Seward daily gateway., 1925-12-07

timber cut from the National Forests
 aggregated 52,5OO,0O0 board feet, and
 the total cut since 1909, when the
 National Forests in Alaska were cre-
 ated, has been 582,00O,00O board feet.
 In accord with the fixed policy of the 1 government to encourage utilization
 of timber, the annual cut from Alaska forests should aggregate 100000 ,OOG board feet. In other words the total
 volume of timber production in the past 16 years is about one-half of the
 growth annually.
 Governor Parks points out that the logical extension of the development of forest resources must come thru the pulp and paper industry. The pre-
 dominant species, Sitka spruce and
 western hemlock, are both excellent
 pulplng woods, the trees largely of
 sizes more suitable for pulp than for
 lumber, and freight from Alaska to
 the market not such an important fac
 tor for paper as for lumber is of a
 much lower unit value. Cheap water
 power, an essential to pulp and paper
 making, is available locally in abun- dance, and the region has the advan-
 tage of cheap year-round water trans
 portatiOn from the woods to the mill.
 and for the finished product from the
 mills to market. The possible sus-
 talned yearly output, 100000 900
 board feet, is sufficient to produce not
 less than 100000 tons of newsprint
 paper. Surveys of undeveloped power sites disclose a potential water power
 capacity of 475,000 horsepower in Southeastern Alaska alone while only 433, ,OOO horsepower would be required to produce the maximum amount of neWsprint contained in the possible annual output from the National For ests.
 Contrary to popular opinion main tenance of National Forests in Alaska has not proven expensive to the Gov ernment. The total receipts from tim. Der sales, leases, etc, on the National Forests of the Territory from the time the forests were placed under the ad- ministration in 1909, up to and incIud- ing the fiscal year 1925, were $1,134- 977. During the same period the to- tai expenditures on these forests amounted to $1,122,415.
 Fox farming is annually increasing in importance in the Territorys indus tries, the total value of improvements in stock on these farms is estimated at about $6,0OO,O0O. There are approx imately 391 farms containing more than 36,O0O foxes of various species. Governor Parks urges the enactment by Congress of suitable law provid- ing for the leasing of lands in the Public Domain outside of the National Forests for fox farms.
 The same laws, he suggests, should be made applicable for reindeer grow CTS. The native reindeer herds" said Governor Parks, "are supervised by the Bureau of Education and if they are to be protected in their ranges we must have law that will enable the Secretary of the Interior to aIIo- cate and lease the grazing lands" There are approximately 30O,OOO ani- mals in the Alaskan reindeer herds. tWo-thirds of which belong to the Eskimo. With the start thus made and with present improved refrigera- ton methods employed by the trans portation companies, it is possible at 10 distant date that reindeer meat ex- ported from two hundred thousand square miles of barren portions of northern and western Alaska will he valuable asset to the Territory. It s estimated these sections of Alaska could furnish pasturage for some 100000 reindeer
 The balance of trade for the year 'emained in favor of Alaska. Products 'f it's industries shipped to the States aggregated in value $55, ,44O,645, while he value of all commodities brought nto the Territory from the States mounted to s33,621, ,969 leaving a bal lnce in our favor of the Territory of ;27,42O,S93.
 During the year the Territory's sys- em of travel and communication was materially improved. Wagon roads nd trails were pushed further out in Il sections of the Territory and, in ome regions, these extensions have nade available lands which formerly 7ere unattainable by settlers and, now pen to settlement, are being taken up y individuals eager to avail them elves of the opportunities offered.
 In Interior Alaska airplanes compete 7ith automobiles and river steamers pr both passenger and freight busi- ess. Airplane service inaugurated out Fairbanks, the interior terminus of he Alaska Railroad, has served many emote mining settlements, some be- ond the Arctic Circle, bring them