tremeiy limited sources of local
demand and consumption and
with no export outlet permitted
to the loggers.
“Tiie timber of Alaska is a
bundant. The quality is extra
fine, therefore in strong demand
and favor in Puget Sound mar
kets which has been definitely
proven lately by the shipment of
two Davis rafts of logs carrying
two million feet of Alaska spruce
to the Puget Sound sawmills.
Equal Oregon - Washington
“It is estimated the stand
ing spruce timber in Alaska is
equivalent to the entire stand
ing growth of spruce in both the
States of Oregon and Washing
ton. The man power and ability
to produce is here in Alaska
waiting to be given an oppor
tunity to log if the outside mar
kets already created and eager
to buy Alaska logs were open
and permission granted to the
loggers to export a certain por
tion of their forest products;
Which export privilege is given
loggers in every other section of
the States. The Puget Sound
markets are anxious to buy A
laska logs and fortunately are
in a position to pay cash for
their purchases which gives the
coggers here prompt money pay
ments in return to carry on their
operations and would bring a
considerable source of outside
money into circulation in Alas
ka which at present, and in the
future would be a great financial
assistance to the industry and
Territory.
“The Alaska fishing industry
ships millions of pounds of fish
to outside markets; likewise
does the Alaska mining industry,
ship minerals of all kinds out
side. Why shouldn’t the Alaska
loggers be permitted to ship
a portion of their logs to cut
outside if it would assist them to
carry on the industry? These
icgs are one of the richest and
most abundant natural sources
of wealth we have left in the
Territory. In both the fishing
and mining industries a consid
erable part of the wealth de
rived from the products leaves
the country due to out ide in
terests; whereas in the logging
industry practically all the
money deri\ed would return to
Alaska to be used and circulat
ed here, increasing our wealth
and population.
Use of Machines
“Below, the loggers are using
log splitting machines and ship
ping manufactured rough sawn
logs after splitting the round
logs to any foreign markets who
can purchase and pay. There are
at present three large log split
ting machines in Alaska the
same as operated on Puget
Sound which are capable of
sawing in half or into quarters
two hundred thousand feet of
logs daily for domestic or out
side markets. One log splitter is
operated by the Ketchikan Lum
ber and Shingle Mill and two
others are operated and owned
by Parks and Selig. They were
purchased at considerable in
vestment to aid the logging in
dustry in Alaska.
“If round logs are prohibited
and cannot be exported from
Alaska due to a policy formulat
ed years ago. why not try a con
structive innovation to the poli
cy with conditions as bad as they
really are and permit the loggers
to operate log splitting machines
and to ship out a portion of their
logs cut as manuiacturecl quart
ered and half sawn cants to
Puget Sound in order to alleviate
this stagnant and dangerous
condition the industry is now in.
The logging industry in Alaska
is facing a severe crisis and
some definite constructive solu
tion must be offered immediate
ly to better conditions. The solu
tion must bring back for our
logs money and credit to carry
on the industry and enrich the
Territory.
“The outside markets have
sent repeated requests for Alas
ka spruce logs quartered or halv
ed and would consume as much
as the loggers could prepare for
shipment. Log splitting machines
are already here in Alaska ready
to manufacture for shipment.
We believe permitting a certain
portion of our legs to be manu
facturing by log splitting ma
chines and shipped outside
monthly would be a progressive
movement and a method well
worth trying if it can bring
money back to the industry and
Alaska.
“This method of shipping our
timber should be given a fair
chance in Alaska as well as below
and may prove of considerable
assistance in these uncertain
times when every progressive
method available is needed and
should be used in order to give
the loggers an opportunity to
operate for the winter. It will
create activity and employment
during the winter months log
ging and preparing shipments
for foreign markets, and bring
oack funds which are badly
needed to continue operations
throughout the entire year.
“The Alaskan logger needs
every assistance and co-opera
tion in order to meet competi
tion and prosper. Let us try that
which may prove progressive foi
the industry in Alaska.
“(Signed) Steve Selig, J. R.
Heckman, R. M. Parks, John
Koel. Parry Jenkins, Fred Heck
man, John McKay, J. R. Rey
nolds, Ole Dahl.”
CHOOSE YOUR FIGURES
-y
Forest Bureau 1914 Report:
79,000,000,000 board feet timber
in Alaska.
Governor’s 1930 report, 7,040,
000,000 board feet.
Empire’s claim: 15,800,000,000
board feet.
We have used the Governor’s
figures as of his 1930 report to
he Secretary of the Interior.