Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-09-07
Chief Forester Predicts Prosperity
For Alaska.

That Southeastern Alaska is as
sured several large pulp plants within
a few years is the statement of Chief
Forester w. b. Greeley who has Just
returned from several weeks trip
spent in looking over the timber and
other resources of the Tongass ma
tional Forest in southeastern Alaska.
Col. Greeley's trip took him from
Cape Chacon on the south to Haines
on the North and up, the Stikine
River and Port Snettisham on the
east to Sitka on the west, and was
for the purpose Of getting first-hand
information about the pulp resources
Of Southeast Alaska which the For
ester 10 most anxious to see deval-
oped. The Forester was not content
to see the forests from the deck or the
Government boat but got ashore rat
every opportunity and examinsd
thoroughly logging operations, saw
mills. canneries, marble Quarries. ii q
whaling station. power plants, min
ing operations, climbed mountains TO
inspect at close hand water power
projects, and went out and cruised
timber. He is most enthusiastic. oEer
Alaska's enormous timber and water
power resources and the part that
the Forest Service has played and
will play in getting knowledge OF
these resources before Interested
capital, and in assisting In Dustin
esslike development Of Alaska. The
Forester states that the quality and
quantity Of the timber Of Southeast
Alaska was surprise to him and that
It is his firm conviction that the pulp
and paper industry Is coming TO
Alaska very shortly. The Forester
pointed out that the we'll established
policy Of the Forest Service to develop
Alaska's timber wealth is bringing
results in that capitalists and enxin-
GERS are already making definite plans
to start pulp and paper plants. The
timber resources Of the Alaskan Ma
tional Forests, the Chief Forester
emphasized. have always been open
to use and exploitation. but develop
ment on a large scale has had to
wait upon economic conditions. The
present high price and scarcity Of
newsprint are Offering sound invest
ments for capital to develop the
spruce and hemlock forests Of South
east Alaska. leis
II have been surprised by the Ane
quality Of the Alaska spruce and II Is
encouraging to learn that some Of the
best grades of this lumber is now
being shipped from Alaska to East
ern markets. The best of the clear,
straight-grained spruce will shortly.
l believe. find its way to Eastern piano
manufacturers and for other special
uses calling for a wood of such high
quality. The Alaskan spruce met the
test Of quality in being used in the
manufacture Of airplanes during the
war;" said Colonel Greeley.
II look forward to seeing a great
number of permanent. thriving for
est communities built up along the
magnificent waterways of Southeast
Alaska. 1t is imperative therefore
that Alaska's timber wealth be so
handled that 1t shall furnish a perma-
nent and continuous supply of raw
materials to make Alaska's popula-
ton a stable one. a people whose
homes and interests will be in Alaska.
This can be brought about by a lib
eral but sound policy of forest man
agement which will encourage paper
making and other forest industries
and at the same time perpetuate the
forests 50 that these developments
may be permanent.