The Cordova daily times., 1923-01-18
ALASKA TIMBER SENT MARKETS
 OF TIE WORLD

What the people of Alaska want is not the power to run the Govern ment's business or property in Alas ka, but power to run their own busi- ness, is the statement of Chief For ester William B. Greeley in the an- nual report of the Forest Service, just received at the District For esters office in Cordova.
 It is becoming evident, the report continues, that the solution of the Alaska problem is local self-govern- ment. The people of the Territory who come in contact with the nation al forests are thoroughly satisfied with the existing form of administra- tion and control of these properties. The counsel and assistance of our scientific bureaus are welcomed.
 Eighty-six per cent of the lumber used in Alaska is cut from the Government forests, and SitSa spruce from the Tongass National Forest is finding an outlet ir the markets of the world. The sawmill at WfangcN during the past summer made a shipment of 45,000 feet board meas ure of Sitka spruce for the London market, and another lot of 450000 feet board measure was shipped from Wrangell through Prince Rupert to eastern points. During the latter part of August and September a five-masted schooner was loaded at Katchikan, Alaska, with a cargo of approximately 1,8O0,OO0 feet of spruce for the Australian market and 3,O0O,- 900 more was shipped in De cember from the same mill. This lumber was all cut and manufactured locally from timber purchased from the Tongass National Forest Thus the industries developed by this great national forest are taking a place for Alaska timber in the gen. eral lumber markets, furnishing labor to the residents of Alaska, and bringing outside capital into our northern ports.
 structed in the national forests are proving a great factor in improving business and living conditions in Southeastern Alaska. During the past few years number of roads were extended out from the chief towns in the forest. The result in travel and in business and home de- velopment has been amazing. In some cases the road has been scarce ly completed before every foot of frontage on each side of the high way has been taken up in surburban lots and neat and comfortable homes have been erected. Communities are being literally transformed in this way and their desirability for year long residence greatly increased. The result is a more contented and per manent local population.
 That the policies and activities of the Department of Agriculture have won the approval and support of the people living in and near the Alaska forests is becoming every day more evident. The encouragement and assistance given in building up an export lumber trade the basic work going forward for the establishment of the pulp and paper industry, and the large expenditures which are being made on forest roads, together with a decentralized local admins tration, are contributing largely to the growth and prosperity of the Territory.
 The Territory does not object to the two national forests in Alaska being administered just as national forests are administered elsewhere, but they want to make their own laws, levy their own taxes, and spend their own public money just as do the people in the States. In short, what Alaska wants is not that the Union should be busted from the Territory, but that Alaska should be admitted to the Union.