14

Extract from letter R. F. Dove to E. R. Bearns, dated August 11th, 1937

"Our employees are insured under the N.M.A.M. Insurance Association Limited, which in the event of injuries sustained by employees covers the periods of treatment and convalescence at half-time or $1.25 ($1.00) per day. Cost of treatment and medical material are covered under the arrangements as contracted for between the Company and the service inaugurated by the Board of Health under the Boards representation at Harbour Breton, and for which service a deduction is made of 40¢ which amount is paid by cheque to the Chairman of the Board of Health at the end of each month." (R. F. Dove was the manager of Island Timber Co. and E. R. Bearns was the Forest Inspector.)

15

Bowater's Premises and Strickland's Mill
1966
Milltown, Bay d'Espoir, NL, Canada

16

Bowater acquired a pulp and paper mill in Corner Brook in 1938 from the International Power and Paper Company of Newfoundland Limited; making them a household name in many regions of the province. Bowater was enticed to this area when they were granted timber rights in Bay d'Espoir to all but a three mile coastal strip. In essence, Bowater held timber rights for almost half the commercial timber in the region. By the early 1940's, Bowater Corporation, a British based pulp and paper company began operations in the Bay d'Espoir region. Bowater first set up operations in Morrisville in 1942 and later purchased the Lake's premises in Milltown in the late 1940's (see also Sawmilling section).

Bowater was a large company which needed to expand their timber operations to ensure growth of their pulp and paper business. With an abundant and secured supply of timber in Bay d'Espoir, Milltown and Head of the Bay grew rapidly with the influx of woodsmen and support staff needed to man the 11 camps established by Bowater. These camps employed as many as 60 men each and provided stable employment for many people of Bay d'Espoir and other outside areas, with most workers earning an average of $250.00 to $300.00 per month.

17

Snowmobile
1950
Camp 9, Bay d'Espoir, NL, Canada

18

These wages and stable employment offered a better standard of living for many of the locals than they previously enjoyed, enticing them away from the local sawmill operations and boats to work with the company. As the introduction of mechanical means of hauling timber (i.e. tractors & snowmobiles), Bowater built roads to accommodate the equipment. In addition to serving the company requirements, these roads also served the communities in general. As these roads were developed, the need for the utilization of camps was eliminated.

However, by 1958, some 16 years later, Bowater ceased operations in Bay d'Espoir throwing many people out of work. The company found it more profitable to harvest wood on the west coast. While many tried to re-engage in the sawmill industry, the opportunities were severely limited as much of the accessible timber had now been harvested and, in addition, Bowater still held the timber rights to much of the resource. In fact, the company would have held these rights until 2037, but in 1978 Bowater agreed to give back the large tract of land to Crown Lands.

19

End of Pulpwood