The Cordova daily times., 1915-08-03
CHUGACH FOREST RESERVE BE
 INSPECTED

states forest service, accompanied by E. A. sherman, assistant forester is in Southeastern Alaska and will visit this section to inspect the Chugach reserve, for the purpose of collecting data to support the forestry depart ment in its opposition to the abolish ment of any forest reserves in Alaska
 While on this tour of inspection, Mir. Graves will also classify lands within the reserves that are not tim bered and these eventually will be ex- cluded from the reserves.
 'T am making my first visit to the north" said MT. Graves. q, of course, have a wealth of information relative to the reserves here, but I want to see the country and get first-hand knowl- edge of such lands as can rightfully be thrown out of the reserve limits. While north, I will also busy myself in collecting data to combat any such bill as that introduced last winter in Congress to abolish the Chugach re- serve. I am opposed to any movement to abolish any forest reserve in Alaska and the Chugach, particularly.
 Woodpiles of Alaska
 These reserves must serve as the woodpiles of Alaska and even for this reason alone they must be preserved A wrong impression has been cr6>ted through the complaints of Alaskans over. the fact that some land not bear ing timber has been included within the reserves. It is time that this mat ter was cleared up. When the Gnu zach reserve was created the land was not any too well surveyed Hence, In order to list boundaries that could be recognized without any later dis pute, 1t was necessary to take natural lines such as the seacoast, a mountain range and meridians. In this way, in order to get the forested regions, we mad to include some land not bearing timber, as for instance, that portion crossed by the Valdez-Fairbanks trail, which, to tell the truth. is so barren of timber that 1t was hard to find any thing upon which to nail the notices Miners travelling over this trail set up a howl that reached all over the coun- try and all sorts of complaints were issued about the forest reserves that bore no timber. Now all such land will be taken out of the reserves just as soon as we can check up the boundaries of the real forest.
 There also have been stories to the effect that it is impossible for Alaskans to use any of the timber on these reserves. The sale of timber from the Tongass and Chugach re- serves alone has more than paid the expenses of supervising these re- serves.
 Timber for Alaskans
 "The timber is for the use of Alaskans, and the development of the territory is to a great extent depend ent upon this timber. Mining men can go into the reserves and cut what timber they need and there never will be hand lifted to stop them Legiti- mate demands for timber will always be filled, as, for instance, the demand of the Alaskan railroad, which has authority to cut all the timber needed. The navy also has used considerable timber, and will use more as necessity demands.
 "The vast interior regions of Alaska, for the most part bare of timber save in the river valleys, are absolutely de- pendent on these forest reserves. The timber must not be wasted. but must be ready to be used, hand in hand with the development of the interior parts of the country As I said before, lands valuable for agricultural pur- poses and not bearing timber will be eliminated from the reserves as fast as we can definitely determine their boundaries. There is a big construc- tion problem in Alaska and all hands must work together to solve it."
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 Honn.r,k,..