spasmodic and short-lived activity and enterprise; 

 and the bark that would have sufficed to supply for an indefinite period, a 

 tannery giving employment to the population, will have disappeared alto- 

 gether. The loss to the country at large will also be serious. At' present 

 we have an ample siipply of material for our tanneries, enabling us to com- 

 pete successfully with other countries in the manufacture of leather; but if 

 for the sake of encouraging the manufacture of the extract we suffer our- 



A Transient Industry. 



pelves to be deprived of this advantage we sacrifice a permanent and most 

 important manufacturing interest for one that, at the best, is but transient, 

 and of slight comparative importance. 



To Prevent Export. 



The report concludes as follows; — "After a most careful consideration 

 of the question, your committee can only come to the conclusion that unless 

 some steps are speedily taken to check the wasteful and extravagant rate 



