34 CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 



There was a period last year when the City of Ottawa was in great peril 

 from the fact that the water in the Ottawa River fell to an unusually low 

 mark. Almost annually the City of Brantford and other cities in the Grand 

 River Valley have their waterworks practically put out of business for a 

 week owing to high water, and at another time have not sufficient water 

 to supply the ordinary necessities of life. That is a condition that prevails 

 throughout, and is growing worse in many parts of this country. I can 

 assure you, Sir, that the Underwriters and Fire Insurance men of the 

 country will heartily co-operate in every way possible with you in endeavour- 

 ing to remove the ever-present danger arising from the careless manner of 

 dealing with the forests, not only in the timber limits but also in the 

 neighbourhood of towns, in regard to fire, especially in dry seasons. While 

 on this subject I would like to point out that our records show that fires 

 have a very distinct relation to the nature of the season, whether it be wet 

 or dry; that where the season is dry the number of fires is very much 

 greater than when we have a wet season. Therefore in drawing the atten- 

 tion of any Government to fire-ranging, I think that you should recognize 

 the fact that the ordinary system is intended to cope only with a normal 

 season, and that provision should be made in the statutes that when the 

 season is abnormally dry either the rangers or the Government should be 

 empowered to bring in additional assistance, so as to be able to cope with 

 the unusual situation. (Applause.) 



THE PRESIDENT: The Canadian Forest Engineers have also a represent- 

 ative here in the person of their President, Doctor Fernow, who will now 

 address us. 



DOCTOR FERNOW'S ADDRESS. 



Your Excellency, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : This call from 

 the platform comes somewhat unexpected and unsuspected, for I had forgotten 

 for the moment that I really represent an organization. You will therefore 

 excuse me if my remarks are somewhat rambling and without any pre- 

 meditation. Some thirty years ago, when it was my good fortune to land 

 on this continent, I seemed to be the sole possessor of all the wisdom regard- 

 ing forests and forestry (Laughter and applause) by accident, of course. To 

 me it was a profession. On this continent, even the name was unknown. 

 Since then I have endeavoured, apparently with success, to give away so 

 much information that I cannot any more claim to be the keeper of all the 

 wisdom. (Laughter.) Especially this morning I have been impressed with 

 the exceedingly intelligent and captivating manner in which this informa- 

 tion has soaked into the minds of our leading spirits and is represented 

 not only in its generalities, but even the technical side, which is beginning 

 to be thoroughly appreciated and advanced. We may differ experts always 

 differ as to some of the tecKnical statements that have been made, and 

 perhaps opportunity will be given later on to discuss some of those technical 



3a F. 



