2(j NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



Even German}*, which has taken the lead in conserving and managing 

 her forests, has been importing timber since 1863 and now pays annually 

 over $70,000,000 to foreign countries for that article. 



M. Melard, Inspector of Forests in the service of the French Republic, 

 in his recent work on "The Insufficiency of the World's Supply of Timber," 



says : 



"There are but seven countries at present able to supply large quantities 

 of timber. Five are in Europe, namely, Austria-Hungary, Sweden, Norway, 

 Finland and Russia ; two are in North America, namely, Canada and the 

 United States. It has been shown that the availing surplus of Austria- 

 Hungary, of Russia and of the United States is seriously threatened by 

 increase of population and by industrial development and that of Norway by 

 the abuse of the axe. There remain only three sources of supply in which 

 confidence can be placed for yet a little time. These are Sweden, Finland 

 and Canada. They are absolutely and hopelessly insufficient. If Sweden, 

 Finland and Canada were to attempt to supply all the countries which reach 

 out their hands for timber, their normal production, and their forests too, 

 would be disposed of completely in a very short time, revenue and capital 

 alike. A timber famine is thus within sight." 



But it may be'said that this is the view of an alarmist who has not 

 studied the past history of the world. It may be truthfully pointed out that 

 nature has always come to man's relief in his extremities ; that when wood 

 fuel became scarce in the older countries of the world, coal was found to 

 replace it, and that in recent years natural gas and petroleum have in many 

 Jocalities even it-placed the coal. While this is true we must remember that 

 these are both inert materials without the power of reproduction or the 

 ability to increase the quantity ; that every pound of coal and every foot of 

 natural gas used decreases the aggregate quantity by that amount ; and 

 without going into details it may be said that the increasing use of these 

 materials is becoming so great as to indicate a famine here also in the not 

 distant future. But the close observer will reply that even if these sources 

 of fuel supply were entirely exhausted we have at least in this country 

 another natural agent to fall back upon in electricity, which can be generated 

 in enormous quantities by the power now unutilized in the thousands upon 

 "thousands of water power to be found in almost every part of the Dominion. 

 This is undoubtedly true and leads me to an almost virgin tield. I am of the 

 ^opinion that this country has advantages in this respect which few countries 



