34 



Right now people still come to southeast Alaska on vacation and 

 many stay to work. Some put down permanent roots. I hope Con- 

 gress can see these trees in the forest. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much, Mayor Gregory. 



Mayor Ferry. 



STATEMENT OF TED FERRY, MAYOR, CITY OF KETCHIKAN 



Mr. Ferry. Thank you, Senator. 



My name is Ted Ferry and I am Mayor of the City of Ketchikan 

 and I have lived here a little longer probably than most people, 

 about 65 years, so I do believe I know the working people of the 

 area. 



I am here today because of concern of a great many of our citi- 

 zens regarding proposed changes of 705 of ANILCA. Our area 

 cannot afford the loss of one more job. 



Ketchikan can accurately be described as a city bigger than it 

 really is. We serve as the transportation hub of southern southeast 

 Alaska. We are also the provider of human services for our region. 

 Ketchikan has taken the lead to ensure that all southeasterners 

 have available services and opportunities that many of the small 

 towns in our area do not offer. We are the First City. We are nei- 

 ther a company town, a fishing village or a tourist destination. We 

 are and want to continue as a contributing user of the Tongass pro- 

 viding wood products to the nation and the world, a fishing port 

 producing quality seafood and a place where people from all walks 

 of life can come to visit and enjoy the majesty of the Tongass and 

 our local brand of Alaskan hospitality. 



A factor of great concern is what happens to individuals and 

 families when permanent loss of jobs occur. We in local govern- 

 ment are often the first to deal with this problem. Erosion of em- 

 ployment, whether it be fishing, mining or timber, leads to in- 

 creases in what are already major social problems. Human Re- 

 source Services and Public Safety Agencies are called upon to deal 

 with increases in alcoholism, domestic violence, child abuse and 

 yes, even some cases of suicides. I am certain you are aware that 

 loss of our Federal and State Revenue Funds have compounded 

 these problems. 



Although my concerns include the broader issues and problems 

 my immediate purpose in testifying is to see that Ketchikan and 

 southeast Alaska are understood and continue as I feel they must. 



After every cycle of boom and bust the analysts probe for cause 

 and effect, but whether positive or negative we should learn from 

 the experience. Anchorage, the state's largest city, only recently 

 has begun to recover from recession. It was not so long ago that the 

 city of Seattle and Boeing had hard times. In both of these in- 

 stances basic employment was down approximately five percent 

 and considered by most as having a severe impact. The loss in 

 Ketchikan and in southern southeast Alaska if Senator Wirth's 

 bill, S. 346, is enacted, may be as high as 28 percent. 



Again, thank you for letting me come here this morning and I 

 would like to enter my full testimony in the record. 



Senator Wirth. It will be included in the record. Thank you 

 Mayor Ferry. 



[The prepared statement of Mayor Ferry follows:] 



