The Nome nugget., 1920-07-10
ALASKA COULD eUPPLY
 LARGE, PART OF PULP

It is estimated by the Forestry Bu- reau that there are 77.000. 100000 feet board measure of standing timber on the Tongass and Chusach National Forests of Alaska. which would make available 100.O00,0 900 cords of timber suitable for paper pulp. according to superintendent Charles F. Flory. in a recent Juneau interview. There Is about two cords of wood pulp timber for every 1000 feet. board measure of timber. Therefore this estimate of available wood pulp timber contam. plates the reservation of coas!dera- ble amour. of the Alassa tim5e. for lumber.
 It is figured that the timber will in- crease so that the foo. .oOo.oo cords of standing timber would allow the cut. ting of 100000 cords a year for 75 years and 1t is believed that proper care and restoration of the forests would make the 2.o00.0oo cords year supply continuous for all time.
 That means that the two National forests are capable of producing about one third of the American consumption of wood pulp. which Is now about G. 250.0OO cords a year.
 While the Forestry Bureau has not made a close cruise of the timber of the Territory. the work has been in progress under the direction of an ex. pert on wood pulp for two years. Not only has comprehensive estimate of the standing timber been made. and one that is regarded as conservative. but several suitable sites for water power have been located.
 The Bureau has had several appli- cations for the sale of wood pulp and it has adopted the policy of alloting a definite amount of timber with 20 to 2S years to remove it, and like quantity to be held in reserve to be sold to the applicant company after the first allotment has been removed. The price thus liar quoted is 50 cents cord for spruce and 2s cents a cord for hemiock and cottonwood. with re- appraisement in five year periods.
 A comparison of this with the re- cord in British Columbia Is resarde as more favorable than the terms given by the Canadian Province where the royalties have averaged co cents a cord for the last several years. While there has been no advance there in the price. there has been an advance from 50 cents to ss cent per 1000 feet, board meauNare for saw timber. The Canadians reserve tho right to change the rates at any time.
 In Alaslta the rate charged for tho timber are all the charges the pur- chaser has to bear. The Bureau maintaines the Ire and other guards, and the purchaser has no taxes to pay, or interest.
 The Forestry Bureau contends that tho failure to aecure capital for tho pulp and paper manufacturing busi- ness in Alaska has not been due to the failure Of the Bureau to sell timber en fair satisfactory basis-though t is now considering extending ths time for the removal ot defihits amount of timber sold to so year.. It says the objections axc problem. both aa fo distance and the hct of traasporta- tion facilities. Prior = 4hs var. 1t is asserted. thsse Nu~ll make 1t impos- stble for AlaskA cosmpaniss to maau- fracture paper ta coinpetition with Eastern manufactursu, owing to the cost oe moving ths Aiaska product to thss eeHter q efSensumpEion. xa) Ths ge1fraa iseiaAapn and lack cf diyeiop- melt i1 sAIas,Ea, particularly tie ab- ssnSs f lahsr supply of the sort that MouDdsb nesdsd here. ts) The largs investmsnt fiat would he rs. aulred. thst sstimAGs hsing that 1t would cost s4.eoeseee to iaanch sAt- isfastery papsr snAapssue. tllUn- s}sslthctosy i5sislaaiea with irs6stsucs to hydro- elsetsa as 1owsr on nasienal forsssS.