The Alaska daily empire., 1920-07-10

contract work bringing additional laborers and all work will have Gastineau Channel for it's center. It will also be the means of reverS- ing the present shipping conditions. As it now stands, vessels operating between Alaska and Puget Sound carry their greatest tonnage on northbcund trips, sailing south with lesser tonnage. consequently at a greater expense. The establishment of big central plant on the Gas tineau Channel will result in complete turnover and ships sailing to the south can be given full car goes which srculd, and undoubted ly will be directly beneficial in rates and probably better service Has Attractive Future
 At present prices there is un- loubtedly an attractive future in the industry. Pulp manufactured into print paper, boxboard, carton containers, aud other manufactured commodities having woodpulp for base can be shipped through ths Panama Canal and delivered on the Atlantic seaboard and still leave The manufacturers a reasonable profit Publishers as well as users of Doxwood and paper containers are desirous of entering into contracts which leave the manufacturer free to proceed without being hampered by a fear of being stuck with his product Eastern pulp timber is becoming depleted and there is a serious shortage in Europe and the Orient. Stringent restrictions placed in exportation of pulpwood and the pulp itself by the Canadian govern ment has turned the attention of the country to finding new resourc- es within its own boundaries.
 Alaska Has Resources
 "The Southeastern Alaska tim ber reserves are the last great re- sources under the American flag. It has taken the present desperate newsprint situation to educate US up to and bring about a realiZatiop that the industry can be estah lished here. The outbreak of the war created financial stringenco which delayed us considerably but this condition is improving and will soon be a thing of the past. as far as launching the industry is con cerned. Government officials, es- pecially those of the Forestry Ser vice. have gradually been taking greater and greater interest and have shown a commendable spirit of cooperation in making possible the establishment of the industry. "It is true" he said, that the | Alaska timber is not quite as good IS the British Columbia timber. but otherwise conditions here are simi- lar to those existing there. And the possibilities for making pulp and it's finished products here are as great as those in British Colum- bia"
 Suggests Modification
 Is the present system under which timber for the operation of l such a plant as you describe kc0ndu- eive to its establishment aud, if not, what, in your opinion. are de- sirable alterations?" was asked Mir. Thane. After considering for just T moment. he responded:
 We have found the officials of the Government fairminded. They have set reasonable figures The terms are favorable with just one | important exception. The contracts are good for only five years. At the end of that time they reserve the right to enter into new con tracts but can give no promise as to future prices, beyond saying that considerable investment. as busi. ness men. we should like to know something about the basis upon which future contracts will be caL