Caiiadidii Forcslrij Journal, Sep I ember, 1917 



1305 



Timber Resources of Northern Manitoba 



By J. A. Campbell, 



COMMISSIONER OF NOHTHKHN MANITOBA. 



In Spite of Fire Damage Much Timber 

 Exists as Basis of New Industries. 



Many years ago the northern part 

 of Manitoba as far north as what is 

 known as the "Barren Lands," was 

 thickly covered with a forest growth 

 of spruce, tamarac, jack pine and 

 other northern trees. Great areas of 

 this was timber of merchantable size 

 and besides there were immense 

 stretches of valuable pulp wood, but 

 during the last 25 or 50 years millions 

 of dollars worth of this, one of our 

 most valuable natural resources, have 

 been destroyed by fire. In many 

 parts of the burned area a new growth 

 has sprung up which is now well 

 developed and in the course of from 

 15 to 25 years, if properly protected, 

 will be an exceedingly valuable asset. 

 However, outside of the burned areas 

 there are still great stretches of 

 valuable timber and pulp wood which, 

 taken in conjunction with means of 

 transportation now available, and 

 the prevalence of water power near 

 them in almost every instance, form 

 an exceedingly valuable resource and 

 one which should be protected, con- 

 served and developed with the great- 

 est care. 



The Havoc of Fire 



Mr. J. B. Tyrrell has made frequent 

 trips into the north country and per- 

 haps to him more than any other man 

 is due our knowledge of this resource, 

 as well as much other information 

 regarding the country. From Mr. 

 Tyrrell's reports it is learned a great 

 deal of timber in the territory in 

 question has been destroyed by fire. 

 On Grass and Minago rivers there is 

 still some forest of excellent white 

 spruce but on the northern part of 

 Burntwood river this is rather scarce. 

 _ Black spruce and canoe birch grow 

 on the more level and imperfectly 

 drained areas. The aspen is the com- 

 monest deciduous tree as it grown on 



the drier uplands everywhere, oc- 

 casionally forming beautiful forests. 

 "The forests surrounding Reed Lake 

 are mostly of poplar, but there are 

 some good growths of fine large spruce 

 about 25 inches in diameter." On 

 the southwestern shore of Lake Atha- 

 papuskow, "considerable areas are 

 covered with large white spruce." 

 At Wintering Lake, "the surrounding 

 areas rise gently from the water and 

 are densely wooded with close forests 

 of white spruce, growing on the rich 

 clay soil." An old fur station near 

 Setting Lake was found by Mr. 

 Tyrrell "considerably overgrown with 

 large spruce trees quite indistin- 

 guishable from those of the surround- 

 ing forest." 



In an exploration trip in connec- 

 tion with the Hudson Bay Railway, 

 Mr. J. W. McLaggan covered the 

 territory immediately north of The 

 Pas and the following information is 

 obtained from his report. The first 

 portion is covered with small mixed 

 timber. North of Cormorant Lake 

 there are at least 5 million feet of 

 good milling spruce and a very con- 

 siderable area of the same south of 

 Reed Lake. North of Herb Lake are 

 spruce and poplar fit for railway ties 

 and pulpwood. If fire had been kept 

 out there would have been a big 

 timber area in this district. Reaf- 

 forestation is now being effected. 

 Between Reed Lake and Elbow Lake 

 he saw about two million feet of good 

 spruce and poplar, averaging 12 to 

 14 inches in diameter. 



In the report of W. Thibideau on 

 an exploratory survey of the ground 

 between Fort Churchill and The Pas 

 in connection with the Hudson Bay 

 route is found the following: 



"All the timber between the head 

 of the Little Churchill river and 

 Churchill is reserved for fuel purposes. 



