The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-18
GREAT ALASKAN
MILLS TO SOLVE
PAPER SHORTAGE
Resources of Northland Suf-
ficient to Meet All
Demands

Washington, D. c.. Sept >1s.-That
overcome by new paper mills in AL ;
aska was predicted today by Colonel
W. B. Greeley. Chief of the Forest
Service, who has5just returned from
a months inspection of timber and
water power on the Tongass National
Forest 1.-THE National Forests OF
Alaska" said Colonel Greeley, con
tain resources sufficient to produce
100000 tons of paper annually IN
perpetuity, and paper industry III
the Territory is now assured" Col
fstration of Alaska's great resources
should be put in the hands OF men
on the ground, but is opposed to the
transfer of all federal Interests to
local commission.
A sale of 1oO,Ooo,00o feet of pulp
Timber has been made, and a second
Eeale of 1,500,00O,o0O it, which will
supply large paper plant for ~ years,
Itional Forests of Alaska" said Colonel
Greeley, "offer paper manufacturers
IAN ample supply of pulp timber,
available under long term contracts
Isimple and reasonable cutting re-
quirements.. The Forest Service is
doing its utmost to develop this re-
source of the Territory. We will not
Ionly make Alaska one of the
great sources of paper for the United
States; but We will make the industry
permanent, as it is IN Norway, by
keeping the cut of timber within
what our forests are growing. Paper
manufacturers who go to Alaska can
count upon an assured supply of raw
lmaterial indefinitely"
The Chief Forester points out also
ithat National Forest timber has sup
piled all the sawmills on the coast of
Alaska for the past Is years, fur
bnishing large Quantities of lumber and
mime timbers for local use, salmon
cases by the hundred thousand and
thigh grade spruce for shipment to
rfhe Eastern states. Such facts" he
rests in Alaska are not locked up
bor shackled with burdensome restric-
Itions as has been frequently alleged"
The development of Alaska, in the
kChief Foresters opinion, has not been
Ehe1d back by overconservation as
Ianany claim, but mainly by business
conditions which have prevented cap
dtal from exploiting her resources.
[~A1aSka," said Colonel Greeley, "can-
not be made prosperous overnight by
passing some new law. 1t is going
to take time and hard work and ia
Evorable conditions in the world s
markets. AT the same time federal
administration can undoubtedly be
improved and we owe it to Alaska to
aid. her development in every prac-
ticable way. The first step in my
Judgement should be to decentralize
the handling of Federal matters by
putting a representative or each De-
OF III The LeTTlLOTy
will full authority ito transact it's bus
mess on the ground. Ninety per cent
of 'the work of the Forest Service
lin. Alaska is dispatched by our res
tident Supervisors and only matters
of the greatest importance come tc
washington. This sort of organiza
ton is the cure for long range ad
ministration and red tape. These re-
tspOnsible Federal officers might wei
form an Alaskan Cabinet, acting az
a unit in working out the best means
for developing her resources Fur
thermore, the Territory should be
matters and should be aided by lib
feral Federal appropriations to devel
OPP transportation"
'I seriously question: said thu
Chief Forester, "the proposal that :
local commission in Alaska take owe
the administration OF all Fedora
laws and public resources. After all
tthe great food sources in Alaska ar
uppermost. Alaska is one of tn
great food sources of the country
Her vast forests should meet acut
needs arising from the depletion o
our timber. Our national interest
in public timber, food supply, Goa
and oil, water power, and migrator,
birds are exactly the same in AlaSk
as elsewhere These resource
Fshould, believe, be handled in AL
aska by the same experienced agen
kcies and under the same uniform
national policies as in the State
themselyes. Nor would it seem wis
and technical skill of great fedora
departments which are experts i
doing the very things she needs t
have done"