Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-05-21
ALASKA To HAVE
PAPER INDUSTRY
SECRETARY MEREDITH OFFERS
TO COOPERATE IN BUILDING
or MILLS UP THERE.
PLENTY OF GOOD PULPWooD
Sufficient Water Power Also Can Be
peveIoped-Plan May Solve the
Problem of Newsprint Shortage in
America.
sy JAMES 2. HoRNAnAY-

Washingt0n.- Secretary of AgriclIl-
ture Meredith is convinced that there
is large opportunity for the depart
ment of agriculture to assist in tie
economic upbuilding of Alaska. AS
one means to this end. he is calling at
tention to the favorable situation for
the establishment of paper mills in the
territory. and offering cooperation by
making available national forest pulp
wood on terms that will provide a
satisfactory operating basis.
The secretary believes the develop
ment of the forest and hydro-electric
resources Of Alaska is a practicable
means Of increasing the supplies Of
newsprsnt a9ailaSle for the United
States. The national forests of Alaska
probably contain 1000000O0 cords of
timber suitable for the manufacture
of newsprint and other grades of pa
per- Under careful management these
forests can produce 100000 cords Of
pulpwood annually for all time. or
enough TO manufacture one-thlrd of
the pulp products now consumed in
the United States.
Plenty of Water Power There.
The Alaskan forests. according to
Secretary Meredith. also contain the
second chief essential of a paper
manufacturing industry water power.
While no accurate survey of water
powers has been made. known prof
ects have a possible development of
100000 horse power; and the de-
partment estimates that a complete
exploration of the national forests in
southern Alaska will increase their
potepdal power to quarter of a mil
hon.
According 70 the secretary. the chief
drawbacks which have prevented pa
per-making in Alaska hitherto have
been the large investments required
for new plants, inaccessibility and lack
on development in Alaska, and the
transportation charges to consuming
regions in the central and eastern
states. He expresses the belief, now
ever, that these obstacles are more
than offset by the present acute de-
mand and high prices for all grades
of paper. and that the near future
should witness a movement Of the
paper industry into southeastern Alas
ka.
Alaska" said AIR Meredith. SIS deS-
fined to become a second Norway.
With her enormous forests Of rapid
~ growing species suitable for pulp.
her water power. and her tidewater
shipment Of manufactured products.
Alaska Will undoubtedly become one
of the principal paper sources Of the
United States. a substantial develops
ment of the paper Industry in this
wonderful region, combined with the.
Intelligent reforestation of pulp lands
In the older regions should settle for
ever the question Of a paper shortage
in the United States"
Forest Service Is Helping
Within the last ten years he points
ont, the forest service has brought
about the sale of 420000000 feet of
saw timber in the national forests 1t
| Alaska. number Of areas suitable
| for pulp operations have heen erused
and prepared for sale and during the
coming summer the survey Of pulp
woods will be extended in order that
other desirable tracts may be brought
to the attention of manufacturers.
Promising Developments in paper man
ufaeture. in fact, are now pending.
The forest service has also lnvestigat
ed stream flow In cooperation with
the geological survey. and has collect
ed data OF value to engineers in plan
ming power developments.
Secretary Meredith also announces
that, 60 encourage a paper Industry in
! Alaska, national forest timber win he
offered for large installations under
| mutually favorable terms. The do
partment Is prepared to contract SUN
cient stumpage to supply paper mills
for 20 years The timber win be paid
FOR from month to month as 1t is cut.
obviating the necessity for large in
| yestments in raw material.
Mexico Report Made Ready
The subcommittee OF the senate
committee ON foreign relations that
was sent to the border to investigate
the general Mexican situation has
returned and Senator FAN New
Mexieol, chairman, promises to re-
port TO the senate within the next
few weeks. This subcommittee put
in more than three months reviewing
Mexican affairs, heard many witnesses
from each side of the border and had
access to good many official docu-
ments bearing on the relations be-
tween the United States and Mexico.
The committee does not propose TO
advocate armed Intervention in Mex
leo. 1t believes that the better way is
for the United States to act as sort
of big brother for the Mexican peo-
Pile. Whether this big brother act ega
be performed will, the committee be-
lieves, depend on developments in Mex