67 



it. We enjoy having the better things in 

 life. We like to go on vacation like 

 everybody else does. We like to have a 

 nice home. We like to have a nice car. 

 Logging is doing that for us," James 

 said. "We've gotten away from welfare. 

 We've gotten away from unemployment 

 and we'd like to continue doing that." 



Environmental Perspective 



The environment is a major theme 

 today. It is here to stay. Any resource- 

 based industry that does not place 

 value in the environment does not have 

 much faith in its own future. The en- 

 vironmental movement, much like the 

 movement to save the Tongass, has 

 found its way into the hearts of many 

 writers and publishers. They have 

 published stories to assist this new 

 1 cause celebre. They have rung the right 

 bells, pushed the right emotional but- 

 tons and have created ire in many who 

 believe what they read. The Tongass 

 has become a rallying cry for en- 

 vironmental organizations. 



I'm asking you to act now or say good- 

 bye to the Alaskan wilderness. That's 

 right. Say goodbye to the Alaska we 

 have known and dreamed about. A land 

 of unparalleled beauty— towering 

 mountains, tide-ripped straits, sap- 

 phire blue inland seas, steep-walled 

 fjords, lush forests, abundant wildlife 

 . . (oday federal and state agencies, 

 working hand-in-hand with greedy pro- 

 fiteers have launched a new assault on 

 the Alaska wilderness. (Sierra Club 

 Legal Defense Fund promotional letter, 

 19S8) 



Those words can make sensible 

 Americans mad. They also make the 

 natural resource users fume. Unfor- 

 tunately, too many readers believe 

 those statements without benefit of 

 hearing another side of the story. Many 

 readers and writers, in their fervor to 

 preserve Alaska, are quick to jump to 



Overview: There are no endangered animal 

 species In the Tongass (note second-gro\*th 

 clearest In background). Above: A pulp mill al 

 Sllka^ihe annual timber payroll In Southeast 

 Alaska Is $110 million. Utt: Inggers enjoy 

 competition and diversion from 3 h3rd llff 

 Those who i*ork In the Industry are quicl. to 

 point out sawn wood and pulp from the Tbngass 

 make thousands of products In our everyday 

 world and that export of timber products helps 

 Improve the balance of trade. 



OUR lAND 15 



