290 



By Mr. Fiero: 



Q. What is the effect of the removal of that soft wood so far as the 

 forest is concerned, as to appearance? 



A. If it is only cut down to twelve inches, or even to ten inches — 



Chairman Ryan.— (Interrupting) "What is the object of that ques- 

 tion; does it throw light upon anything we have had before ? 



Mr. Fieeo. — It is to show the effect of taking the soft wood from 

 the forest, which is recommended in this report of the commission, 

 and it seems to be very important as bearing upon that question in 

 view of the fact of that recommendation that the park be free, that 

 lumbering (so to speak) may be continued by taking out the soft 

 woods ; also for the purpose of showing that lumbering takes only a 

 small proportion of the woods. 



Chairman Ryan.' — What has that to do with the charges which we 

 are investigating that have been made against the commissioners ? 



Mr. Fieeo. — This is the firrit intimation we have had that there are 

 any charges against the commission. We have been assured that this 

 was an investigation f or ; the purpose of arriving at the proof. We did 

 not understand that anybody is charged. Mr. Adams has informed ' 

 us that there was no one charged. For the purpose of arriving at 

 what the committee should report as to a park we deem it quite 

 material. However, if the committee do not care for it we do not 

 wish to press it We believed it would place information before the 

 committee, and that the committee would desire to understand the 

 custom in regard to the woods, which to one not accustomed to 

 the woods is a somewhat novel thing. It seems to me to be very 

 pertinent to this investigation. 



Chairman Ryan.— We have been attempting , te investigate the 

 workings of the commission relative, to what they were expected to do. 

 I do not see the relevancy of the question asked, but we want all the 

 investigation that can be had" which will shed any light. 



Mr. Fibko. — When you say you want information as to what the 

 commission is expected to do, this being the recommendation as 

 to the park, and I understand this committee desires information in 

 regard to the park, it seems to be a substantial and important inquiry 

 in reference to the manner in which the State shall acquire land for 

 the park and to throw light upon their report in that respect. It also 

 explains the contract with the Beaver River company, and shows the 

 effect of that upon the whole question that is before this committee, 

 and as to what " lumbering '' is, for without it there would be a very 

 different notion as to what " lumbering " is. Almost every one would 

 suppose that " lumbering " meant cutting the forest clean, and what 



