Douglas Island news., 1919-09-26
ALASKA TIMBER
 TO BE UTILIZED
Steps Being Taken in Congress to Develop Newsprint Resources
 of tho West

! a recent dispatch says there is every roason to expect that Che great puip- wood resources of Che Northwestern ,aatos and Alaska win shortly be . utilized In the manufacture Of news print paper. This win mean Che os- tablishmcnt in that region Of a num- bor Of now settlements Che erection Of big plants. costing millions Of dollars. and large payrolls.
 The essentials Of Che news print Industry orc cheap hydro-electric energy and plenty Of spruce or other |mltablo timber. There is an abun- dance Of both on thc Pacific coast. but one is useless without Che other and Che water powers of Che whole country arc withdrawn from entry and win remain SO until such time as the water power leasing bill now pending before Congress is enacted into law.
 This measure has been passed by 1. Che House and favorably reported by he Senate commerce committee. 10 probably win not be called up for consideration ln the Senate until after Che peace treaty and other pressing matters arc disposed of In ai probability Che bin will become a law before tho present special ses- sion ends in November.
 Information presented to Che Sem ate by Senator Watson indicates that Itwo-thirds of Che newsprint paper used by American newspapers is im- ported or manufactured from pulp imported from Canada. Only one third is made from wood grown in tho United States. and while the im- portation Of newsprint and pulp are increasing. Che amount produced in Che United States Is steadily declin- ing. Practically al Of Che domestic newsprInt manufacturing industry is located ln tho Northeastern States. ! Hall of it is In Che state of New ! York The Northeastern forests arc being depleted SO rapidly that there win be practically no pulp wood left in this region In twenty years
 Apart from the suitable timber in l Washington. Oregon. Northwestern ! Montana and Northern Idaho. there arc enormous areas of forests in ! Alaska. Che annual growth Of which would supply hnlf Che pulp used in 1. the United States.
 10 is said by officials Of Che for cstry department that tho lack Of transportation facilities to an East ern market is partially responsible for Che lack of development in Alas ka. but it also is true that Che re- strlctions in thc way of obtaining this timber evon where water power is available and has already passed ont of Che hands of the government .hoforo Che withdrawal order was made. has prevented development
 Tho Forcsty Bureau policy has been Go give lopscs on this timber only for periods Of five years. Natur- ally capital refused to invest millions in plants in places where tho supply of raw material was likely to Doc cut on. It is understood that Che bu- rcau has now changed this policy and will make leases renewable from time to time for periods Of fifty years and there is some talk of converting Into a pulp plant one Of thc big gold producing properties. tho owners Of which have am abundant supply Of hydroolcctric energy
 Representatives of Eastern states. who formerly were opposed to the opening Of Che resources Of the West and Alaska arc now ardently advocating tho passage Of Che water power easing bin and tho develop mont of Che Western resources. for the newsprint paper situation has brought them to a realization Of the
 fact that Co use up Che raw materials of Che East and transport a large portion of them to the West and later Co transport the raw materials Of tho West to the East is not true conservation. but on tho other hand is decidedly wasteful
 For many years it was contended that hc Alaska timber had great potential value in the making of lumber but the aircraft invcstiga- tion decidedly disprovod that theory SO far as aircraft lumber be con- cerned It was found that the trees grow boughs from Che ground mp. Every bough makes a knot in Che Humber and destroys its tensile strength. 10 is. however, ideal wood for Che manufacture Of pulp.
 Under a proper system of refor- estadon. it is believed. a permanent | domestic supply Of pulp. sufficient for Che needs of thc country. can be
 maintained indefinitely and the pur-
 pose of Che resolution introduced by , Senator Watson is to bring about ac-
 tlon that win have this result