434 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



distances ; describing conditions and estimating contents on approximately each two 

 and one-half acres. In this way, it is believed, the guess work was certainly reduced 

 to a minimum, the necessity of furnishing so many detailed statements as well as the 

 estimates and descriptions of the neighboring estimator acting as checks upon any 

 fancies. In this manner a detailed description of every portion and a reasonable 

 estimate, indicating the location of each parcel, was obtained at an expenditure of 

 less than ten cents per acre. 



The first use of this information has been made in determining the amount of 

 cordwood that might be contracted for a term of ten years to a wood distillery, and 

 also, with the help of the map, in determining how many retorts might be placed in 

 different parts of the district to secure properly distributed tributary wood supplies. 

 Owing to the necessity of employing the estimators in fighting fires, so much time 

 was lost that the completion of the estimates on the Wawbeek District has been 

 delayed, a few compartments remaining unvisited, and the estimating on the Axton 

 District has been deferred to next season, until the survey and subdistricting could 

 be done. Enough estimating has been done, however, to warrant the statement, 

 open to correction, that the following amount of stock, at most conservative figures, 

 will be found on this portion of the property : 



Stock Standing in the Wawbeek District. 



12,000,000 feet, B. M., ----- - - Hardwoods. 



6,000,000 " ...... Softwoods. 



32,000 cords, ._...--. Pulpwood. 



120,000 pieces, -------- Hemlock ties. 



120,000 cords, - - - - - - - - - Fuel wood. 



A much larger area than was anticipated is occupied by swamps, marshes, water 

 and burnt lands, which accounts for the low averages per acre, more than one-quarter 

 of the acreage being waste land. A division of the land in this district as regards 

 its character, open to slight correction, gives the following proportions : 



Hardwood ridges, ---------- 42.6$ 



Wooded flats, - - - - - - 30. 



Balsam swamps, ---------- 8.7 



Burnt lands and marsh, -------- 6.7 



Clearings, ----------- 3.2 



Water and sloughs, --------- 8.8 



It is estimated, nevertheless, that if the market is properly developed, and 

 means of transportation secured, the stumpage value on the Wawbeek District may 

 yield a considerably larger amount than the price paid per acre, while the Axton 

 District (township 26) will show a very decidedly larger stumpage. 



