136 REPORT OF THE No.. 3 



lions of feet B.M. of red and white pine there. This timber is also valuable 

 on account of its accessibility. 



Now in the territory west of Port Arthur, that is in the Thunder Bay 

 and liainy River Districts, we have a very large body of pine timber, much 

 greater than we believed to be the case some years ago. We have kept a 

 staff of fourteen rangers on this territory last season, adjacent to Hainy 

 lliver, Quitico E-iver and Hunter's Island, and so far no serious fires have 

 occurred. A few years ago we had various opinions as to the quantity of pine 

 in this region. We are getting a better knowledge of it, and from the 

 receipt of information from those who are well informed, we have reason to 

 believe that the quantity, as I said, greatly exceeds all former estimates. 

 One of our most expert men, who has travelled over it frequently and knows 

 the country, some years ago expressed the opinion that there was a billion 

 and a quarter of feet B.M. of pine in that region. He has now had the 

 opportunity of seeing what the territory we have sold there cuts out, and is 

 better able to form an opinion as to what will be produced. He is now of 

 opinion that south of the C.P.R. in the territory from Port Arthur to the 

 western boundary we have probably two billions of feet B.M. of pine, and 

 in the territory north of the C.P.R. in the same district, about three hundred 

 millions of feet B.M. This timber, owing to its proximity to the prairie 

 country, and to the immense railway construction that has taken place, has 

 also a very high stumpage value. I may say that much higher estimates as 

 to quantity have been placed upon this territory than I am taking, but I am 

 taking for my figures what I regard to be the best authority. 



I now come to the great region lying north of the height of land on 

 waters flowing towards Hudson Bay. Here in the not distant future will, in 

 my opinion, be found our greatest timber asset. This northern slope is cov- 

 ered with a great growth of spruce timber, becoming smaller in diameter, of 

 course, the further you go north, but all the timber there will come into use 

 if we can preserve 'it from destruction. Eor my present purpose I will take 

 only the best spruce area on that slope, commencing at the eastern boundary 

 of the province and extending along the route of the Transcontinental, 400 

 miles, with an average width of 100 miles to the south and 50 miles to the 

 north of the line. On this territory there is estimated to be 250 millions of 

 cords of pulp wood. The best quality and size is found on the territory between 

 the Ogoke and Kenogami Eivers, and extending from one stream to the other. 

 These pulpwood areas cover parts of the Districts of Nipissing, Sudbury, 

 Algoma and Thunder Bay. West of Port Arthur, on waters flowing north, 

 there is estimated to be 50 millions of cords, so that here in this northern 

 region we have an estimated quantity of 300 millions of cords of pulpwood 

 timber, which will in a short time have a considerable stumpage value. I 

 suppose I am quite within the mark in putting its value now at seventy-five 

 cents a cord, for a considerable percentage of the spruce and jackpine, 

 probably 15 to 20 per cent., will make merchantable lumber. It may be 

 said that this territory is not immediately available. That is so, but within 

 the next few years the Transcontinental Railway will be constructed through 

 it, and in my opinion that railway will be taxed to carry the enormous quan- 

 tities of pulp, rather, may I hope, paper, that w^'ll be produced there. Con- 

 sider the fact that there are seven or eight large rivers all flowing north 

 towards the railway line, down which will pour enormous quantities of saw 

 logs and pulpwood to feed the mills that will certainly be erected at points 

 where these rivers cross the railway. I apprehend that in the not distant 

 future, the Transcontinental will not be the only railway in that region, and 

 one's imagination is not equal to picturing the possibilities there. 300 mil- 



