Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-06-01
alaska To HAVE
PAPER INDUSTRY
SECRETARY MEREDITH OFFERS
TO COOPERATE IN BUILDING
OF MILLS UP THERE.
PLENTY OF GOOD PULPW0OD
Sufficient Water Power Also Can Be
Developed-Plan May Solve the
Problem of Newsprint Shortage in
America.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.


MISUNDERSTANDING of Agricul-
ture Meredith is convinced that there
is a large opportunity for the depart
ment OF agriculture to assist in tie
economic upbuilding 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 1O0,0OO,0O0 cords of
timber suitable for the manufacture
of newsprint 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 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 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, sis des-
| tined to become 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 with 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 420,000,00O feet 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 be extended in order that
other desirable tracts may be brought
TO the attention of manufacturers
| Promising developments in paper man.
ufacture in fact, are now pending
| The forest service has also inveStigat.
ed stream flow i'll 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 be
offered for large installations under
mutually favorable terms. The de
partment is prepared to contract suffi
cient stumpage TO supply paper mills
| for 80 years. The timber will be pait
for from month to month as it is cut
obviating the necessity for large in
vestments III raw material.
Mexico Report Made Ready.
The subcommittee of the senate
committee on foreign relations thai
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 mex
few weeks. This subcommittee pu
in more than three months reviewin;
Mexican affairs. heard many witnesse
from each side of the border and ha,
access to a good many official docu
ments bearing on the relations he
tween the United States and Mexico
The committee does not propose t,
| advocate armed intervention in Mex
! leo. 1t believes that the better way i
for the United States to act as a sor
of big brother for the Mexican PEG
pie. Whether this big brother act cal
be performed will, the committee he
lieves, depend on developments in Mex
leo during the next few weeks or few
months. The thought of the commit
tee is that the next time the Unite,
States recognizes a Mexican govern