FOREST FIRES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA IN 1904. 



Mr. J. R. Andersen, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for 

 British Columbia, has kindly placed at the disposal of the Fores- 

 try Association, the reports received from the agents of that de- 

 partment, in regard to the forest fires throughout the Province 

 generally during the year 1904. As has been made known 

 through the medium of the press, the forest fires in British 

 Columbia, during the past year, were of special severity owing 

 to the dry season. Throughout most of the summer in some dis- 

 tricts a pall of smoke hung over the country sufficient to obscure 

 the view and prevent surveying operations. The direct loss to 

 the Province was large, and the effect on the mining and other 

 industries requiring wood supplies will soon make itself felt 

 The question of dealing with these fires is cne of the most im- 

 portant ones which can be given consideration by the Province 

 of British Columbia at the present time. The revenue derived by the 

 Province from these forests during 1904 was $446,276, a substan- 

 tial increase over the previous year's revenue, which amounted 

 to $347,004. In regard to lumber supplies the future is in the 

 hands of British Columbia, her forests of virgin timber are still 

 great and valuable, the development of the western territories, 

 and the industrial growth of the Dominion generally will 

 make large and increasing demands upon them, and properly 

 administered, they should make British Columbia the richest mem- 

 ber cf the confederation. At no distant day the public revenue 

 from the forests may be expected to reach a million inste*ad of 

 half a million dollars, and will not then have reached the limit 

 of the possibilities. Capitalize such a revenue and the Province 

 might well spend a large sum in providing protection from fire 

 without going beyond what would be a low rate of insurance. 

 Experience has dcinonstrated that the forests can be protected and 

 failure to take effective measures to do so can, in the light of pre- 

 sent knowledge of the subject, be hardly less than criminal. 



For the New Westminster District the report of the agent 



