1908 DEPARTMENT OF LA-NDS, FORESTS' AND MINES 135 



factured on Lake Nipissing and the lumber shipped by rail. Having 

 regard to the quality of this timber and its accessibility, it has as high a 

 stumpage value, perhaps even higher, than the Temagami timber. Each 

 year we have had a staff of fire rangers on duty on these townships, and so 

 far we have been successful in keeping out forest fires. There is no settle- 

 ment threatening the timber, and we will not allow any at present. In this 

 area the berths are surveyed, and we have estimators each year, and we shall 

 soon have an accurate idea what the actual quantity there is. At present it 

 is estimated at two billions of feet B.M. In territory north and west of 

 Temagami reserve, extending westerly towards Port Arthur, and covering 

 Lake Nipigon and tributary waters, our explorers have come across blocks 

 of pine here and there, some of it north of the height of land, and some 

 of it south. I think we may fairly put the timber in that region at say a 

 billion and three-quarters. There is no settlement as the region is far away 

 from railway communication. "We have not much information about this 

 region beyond the reports of surveyors and our explorers, but we think we 

 shall be within the mark in placing the quantity of pine that will be found 

 there at a billion and three-quarters of feet B.M. 



In this division is situated the Nipigon forest reserve, in which there 

 is a considerable body of pine, notably up the Gull River, but it was to pro- 

 tect the spruce and pulpwood growing in that great reserve and the game 

 and fish that it was primarily set apart. Here there is a chief with his staff 

 of rangers to protect the territory. Owing to the stream of travel that is 

 going up to the construction of the Transcontinental, considerable vigilance 

 is necessary. There have been some fires during the past year, but none 

 that have done any great damage. We had 22 rangers in this reserve last 

 year at a cost of some eight or nine thousand dollars. 



Thunder Cape reserve is only 80 miles in extent and it was set apart to 

 protect the timber on the promontory called Thunder Cape and to preserve 

 it from destruction by fire. The Crown timber agent at Port Arthur is 

 ex-ojjicio fire ranger in this reserve. 



Then on the Mississaga River which flows into the Georgian Bay, we 

 have created a forest reserve with an area of 3,000 square miles, or 1,920,000 

 acres. On this we had last year a staff of 21 men at a cost of |7,600. A little 

 timber was damaged by fire just at the close of the season, which we are now 

 offering for sale. The fire rangers there are constantly on the move, keeping 

 strict surveillance of the territory and of travellers who pass through it. 

 Everywhere printed copies of The Fire Act are posted up, especially at the 

 ends of portages, and everyone coming in contact with a ranger is given a 

 pamphlet copy. We have also surveyed this reserve into blocks and are care- 

 fully estimating the timber, but it will take some time to complete the estimate. 

 The timber in this reserve is so close to Lake Huron and so easily lumbered 

 that it should bring a very high stumpage. The quantity of pine on this 

 territory has been estimated at from three to four billions of feet. There is 

 no settlement near the reserve, and no active mning within its boundaries, 

 80 it is reasonably safe. I am assuming for the purpose of this paper that 

 there is three billions of feet B.M. upon this reserve. Outside of this reserve 

 on territory tributary to streams running into lakes Huron and Superior, and 

 also to the Algoma Central Railway, we have found considerable quantities 

 of pine on separate areas. In this territory we have had fire rangers each 

 year, and as the Algoma Central Land Grant is situated in it, they too have 

 had fire rangers. From the estimate made by them, and from our own 

 reports we are of opinion that there is at least seven hundred and fifty mil- 



