200 



riches equal our losses. Favorite bays and coves, fish and game 

 habitats, recreational opportunities and indeed a way of life has 

 changed forever with the impact of this industry. Prince of Wales 

 and adjacent islands have at least one mile of road for every man, 

 woman and child living there. How much room do we actually 

 need? 



Senator Wirth. Could we have a little more quiet in the audi- 

 ence please? If you want to speak go outside and then come back. 



Ms. Geraghty. What does the future really hold for us when all 

 the old growth timber is gone? It is a very likely possibility that 

 there will be no timber industry; it is very unlikely that second 

 growth from Alaska will ever compete with second growth from 

 Washington or Oregon, so this is basically a one-time industry. 



We are certainly aware that loggers are not responsible for the 

 problems we have today. They are merely doing their jobs and 

 make no decision on where or when. ARRM strongly supports the 

 small, independent operators and mills and their employees. We 

 believe that the 50-year contracts must be terminated and replaced 

 with a sytem of short-term competitive sales. We would like to see 

 an expanded, localized, sustainable, permanent industry replace 

 the current industry with an emphasis on value-added processing 

 which will provide more jobs from the same or less timber than is 

 being harvested today. 



ARRM believes that there is room for all of us who have chosen 

 to make Alaska our home, but only we change the ground rules. 

 We believe and I personally believe that my grandchildren living 

 in Wrangell will be grateful for your legislation. Senator Wirth, 

 and that my great grandparents buried in Petersburg will rest 

 easier knowing that the Tongass will remain the magical place 

 that it is today. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you, Ms. Geraghty. 



[The prepared statement of Ms. Geraghty follows:] 



