USES OF WOOD PULP. 



of which contains an exhaustive historical and descriptive account of 

 the manufacture of wood pulp, with illustrations showing the 

 machinery and methods used down to the present time. 



GEORGE GIFFORD, 

 BASEL, November 21, 1898. Consul. 



ZURICH. 



In reply to Department circular, I desire to report that wood 

 pulp is not used in this consular district except in the manufacture 

 of paper. Furniture is not manufactured in this country on a large 

 scale; it is mostly made by hand. 



A. LlEBERKNECHT, 



ZURICH, October ip, 1898. Consul. 



THE WOOD-PULP INDUSTRY OF CANADA. 



It is only of late that the full value of the enormous forests of 

 Canada has been realized by the growth of the new industry the 

 manufacture of pulp. 



Ten years ago, spruce could hardly be disposed of as a gift. 

 To-day, heavy shipments go to the United States, Great Britain, 

 and Japan, and the demand from many European countries and from 

 Australia and South America is growing. The industry has devel- 

 oped with great rapidity and is daily increasing. 



The Dominion census of 1871 says nothing about pulp mills, but 

 in 1881 and 1891 I find the following: 



Great as is the indicated increase here shown, it is certain to be 

 outstripped by the next census returns; exact returns are not to be 

 obtained at this time. New mills are being erected, others proposed, 

 and old ones are being enlarged and developed. An estimate has 

 been made that the total annual output in Canada is about 170,000 

 tons in the proportion of one-third sulphite and two-thirds mechan- 

 ical but this is far within the mark. What this involves can readily 

 be seen from the statement of a leading manufacturer that the labor 

 "from stump to car" is something like six men to each ton of pulp, 

 wages being from $1.25 to $2 per day. 



