GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 195 



opened out to timber exploitation by the removal of the obstruc- 

 tions in them. Unless this is done, the annual output in logs 

 cannot be expected to reach much more than 25,000. 



Every effort, however, should be made to clear the above- 

 mentioned obstructions and at the same time to introduce 

 mechanical appliances, such as traction engines, light tramways, 

 &c., for the haulage and transport of the timber. When this 

 lias been accomplished, the Gold Coast, with Ashanti, should 

 be able, and that without any fear of encroaching on the wood- 

 producing capital, to give an annual yield of something like 

 250,000 logs a year. 



Such an out-turn, even at a very mild rate of taxation, should 

 be capable of bringing in an annual revenue of about 60,000. 



These estimates do not include other first-class timbers such as 

 are yielded by the Odoiim (Chlorophora excelsa) the Baku (Mimu- 

 sop's Djave), &e., and are based on the most unfavourable assump- 

 tions. To my mind, the Colony, with Ashanti, has a great future 

 before it, so far as the timber industry is concerned. 



The imports of timber for the years 1898 to 1906 were: 



Superficial Feet. 



1898 1,470,125 



1899 1,225,795 



1900 1,872,520 



1901 2,823,440 



1902 3,378,339 



1903 3,125,168 



1904 3,554,850 



1905 2,053,816 



1906 1,841,698 



Total ... ... 21,345,751 



which gives a mean annual import of 2,371,750 superficial feet, 

 or nearly one-third of the mean annual export. There is no 

 doubt that the larger portion of the timber imported should be 

 replaced by local woods, of which there are several kinds avail- 

 able that are in every respect suitable for the purposes for which 

 the former are used. Before this can be done, however, it will 

 be necessary to establish modern saw-mills along the main lines 

 of export in the Colony, to convert the timber strictly in accord- 

 ance with the specifications, and to use nothing but properly 

 seasoned wood. It is the custom of placing unseasoned West 

 African woods on the market that has in so many instances given 

 the former a bad name. In fact, it is a matter for consideration 

 whether it would not be advisable for Government, to prohibit 

 the felling of trees that have not been previously ring-barked or 

 girdled and killed by the process; this would ensure a proper 

 seasoning of the wood before it is felled. 



The establishment of saw-mills with a view to supplying local 

 demands for converted timber will enable a great deal of timber 

 to be utilised that is at present allowed to lie waste in the forests. 

 123] .i N2 



