Seward daily gateway., 1925-07-08
FOREST OFFICIAL.
 SAYS SHORTAGE
 TIMBER YEARS
MORE FIRES IN THIS DISTRICT OF NATIONAL FOREST THAN
 ELSEWHERE IN ALASKA

"The chief interest in this region Ot the Chugach National Forest, and which has drawn our attention more than anything else, is the many hres in this district, as compared to other districts in the Territory" This was the statement made in Seward few days ago by Roy Headley, assistant forester of Washington, D. C., who, accompanied by c. H. Squire, also of the Washington office, have has been making a tour of inspection thru this district of the forest and who de- parted last week for the Tongass for est in Southeastern Alaska.
 "As we see it, the timber in this forest is a vast resource and will as- sist tremendously in the development of Alaska. It is very disheartening to see the forest being burnt up and not be given an opportunity to continue growing. Much has already been de- stroyed by fire" MT. Headley resum- ed, including a great deal of the old and new growths. The underlying cause of these fires is the lack of ap- preciat ton on the part of the people, in being extremely careful while in the woods. Also a lack of appreciation as to what the timber means to the country The chief use of the tim Der, thus far, is by the Alaska Rail- road, for which thousands of railway ties are cut annually Also much bridge timber and lumber. From this source alone, a tremendous income is derived, benefting the communi- ties adjacent to the forest. It is plainly seen if this industry was not carried on here all ties and lumber would be shipped into Alaska from the States"
 Tt is difficult question to say just how long the present condition can exist and for how long, under the pres ent circumstances, the forest can con- tinue to supply material for the rail- road and mines. A rough estimate,
 should judge, is that at the present rate of consumption, by fire and cut ting, there is sufficient timber stand ing for the next IT years. If the spruce is cut, as we'll as the hemlock, the number of years, naturally will be extended. But just how long the pres
 ent stand of hemlock will last is a hard problem to solve"
 Continuing, MT. Headley stated: Tt is clear that better care of this for
 est must be taken in order that a longer supply may be available. There is big gap, matter of five to ten years, for timber to increase one inch in diameter, Where fire follows the
 cutting of young stuff, which would
 make a new crop, that crop is killed and the ground devastated
 "This region, especially from Div idle, north, is much drier than in s. E. l Alaska, where there seems to be con- siderable more moisture. With thiis 1 growth of moss,~ found in the region,
 much difference is apparent after q fire attains any size, for it smolders, l sometimes for days, bursting forth again at any time. However, Alaska l is practically immune from lightning which so often creates such havoc in l the forests in the States. The rene dy for prevention of forest fires is sim pie indeed, if only the people could be brought to realize the terrible vast 1 age of one of the national resources" l MT. Headley also discoursed at some length on the matter of arrest
 ors or checkers on the stacks of loco,
 motives. He did not commit himself l to a definite statement in this re- ga.d, but said extensive experiments IS
 are under way in the States, within
 the locomotives themselves, in an ef- fort to solve ways and means to pre-
 vent sparks from being cast out from the stacks, which in turn are respon- l sible for many forest fires.
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