Notes. 43 



some special provision for a protective staff. The forests of that 

 province are of immense and increasing value. Nowhere else in 

 Canada are as large areas of noble virgin forest found. The re- 

 venue received from them by the province is steadily increasing. 

 The market for their product is extending. In Western Ontario 

 red cedar shingles from British Columbia rule the market, and 

 are found in every lumber yard. The demand from the western 

 districts is becoming larger with the advance of settlement. A 

 province so rich in forest wealth might surely be expected to see 

 that some special officer is charged with the duty of protecting 

 the forests from fire, and that he receives the necessary assistance 

 at such times as required, even if it should result in a small in- 

 crease in expenditure. In the railway belt in British Columbia, 

 which is under the jurisdiction of the Dominion Government, 

 such a service is in successful operation, and testimonies to its 

 good work, even during the past trying season, have been numer- 

 ous and favorable. 



The Province of British Columbia should place itself in line 

 with the rest of the Dominion in this respect. 



On an official call, issued by the American Forestry Associa- 

 tion, a Forest Congress met in Washington, D.C., January 2nd 

 to 6th, 1905. The purpose of this Congress was to establish a 

 broader understanding of the forest in its relation to the great 

 industries depending upon it; to advance the conservative use 

 of forest resources for both the present and the future need of 

 these industries ; to stimulate and unite all efforts to perpetuate 

 the forest as a permanent resource of the nation. 



The Congress included Ambassadors, Ministers, and other 

 representatives of foreign nations, members of the Federal House, 

 Governors of States and Territories, representatives of Forest 

 Services, Forestry Associations, Lumbermen's Associations, Irri- 

 gation Associations, Stockmen's Associations, Railroad Com- 

 panies, Boards of Trade. Among the accredited delegates pro- 

 vision was made for ten from the Canadian Forestry Association, 

 and the Association was well represented. 



The subjects dealt with at the different sessions are as 

 follows: (1) Relation of the Public Forest Lands to Irrigation; 

 (2) Relation of the Public Forest Lands to Grazing; (3) The 

 Lumber Industry and the Forest; (4) Importance of the Forest 

 Public Lands to Mining; (5) Forestry in Relation to Railroad 

 Supplies; (6) National Forest Policy; (7) State Forest Policy. 



On the afternoon of January 5th, a special meeting was held 

 in the National Theatre, which was addressed by the President 

 to the United States, and other men prominent in industrial and 

 national life. 



