 | Before 1884, land and the timber on it were sold to firms or individuals.
There was no demand for logs from Powell River forests, so only a few trees
were cut, near the shore, to meet the needs of natives and the few early white
trappers, settlers or steamboats passing by. |
| 1884 - B.C. Timber Act -
 | Royalty and Stumpage system created ($.15 per stump) |
| Handloggers paid $10 per year for a licence, and were restricted to non-
power tools |
|
| 1888 - Amended B.C. Timber Act
| Handlogger Licences made non-transferable, one to a person, 1000 acres
max (400 ha) |
| McRae and others in the P.R.. area held these licences. |
|
| 1905 - Premier McBride introduced "Special Timber Licences", both
transferable and renewable. Americans arrived in large numbers to file claims
over the next two years. (Northwest U.S.A. forests were over-claimed) $500/sq.
mile. Speculators quickly filed 15,000 licences early on, many in the Powell
River area. |
| 1906 - "Handloggers War" - confrontation between handloggers and
speculators over claim-jumping. |
| 1907 - Economic depression, lumber markets collapsed, high unemployment
led to many failed logging businesses. |
| 1910 - B.C. Royal Commission on Forestry Policy leading to a new Forest
Act.
| H.A. Grainger was secretary (see refs for "Woodsmen of the West") |
| Act separated disposal of timber from land, recognised concept of
Sustained Yield; created Forest Branch. |
|
| 1912 - H.R.. McMillan becomes first Chief Forester of new Forest Branch,
until going into business in 1916 |
| 1916 - Grainger succeeds McMillan as Chief Forester; goes into private
business in 1920. |
