New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-05-28
ALASKA To HAVE
PAPER INDUSTRY
SECRETARY MEREDITH OFFERS
TO COOPERATE IN BUILDING
OF MILLS UP THERE.
PLENTY OF GOOD PULPWO0D
Sufficient Water Power Also Can Be
DeveIoped-Pian May Solve the
Problem Of Newsprint Shortage in
America.
BY N p. %HoRNADAv.

america.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Agricul,
ture Meredith is convinced that there
is a large opportunity for the depart.
ment of agriculture to assist in tie
economic upbuildlng 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
newsprint available for the United
States. The national forests of Alaska
probably contain 1O0,O0O,OOO cords of
timber Suitable for the manufacture
of n%ewsprint 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-third 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
potential power to a quarter of a mil
lion.
According to 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
Of development In Alaska, and the
transportation charges to consuming
regions In the central and eastern
states. He expresses the belief, how
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 Mr.. Meredith. "is des-
tined to become a second Norway.
With her enormous forests of rapid
ly 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 develop
ment of the paper industry in this
wonderful region, combined wirh 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
out, the forest service has brought
about the sale of 42O,OOO.OOO feet Of
saw timber in the national forests of
Alaska. A number of areas suitable
for pulp operations have been cruised
and prepared for sale: and during the
coming summer the survey of pulp
woods will he extended in order that
other desirable tracts may he brought
TO the attention of manufacturers.
Promising developments in paper man
u%facture. i'm fact. are now pending.
The forest service has also investigat-
I'd 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, TO encourage a paper industry in
Alaska. national forest timber will he
offered for large installations under
mutually favorable terms. The de-
partment is prepared to contract sufl-
cient stumpage to supply paper mills
for 30 years. The timber will be paid
lol iIoIu hiblllh w lifblltn us " IL cut,
obviating the necessity for large in
vestments 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 Fall New
Mexico). chairman, promises TO re-
port TO the senate within the next
few weeks. This subcommittee put
in more than three months reviewing
affairs. heard many witnesses
from each side OF the border and had
access TO Q good many official docu-
meRfs bearing on the relations he
tween the United States and Mexico.
The committee does not propose to
advocate armed Intervention In Mex-
leo. II believes that the better way IL
for the United States TO act as a sort
of big brother for the Mexican peo-
pie. Whether this big brother act can
be performed will. the committee he