a territory nearly as large as the whole of France and Germany combined, 

 to Ontario, which has lately spent 150 to 160 thousand dollars on its protec- 

 tive service. 



It is not likely that a large, annually newly recruited army of incom- 

 petent, inexperienced men, appointed through political influence, even if 

 a sprinkling of competent woodsmen is added, will successfully cope with 

 the evil. Thorough organization of smaller groups of continuously 

 employed, experienced men, which may be assisted by some less experienced 

 during the dangerous season, and thorough continuous inspection while they 

 are at work is necessary. This nucleus of permanent foresters should be 

 directed by active superiors in charge of this special service and in sympathy 

 with the broader policies which are to follow the effective fire protection. 



I believe the Dominion Government and the Province of Quebec have 

 the feeble beginnings of such an organization which only needs to be further 

 elaborated. These two governments have inaugurated what would appear 

 to be the first requirement, namely, separate government agencies to take 

 care of the forest interests, and only an extension of their means and func- 

 tions is necessary for further development. 



What none of the governments have realized, not even the Dominion 

 Government is, that a supreme effort is necessary to break away from the 

 established usages, which a century of accumulated momentum carries over 

 any feeble attempts to interfere with them. 



A mere tinkering with the problems with little detail descriptions will 

 not remedy anything, broad and farsight plans of action are needed. 



There is no thorough realization of the seriousness of the situation, if 

 act still doubt as to whether it exists. 



The certainty as to whether we are really as close to the end of this 

 resource as it appears, and that its condition is as dangerous as we claim, 

 might perhaps stimulate the governments to a change of attitude and to a 

 more decided advance towards positive improvement in their methods rf 

 management. 



We* do not know positively what the amount of timber standing actually 

 is, but we can make a fair probability calculation. 



The commercially valuable tiinberlands of the Eastern Provinces are 

 and were always confined to the portions south of the Height of Land with 

 an insignificant overflow along the headwaters of the northern river courses. 

 This area which circumscribes the limits of the White Pine does not quite 

 cover 200,000,000 acres. It is from this area that some 25 million acres 

 have been cleared for farms at the expense mainly of the most valuable 

 hardwoods, and that during the last 40 years the above stated values for 

 export and home consumption were derived, not to speak of the longer but 

 comparatively lighter drain of the period before confederation. If we were 

 to assume an original stand of sawtimber of all kinds averaging 2,500 feet 

 on all the acreage 0,600.000 feet per square mile), which any one acquainted 

 with this forest type would pronounce an extravagant allowance, there 

 never was more than 500 billion feet available. The above cited export and 

 home requirements indicate a consumption of not less than 300 billion feet, 

 leaving still available 200 billion feet, which by a reduction of standards 

 may be increased to 300 billion feet. What this amount signifies can only 

 be understood bv comparison with figures of consumption : it does not 

 represent more than seven years' supply of the annual requirements of our 

 neighbour ! 



The only other commercial timber area of Canada is found in southern 

 British Columbia. This area is by competent land lookers placed at only 

 30 million acres, but if the standards be lowered, we might find it extended 



