New-York tribune., 1900-01-12
CANADA'S PULP WOOD.
THROWING RESTRICTIONS AROUND THE
SUPPLY
PROPOSED STEP PLACING SPRUCE LANDS IN THE
CATEGORY OF THE CROWN PINE LANDS
PROVINCIAL ACTION

PROPOSED STEP PLACING SPRUCE LANDS IN THE
CATEGORY OF THE CROWN PINE LANDS
PROVINCIAL ACTION
Toronto. Ont. Jan. Il (speciaD.-The Ontario
Government has practically decided 70 restrict the
supply Of pulp wood going from this province 70
the United States It IS announced that an Order
in Council Will be passed making Il obligatory
upon all holders OF licenses FOR the cutting of
timber the Grown lands 10 manufacture their
spruce in this country only. That is spruce is 70
be brought under the same regulations as those TO
which Crown lands pine is now subject The
order is take effect the close OF the present
license year, namely, after April 30 next
MOTIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT
Several considerations move the government 10
this OF course. the grand one is the desire
TO build up great pulp and paper industry here.
In pursuance OF that desire some steps have al
ready been taken Government concessions OF
spruce limits TO ce tain syndicates companies
have carried the condition that the timber
these limits must be manufactured into pulp within
the province. The Sault Ste Marie Pulp Company.
for example, which has OF the biggest pulp
manufacturing plants in Canada. Is boSnd 20 grind
digest IN Canada the pulp wood on It's grant OF
timber land. So is the Imperial Paper Mills Com
pauy which has pulp works IN operation az Stur-
geon Falls, and IS adding great paper mills So is
the Petewawa Pulp Company. which has secured
fine tract OF spruce the Petewawa River. One
or two other companies. which have Crown limits
not yet improved on the North Shore have 70 fulfil
the same requirement Less than a year ago the
Commissioner OF Crown Lands. a member Of the
Ontario Government, declared it was the settled
policy Of the Administration 20 make no grants
sales Of spruce lands except upon this condi-
ton In the last three timber sales OF the Gov
ernmeat the spruce was reserved. the purchasers
OF licenses being entitled to the pine only on
the tracts over which their rights extended
But, after all these exceptions. there remained at
least ten thousand square miles OF Crown timber
land frome (Which the expectation OF raw spruce to
the United States was permitted This does not
mean however, that there was any considerable
expectation OF pulp wood from these lands. As a
matter OF fact. there was not. The Crown timber
land from which license holders were thus free 70
export spruce had been brought under license in
times when the rights sold covered all kinds OF
wood on the limits License holders, who got their
limits prior to 1880 cut not only the pine, but
also the spruce and every other variety OF wood on
the same. The proposed Order IN Council would
compel these license holders keep their spruce
in Canada until II is manufactured the Log Ex-
port law conpels them 10 keep their pine
PREMATURE MOVE
II might have been wise for the Government 70
have made sure OF its powers before taking this
step. Those powers are upon trial now The
Michigan lumber interests which contested the
validity OF the Log Export law. FAR from satisfied
with Justice Streets recent decision against them,
have carried the 70 the Court Of Appeals. and
il must be said that the reasons they have put IN
for hearing before that tribunal are very cogent
regulation in the sense in which that is used
in the contract with the Government Regulations.
they submit, have 70 do with timber dues. and
with such matters as prescribing the minimum size
OF the trees 70 be cut down Further. they plead
that when the timber is cut and the dues are paid
upon it the Governments property in It and the
Governments control over II have ceased They
add that such a restriction trenches on the au-
thority OF the Dominion Government. which mas
sole Jurisdiction over trade and commerce IN the
previous trial they summoned witnesses. notably
John Charlton, NJ. P, 70 show that the law dis
turbed the commercial relations OF the whole coun-
try having irrirated the United States and disposed
10 retaIate against Canada as whole This OF
itself. they claim. shows that the act transcends
the powers OF province The case is 10 be tried
here in a few days, and whichever party loses Il
is certain 10 be carried TO the Supreme Court OF
Canada and ultimately TO the Judicial Committee
OF the Imperial Privy Council The Ontario Gov
erumenr might well have awaited the issue OF this
test case before extending the very law under
view the spruce standing On limits under license
II IL prohibit the export Of pine from Crown
lands under license neither can prohibit the ex-
portston Of spruce from such limits. On the other
hand. 10 De sure. Il Il has power 20 prohibit tks
II the goes against Il the province viii have
TWO bills Of damages pay American limit hold
ers instead OF one
TO ANSWER A POPULAR DEMAND.
But there was q popular demand for the pro
hibition- II loudly called for when the Log TX
port law was passed. the Government being UrTgec
10 include spruce along with pine under the pro
visions OF that law Latterly new force has been
lent 70 that demand by the success OF the Log Ex-
port law When il was enacted II was felt that
that law would for a time recOiI the province
by causing cessation OF operations the part OF
American lUmbernen. and in this way reducing the
revenue from timber dues IN fact TO provide
against such anticipated loss g revenue meas
was introduced, imposing taxes certain cor
poraUions. But the lumber trade was never before
hOUTishing IL has been since the adoption OF
the law American license holders cut logs of their
limits pay the dues upon them and have them made
into lumber in Ontario sawmils. So, II ts held the
embargo spruce would eventually work out.
American pulp mills and paper mills would come
Canada from The denuded spruce tracts across
the line s they have been coming from the de-
Euded pine tracts in Michigan
Moreover the Ontario Governments hand is
likely be forced Oy action on the part OF the
Government Of Quebec. For the last twelve
months the Quebec Government has been gradually
coming 10 the point OF shutting or supplies OF
pulpwOOd 70 American mills. More than once
Premier Marchand has stated that the policy OF
restriction has q strong attraction for him His
Commissioner OF Crown Lands Mr.. Parent has