The Wrangell sentinel., 1917-11-22
ALASKA TIMBER
 MAY END THE WAR
By LYNN T. WORDEN
Reprinted from the Alaska Magazine)


 the vast wealth of the Pacific slope bas only recently been drafted into national service. Aeroplane war fare-,hat one variety of attack more deadly than the submarlne-ls engaging the attention oi world armies. Supreme on land and sea alike, secure trom the destructive torpedo, a fleet in the air may accomplish the designs of our allied forces. Building material is even now being sought for this enterprise and Southeastern Alas ka is contributing spruce lumber especially suited to the construc- tion oi air. craft.
 The white spruce found on the North Pacific Coast is highly adaptable for aeroplane manufac- ture. It has the necessary quall- fcations to withstand vibration, pressure and strain, and it's fine close grain makes it superlor in strength to ordinary spruce timber. The popular construction ot French, English and American air craft requires tough framework, and for this type selected spruce is used throughout.
 Only the finest trees are desired for export to the Atlantic coast and Europe. Specifications sub- mitted by buyers call for clear, straiglt-grained spruce; flat or vertical grain; five inches and over wide: one foot, three inches and over thick: though better prices are obtained for that eighteen inches wide and two feet thick. The tall monarchs of our northern forests are cut down and trimmed to meet commercial standards. They are loaded on vessels and borne south, 10 be carried across the continent by rail, where an- other sea voyage awaits them. If they arrive safely lover there' a winged career is in store for them. Thus Alaska wood to Liverpool shall come, manned by men of equally straight northern growth.
 But this transformation is not made by magic. Back of 1t we trace the development of a profit able industry, supported ard sus- tained by men of affairs, combined with the aid of workmen in their employ. The logger, searching the Vast territory for specimen timber worthy of bis axe, the mill, equipped with modern machinery and provided with skilled labor, and the eastern buyer who bar gains in the north, ultimately placing his checks are each a part of the system through which de- mand is supplied.
 For Southeastern Alaska, the logical center located in the heart of the spruce belt, is Wrangell. Here the Wilson & Sylvester Mill Co.,. lnc., accept orders for lum- Der from the Chetham Lumber Go. of New York City, (Pacific Coast office at Seattle), and ship via the Grand Trunk steamers to Prince Rupert, where having passed in spection the cargo is loaded into freight cars for its eastward jour ney. The last shipment bound for New York left Wrangell June 17, and the Wrangell mill will soon have another ready tor a southbound stearer.
 It is from Zarembo, Kuiu and Admiralty Islands that the rafts are lowed in, for these forest-cov- cred areas have long proved a source of supply for the discrim- mating logger. Nowhere north of the Straits of Juan De Fuca are such excellent growths discovered, and now that the eyes of the East are turned toward this region, the result will be a securing of the coast on which the finest timber can be located.