313 



Meanwhile here in Alaska the Forest Service makes plans to reduce 

 their numbers and range in a hurry. 



I want to talk about the 50-year contracts with the mills. In 

 the 1950's I heard people express their unhappiness with the 

 Forest Service insistance on making large pulp sales. People 

 wanted smaller scale industry, like plywood mills. Initially, 

 after the sales, there were locally owned logging outfits: Meurs, 

 I . ,,-.-«K»»ri?-^' Reid Bros. Soon the two pulp mills colluded to 

 drive the independent loggers out of business, and they got just 

 about every one of them. Eventually the Reid Bros. sued. Many 

 years later the case was decided in Federal court in their favor. 

 If you read that decision, with its descriptions of wholesale 

 violations of antitrust laws by the pulp comp.inies, you will see 

 one of the many reasons to break those contracts. 



Some people are worried that changes in Tongass management could 

 bring hard times for families whose livlihoods are affected. 

 Others say that won't happen. I don't know. I raised 3 kids by 

 myself and I've seen a few hard times, but one thing I found you 

 could depend upon was the natural wealth of the country. This 

 country provided my family with much of our food and most of out- 

 fuel. It also provided us with our pleasures. So I ask those 

 people to put their minds to ways of living with less and 

 enjoying the country more. The country will give them alot. 



So thank you. Senator Wirth, your 1^ co-sponsors, and the members 

 of the Public Lands Subcommittee, for lending your time and 

 attention to the question of salvaging Southeast Alaska- from 

 ecological destruction. 



