The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1938-04-14
BRIGHTER OUTLOOK FOR ALASKA
PULP AND PAPER

great deal of work has been done in recent years
toward attempting to develop pulp and paper indus
try in Alaska Several years ago the movement
reached virtually the plant construction point only 70
encounter further difficulties which were accentuaed
by the financial crash of 1929 and the early 39s
While there have been other lettering factors, the
major barrier against pulp development in the Ter
( ritory has been the established pulp industry in
Canada against which it has been felt that Alaska
could not compete successfully. In addressiEs con-
gressional committee hearing in Washington yesterday
Chief Forester F. A. Sicox indicated that the Cana
dian barrier is gradually being removed
In Canada they are coming to the limit in the
matter Of exhausting their forest capital he said
BY that he meant that the Canadian mills are push
ing farther and farther back into the forest for the
spruce The limit to the supply is in sight.
In the yellow pine regions of the south, the For
ester pointed out that a similar situation is making
its appearance and that forest men oeing pressed
to find forest lands to fill the demand for the grow
ing number of pulp mills.
These conditions in Canada and the south leno
brighter aspect to the pulp wood possibilities o.
Alaska. AS those sources are diminished the I'M
tapped reserve of the Territory naturally will be looked
upon with more favorable eye by the pulp and paper
industry That Alaska has the timber resources par
ticularly Southeast Alaska the waterpower and the
trarspcttatson an established fact and agar
sreseo Il in tie Alaska Plan which the President pre-
scented to Congress last January. That report wa
drafted by an Alaska Federal committee of which
: Regional Forester B. F. Heintzleman of Juneau was
a member for the National Resources Board few
excerpts from the report reveal clearly the vast posi-
bilities which are emphasized by the remarks OF
Chief Forester Silcox
Studies by the Forest Service indicate that the
forests of this region (meaning Southeast Aaska),
! under proper system of management can produce
not less than 100000 cords of pulpwood annually
in perpetuity under proper forestry measures, the
I report said Converted into newsprint this represents
a production of 100000 tons or more than one
fourth of the present yearly consumption in the
United States"
Again on waterpower the report reads
"Waterpower resources for the manufacture OF
pulp and paper occur in the timbered regions Over
100000 horsepower in Southeast Alaska has beer
covered to date By reconnaissance hghertype sur
veys and additional sites await examination The
sites are Of small capacity, feature that makes
possible the development power integral part
of the pulp and paper projects and obviates depen-
dence on large public utility concerns for energy.
And the report pointed out the advantages OF
water transportation in these words:
Water transportation between Seattle and
southern Alaska year-long basis is provided by
two American companies operating combined passen-
ger and freight vessels as well many strictly cargo
carriers Passenger vessels arrive at Southeast Alaska
ports almost daily from dune to September and at
intervals of about three days during the remainder
OF the year. All local industrial enterprises make
use of motor-driven work boats in the network of
protected channels which lie between this region