The Daily Alaska empire., 1942-12-14
RAFT0F ALASKA LOGS
 HEAD5S0UTH
Regional Forester Heintz. Iemdn Returns from
 Seattle

Alaska spruce, heading for Seattle mills and airplane production, will leave Alaska within the next two days, Regional Forester B. Frank Heintzleman announced today upon his return to the Territory after six months absence.
 Thus the first goal of the new Alaska Spruce Log Program which was pushed into operation this fall by the U. s. Forest Service in Alaska is being realized. The Regional Forester and his associates had promised to deliver the first raft of logs to Seattle mills by January 1, l943. This delivery will probably be made in time for the Seattle mills to receive it as a Christmas present from Alaska.
 Fine Quality
 The timber in the first raft, Heintzleman said, has been graded by an expert from the States who says that the first million feet lot is of an exceptionally high quality
 The Alaska Spruce Log Program is a governmental agency, operat- l ing under the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the Department of Agriculture. The object in mind is to satisfy the increasing demand for high quality spruce for airplane production in the war effort. Heintz- leman is the Director, Assistant Regional Forester Charles G. Bur dick is General Manager.
 The Regional Forester has spent the last few months in Seattle, op- erating between the Alaska Spruce Log Programs office there and the larger supply centers of the Pacific Northwest, in addition to several trips to Washington, D. c.
 The last four months have been spent mainly in getting the work started, establishing camps on the West Coast of Prince of Wales Island, transporting men, materials and equipment to the north.
 Now Operating
 The project is now on an operat- ing basis. employing between 125 and 150 men The objective of the pro- gram is to produce 100 million board feet of the strategic timber year. Heintzleman . said that a rate of production which will satisfy that requirement is expected to be reach ed by next April By that time. three or four times as many men will be employed on the project
 One of the great difficulties, he pointed out, is the manpower prob lem. But according to recent news dispatches from Washington, South east Alaska is to be included along with the West Coast States as critical area as far as the lumber industry goes. It is expected that workmen will be found and furnish ed through the U. s. Employment Service.
 Furnished Money The Commodity Credit Corpora tion has set up revolving fund under which the Alaska Log Spruce Program is operating a govern mental fund for a governmental agency. The logs are lowed south under contract and sold to mills designated by government officials as specializing in spruce, hemlock and Noble fir production.
 Since the war won't wait for spring the program will be carried on as usual during the winter, Heintzleman said. He pointed out that the establishing of camps and building of logging roads is extreme ly difficult during winter, as well as transportation. All transportation is by small chartered boat and barge, no other form being available. Only one scow-load of equipment has been lost to date.
 | To Increase Output
 Heintzleman also pointed out that various military groups and con- tractors are especially interested in increasing lumber production in AL aska. He believes that strenuous effort will be made along this line in the coming year and that local sawmills will be assisted by the gov- ernment in getting enough men and equipment to greatly increase out put.
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