The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-10
DEVELOPMENT OF
ALASKAN FORESTS
Secretary of Agriculture Calls Atten
ton to Favorable Situation for
the Establishment of
Paper Mills.

Paper Mills.
Secretary of Agriculture Meredith is
convinced that there is large oppor-
tunity for the department of agricul-
ture to assist in the economic upbuild-
ing of Alaska. As one means to this
end, he is calling attention to the ia
yorable situation for the establish
ment of paper mills in the territory,
and offering cooperation by making
available national forest pulpwood on
terms that win provide a satisfactory
operating basis.
The secretary believes that the de.
velopment of the forest and hydro
electric resources Of Alaska IL a prac-
tiesble means of increasing the sup
plies OF newsprint available for the
United States, and there eventually
lessening the paper shortage, now so
acute. The national forests of Alaska
probably contain l00,000,000 cords of
timber suitable for the manufacture OF
newsprint and other grades Of paper.
Under careful management. these for.
ests 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.
The Alaskan forests, according to
Secretary Meredith, also contain the
second chief essential of paper man
,<.n ~, ft.A. tar
While no accurate survey of water
powers has been made, known projects
have a possible development of 100000
horsepower; and the department esti-
mates that complete exploration of
the national forests in southern Alaska
will increase their potential power 10
a quarter of a million.
High Prices Should Stimulate
Development.
According 10 the secretary. the chief
drawbacks which have prevented paper
making in Alaska hitherto have been
the large investments required for new
plants, inaeeessibility and lack Of de-
velopment in Alaska, and the trans
portation charges TO consuming regions
in the central and eastern states. The
secretary 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 in
dustry into southeastern Alaska.
Alaska" said Secretary Meredith,
"is destined TO become a second Nor
way. With her enormous forests of
rapidly growing species suitable for
pulp, her water power, and her tide
water shipment of manufactured prod
uets, Alaska will undoubtedly become
one of the principal paper sources of
the United States. A substantial de-
yelopment of the paper industry in
this wonderful region, combined with
the intelligent reforestation Of pulp
lands in the older regions, should set
tie forever the question of q paper
shortage in the United States Within
the last 10 years, he points ont, the
forest service has brought about the
sale OF 420,000,000 feet of saw-timber
in the national forests of Alaska. A
number of areas suitable for pulp oper-
ations have been cruised and prepared
for sale; and during the coming sum
mer the survey Of pulpwoods will be
extended in order that other desirable
tracts may be brought TO the attention
of manufacturers. Promising develop
ments in paper manufacture, in fact,
are now pending. The forest service
has also investigated stream flow in CO.
operation with the geological survey,
and has collected data of value to en-
gineers in planning power develop
ments.
Department Offers Timber Contracts.
Secretary Meredith also announced
that. 10 encourage a paper industry in
Alaska. national forest timber will be
offered for large installations under
mutually favorable terms. The de
partment is prepared to contract suffi-
eient stumpage to supply paper mills
for 30 years. The timber win be paid
for from month 20 month as it is cut,
obviating the necessity for large in
vestments in raw material.
The initial prices, based upon current
timber values in Alaska, are sufh
GENTLY low 10 make the cost Of pulp
wood stumpage a relatively negligible
factor 10 the manufacturer. On several
areas which have been appraised, the
spruce timber i priced az 50 cents
cord and the hemlock timber at -
cents. These rates win apply during
the first Eve years following the in
stallatiou Of the plant. Thereafter
prices viii be readjusted at Eve year
intervals if current timber values in
Alaska warrant. hut with equitable
provisions regarding maximum rates
which. in no event, VIII be exceeded
during the earlier portion Of the con
tract.