126 COMMISSION OF COXSERVATION 



Though hardly pertinent to the subject, it is of interest to calculate 

 the expectancy value of soil producing as above, tising the well known 

 formula : 



gg ^ Yr+Ta (1.0 p-^-a) + . . . . +Tq (1.0 p>q) - c (1.0 pr ) 



l.Opr-1 .Op 



For simplicity of calculation we may neglect the intermediate yields 

 and assume data as above. For 6o year rotations the soil expectancy 

 value is per acre : 



a„ 8207-93.40 .05 ^ ao 



^" = 17768 T05 = ^-^ 



In this connection, it is noted from the report of the British Colum- 

 bia Forestry Commission, igio, that the average assessed value per 

 acre for Crown granted timberland on Vancouver Island, 1909, was 

 $9.69, and for the mainland S6.41. Since this value includes the timber 

 as well as the soU, it is far too low. 



The commercial range of the Douglas fir west of the Cascades 

 is approximately included in the Vancouver and Island forest districts 

 which have an approximate total of 20,000,000 acres. Assuming 

 one-fourth of this to be crown property, capable of producing as above, 

 this would be worth $27,150,000. Of course, such calculations are 

 based on estimates, but they are at least conservative estimates. Cer- 

 tainly, Ss-43 per acre is not excessive for land as productive as that 

 in question. 



What the total value of timberland for the whole Province would 

 be, based on the same method of calculation, it is difficult even to 

 conjecture, but certainly it would be enormous. It may be guessed 

 at in a simpler way. Assuming that the estimated 65,000,000 acres of 

 timberland will some day produce at the rate of Si per acre per vear, 

 there is an annuity of 865,000,000. The capital value of that at 5 per 

 cent is $1,300,000,000 ; at 3 per cent is 82,166,666,666.66. The con- 

 clusion is that it is profitable to secure forest regeneration by aiding 

 Nature, even if not by planting. 



3. Economic Considerations .—It is possible and probably prac- 

 ticable to seciire artificial reforestation in British Columbia, but is it 

 desirable or necessary ? And if desirable, is it the most profitable 

 way to use the money ? 



Remembering that British Columbia has over half the standing 

 merchantable timber of Canada ; that only one-fifth of the estimated 

 annual growth is at present being cut ; and that there is an enormous 



