The Alaska daily empire., 1915-08-11
ONE-HALF OF
 CHUGACH FOREST
 IS ELIMINATED
(Forest Service Bulletin)


 PORTLAND. ore, Aug. G. The area of the Chugech forest is reduc- ed by over five million acres. accord ing to advices just received The eliminated area includes glaciers and other areas of little practical timber value. originally included in the re- serYe on account of the uncertainty of the exact location Of valuable time Der lands The present boundaries of the Chugach forest which includes now eight million acres, said to in- clude large body of timber to be used in developing the whole region Of Northern Alaska.
 Word has just bee received i'm the office of the District Forester that the President has approved the rec ommendaton of the forest service changing the boundaries of the Gnu zach National Forest in Alaska by proclamation of August ?. The new proclamation effects an elimination of 5.SO1 .574 acres of land and 661, 1,094 acres of water. The forest boundary lines were changed not only by mak- ing eliminations but by making three small additions to the Chugach for est one occurs on the Kenai Penin- sula, north of the city of Seward, an- other in the Puget Bay region, and tho third Okalce Spit and other small areas in that vicinity. These addi- tions were made in order to Include O good body of timber and to make workable administrative boundary lines.
 The lands eliminated consist main ly of glaciated mountains and mus keg areas of practically no forest val ue but which were originally included within the National forest because Of the uncertainty which existed as to the location and extent of the timber ed areas and in order to establish a boundary that could be more easily described and administered.
 The total area of the Chugach for est Is now approximately 5,S17959 acres of land and S.0S5.O78 acres ofI water making total of S,S76OS2 acres. The present proclamation. it Is stated. puts the boundary lines oil the Chugach forest about where they belong. This forest is one of the largest and most valuable bodies ofI timber of merchantable size to be found anywhere on the globe north ofI sixty degrees latitude. Owing to the more rigorous climate. the timber is smaller in size and field than for in- stance. in the forests of Southeastern Alaska However. 1t runs from $500 to 5000 feet per acre. and in some places as high as SO,OOO to 50.O0O feet The total amount of timber now in the forests is reported to be about eight billion feet on a conservative es- innate. and it IS believed that this body Of timber will be the principal and most accessible source of lumber for the development of the entire vast region of Northern Alaska. From these forests. the interior country must draw its supply of structural timber in the future. This timber is even now used locally. 796 timber sales having been consummated since 1907. involving over 17OOO.O0O cubic it. B. M., In addition to the large amount which has been supplied free to local settlers. prospectors. fisher men and others. Exclusive of the panhandle, the area of Alaska iH about 3OO,O0O.00O acres, less than two per cent Of which is to be retained with in the Chugach National Forest to supply timber for this vast region
 The forest will be drawn upon im- mediataly for railroad construction by cooperation between the Forest Service and the Alaskan Railroad Com mission, the timber being supplied free of charge to the Alaska Railroad as authorized by Congress.