PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 
629 
countries with still larger supplies a panic has arisen. The more 
rapid depletion of our forests for purposes of export is constantly- 
being urged as if we had there, without any trouble on our part, 
an unfailing source of revenue. By all means let us export, but 
let us first take steps to replace what is taken away and insure 
the future. 
Some months ago, as the result of a communication which I 
addressed to the Minister for Works protesting against the 
exportation of ironbark, a return was prepared by the Forest 
Branch purporting to show that the forests of this colony would 
supply over 1 67 J millions of sleepers, which sounds like an 
enormous quantity. An examination of the return shows that 
two-thirds of this quantity is to be obtained from the forest 
reserves in the Casino and Glen Innes districts, that of the 
former being reported to cover about 4000 square miles and the 
other 2000 square miles. Those estimates seem large, and it is 
curious to note that when the Glen Innes-Tenterfield railway was 
being constructed the prices paid for stringy bark sleepers was 
6s. 6d., while 7s. each was paid for ironbark. This does not look 
like an abundant supply. It is one thing to have trees scattered 
through a forest, and another to get them out at reasonable cost. 
Assume, however, for the moment that the above quantity of 
sleepers is obtainable, and that instead of many of them being 
locked up in almost impenetrable gullies they are obtainable at a 
small cost, what is likely to be the future demand 1 Our own 
requirements for sleepers are at the rate of 2400 per mile, and 
1000 miles would only require about 2,400,000 sleepers, but all 
Australians must hope that with the development of the country, 
many thousand miles of new lines will be required, and then 
we have to provide for renewals. Now suppose in addition to 
our own requirements we foster trade with other countries. In 
the United States of America there are 180,000 miles of railway. 
They put their sleepers much closer together than we do, so that 
they require 3000 to the mile at least. The timber used at 
present is pine or white oak, the best of which only lasts ten or 
twelve years. What, if our American friends were really to take 
