Page 508 |
Previous | 508 of 520 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
484 A P P E N D IX
as the larger whales shall have become extinct, the slaughter of
our smaller oil- producing mammals w i l l commence, and as these
creatures live i n shallow water or nearer shore, further encroachments
on our rights w i l l probably result.
The evidence submitted to your Committee points to the
existence i n the Athabasca and Mackenzie valleys of the most
extensive petroleum field i n America, i f not i n the world. The
uses of petroleum, and consequently the demand for it by a ll
nations, are increasing at such a rapid ratio that i t is probable
this great petroleum field w i l l assume an enormous value in
the near future and w i l l rank among the chief assets comprised
i n the Crown domain of the Dominion. For this reason your
Committee would suggest that a tract of about 40,000 square
miles be, for the present, reserved from sale, and that as soon
as possible its value may be more accurately ascertained by
exploration and practical tests; the said reserve to be bounded as
follows: Easterly by a line drawn due north from the foot of
the Cascade Eapids on Clearwater Eiver to the south shore of
Athabasca Lake; northerly by the said lake shore and the
Quatre Eourche and Peace rivers; westerly by Peace Eiver and
a straight line from Peace Eiver Landing to the western
extremity of Lesser Slave Lake, and southerly by said lake and
the river discharging it to Athabasca Eiver and Clearwater
Eiver as far up as the place of beginning.
Your Committee regret that they have made so long a
report, but trust that an excuse w i l l be found i n the fact that
upon a map of similar projection and scale the region i n question
occupies an area greater than the Australian Continent
or two- thirds of Europe, covering part of the B r i t i s h Islands,
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria and a part of
Prance and Russia.
Your Committee have reason to believe that a comparison
of the capabilities of this extent of country i n our own continent
exceeds i n extent of navigation, area of arable and
pastoral lands, valuable fresh- water fisheries, forests and mines,
and i n capacity to support population, the continental part of
Europe to which we have referred.
Many important points have therefore been omitted from
this report, for information upon which your Committee beg
to refer your Honourable House to the evidence itself; they
have, however, accompanied this report, as being a necessary
adjunct, with four maps of a size suitable to form two pages
of this report, carefully prepared by Robert Bell, Esq., M . D . ,
L L . D . , Assistant Director of the Geological Survey; the first
Object Description
Description
| Title | Page 508 |
| OCR | 484 A P P E N D IX as the larger whales shall have become extinct, the slaughter of our smaller oil- producing mammals w i l l commence, and as these creatures live i n shallow water or nearer shore, further encroachments on our rights w i l l probably result. The evidence submitted to your Committee points to the existence i n the Athabasca and Mackenzie valleys of the most extensive petroleum field i n America, i f not i n the world. The uses of petroleum, and consequently the demand for it by a ll nations, are increasing at such a rapid ratio that i t is probable this great petroleum field w i l l assume an enormous value in the near future and w i l l rank among the chief assets comprised i n the Crown domain of the Dominion. For this reason your Committee would suggest that a tract of about 40,000 square miles be, for the present, reserved from sale, and that as soon as possible its value may be more accurately ascertained by exploration and practical tests; the said reserve to be bounded as follows: Easterly by a line drawn due north from the foot of the Cascade Eapids on Clearwater Eiver to the south shore of Athabasca Lake; northerly by the said lake shore and the Quatre Eourche and Peace rivers; westerly by Peace Eiver and a straight line from Peace Eiver Landing to the western extremity of Lesser Slave Lake, and southerly by said lake and the river discharging it to Athabasca Eiver and Clearwater Eiver as far up as the place of beginning. Your Committee regret that they have made so long a report, but trust that an excuse w i l l be found i n the fact that upon a map of similar projection and scale the region i n question occupies an area greater than the Australian Continent or two- thirds of Europe, covering part of the B r i t i s h Islands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria and a part of Prance and Russia. Your Committee have reason to believe that a comparison of the capabilities of this extent of country i n our own continent exceeds i n extent of navigation, area of arable and pastoral lands, valuable fresh- water fisheries, forests and mines, and i n capacity to support population, the continental part of Europe to which we have referred. Many important points have therefore been omitted from this report, for information upon which your Committee beg to refer your Honourable House to the evidence itself; they have, however, accompanied this report, as being a necessary adjunct, with four maps of a size suitable to form two pages of this report, carefully prepared by Robert Bell, Esq., M . D . , L L . D . , Assistant Director of the Geological Survey; the first |
Tags
Comments
Post a Comment for Page 508
