The Washington times., 1920-04-25
URGES WIDER USE
OF PULP FORESTS
Meredith Points to Vast Re-
sources Of Northwest In
Newsprint Dilemma.

Greater use OF the vast forest re-
sources OF the Pacific Northwest and
Alaska, and the growing OF much
more timber in New England and
the Lake States. were advocated by
E. 7. Meredith. Secretary OF Agrieul-
ture. in a letter TO the American
Pulp and Paper Association.
Such a program, the Secretary said
will promote a permanent solution OF
the newsprint problem. and Is in ac-
cord with constructive measures now
being advocated. including the pro-
posed PoindeXter pulp survey pro-
vided for in a bill now pending in the
Senate.
Essentials in this program. the Sec
retary said, were the continuation OF
technical inyestigstional work such
as the Forest Service now carries on
and eontemplates. and adequate sup
port of the services fire protection
and other activities. The Secretary's
letter expressed his regret at being
unable to accept the invitation to ad-
dress the association, and was read
by CarIile p. Winslow, director OF
the Forest Products Laboratory, who
represented the Department OF Agri-
culture at this gathering,
An abstract of Mr.. Meredith's let
ter follows:
"The United States is today facing
the most critical pulp and paper sit
uations in it's history. or these the
newsprint situation IL the most seri-
Gus. Present demands, abnormal
though they may seem, are merely
an incident in the rapidly growing
demand for newsprint paper.
To-day we are dependent upon
other countries for the equivalent OF
two thirds of the pulpwood, pulp or
newsprint which goes into American
newspapers. Our newsprint industry
Is concentrated largely in New Eng
land, New York and the Lake States.
! am told that 60 per cent OF the pulp
and paper concerns in New York have
no stumpage of their own, and that
less than five have enough timber
land for continuous future operation.
Tho predicted life of the Industry in
New York, New Hampshire. and even
in Maine, where the great bulk OF
our Eastern pulpwood still remains, Is
slarmingly short.
ave have, on the other hand, large
quantities OF suitable hewsprint woods
in the Pacific Northwest and in
Alaska. The annual growth of timber
on the National Forests of south
eastern Alaska alone would supply
half of our present American news
print requirements. Here the indus
try is undeveloped.
"A far greater degree Of independ-
encc In newsprint manufacture can be
accomplished by two measures-the
development of the industry in the
Pacific Northwest and in Alaska and
the large-scale growing of timber in
New England and the Lake States.
Both of these, measures would be
greatly stimulated by the passage, Of
the Poinde4ter pulp survey bill, now
pending in the Senate. A pulpwood
survey would secure the facts on
which a sound development of the in
dustry in the Northwest and in Alaska
could be based, and ii would also af-
ford a basis for the production of pulp
timber in the Lake States and in the
Northeast. ...Er. .. ....
Protection of forests from Are is
perhaps the most important single re-
quirement In the growing of timber.
Twenty-four States are receiving CO.
operation. These States expend year.
ly for fire protection upwards of $685.
900. and private owners of forest land
within their borders expend in normal
years approximately like amount.
The. Federal appropriation is but
100000, which is entirely made
quate.
THE forest service is conducting at
its forest products. laboratory work
Of very great and Immediate impor-
tance to the pulp and paper manufac-
turer. Limited though such work is.
it has already covered a large field in
the suitability of various American
woods for the different kinds of pulp,
and incidentally has developed in
formation of great Importance on the
technique of the various pulp making
processes"