32 TIMBER 
Converted timber, mostly cut to 3” by 11” and over 
were exported, and a very extensive trade, principally 
with Great Britain, grew and expanded. 
Up to about 1889 most of these sawn goods were 
floated down the rivers of Canada to the port of ship- 
ment in huge rafts, and it was customary to grade 
those planks or deals that had been immersed at the 
bottom of the pile as “‘ floated goods,” those at the top 
as “bright,” a difference of 10s. per standard showing 
the estimate of their values. This system lapsed as 
other and better means became available to convert 
the logs nearer port of shipment. At an early period all 
these converted goods were graded into firsts, seconds, 
and thirds; later, when near forest supplies began to 
show signs of failure, fourth quality were added ; and later 
still an intentional lowering of all grades by shippers was 
made. A period arrived, about 1890, when the exhaus- 
tion of this timber in the northern part of America 
obliged the consumers in that country to have recourse 
to Canadian goods, and gradually these nearer markets 
attracted the Dominion wood. Imports to Britain then 
began to get scarce, a great appreciation in prices took 
place and consumption was greatly curtailed. Values 
have been on the up-grade for the last ten or fifteen 
years, being at the present time something like 50 per 
cent. in advance of prices current about the year 1900. 
The wood is of yellowish-white colour, turning some- 
what brown with age and exposure under natural 
conditions. It is of soft but firm and even grain, 
fairly free from knots, works exceedingly well and will 
not, when free from heat, buckle or twist. It is not at 
all durable for outside work, neither is it a strong wood, 
but for interior joinery fitments, ground work for 
veneering on, coach panels or similar work, it is a favour- 
ite wood. It was formerly, when more moderate in 
