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STATEMENT OF MARGARET CALVIN 



Ms. Calvin. Mr. Chairman, my name is Margaret Calvin, and 

 since I have lived in Sitka since 1947, I have seen its growth and 

 subsequent changes, some for the better and some I am not so sure 

 about. 



For over 20 of those 40 odd years that I have lived here I was 

 involved in the municipal government, 15 years as a City Clerk of 

 the City of Sitka, a one-person position that included financial mat- 

 ters as well as those of a municipal clerk. With unification of the 

 City and Borough, I became first the Finance Director and later 

 Comptroller for a total of six years. 



Early in my career with the municipality, the pulp mill was built 

 and the town doubled in size. We lost some of our small town 

 uniqueness, but we gained in many respects, one of which was the 

 Blue Lake Dam Joint Venture, which brought hydroelectric power 

 to the town and a water supply to the mill. 



An able city administrator in following years expanded our eco- 

 nomic base so that Sitka would not be a one-industry town, and he 

 was successful to a large extent. 



In 1972 I married Jack Calvin, an early ardent and active conser- 

 vationist, who brought out the latent conservationist in me. Can a 

 person involved in municipal finance in a mill town also be a con- 

 servationist without having a split personality? I believe the 

 answer is yes, since I have never had to seek psychiatric help and 

 am here to advocate that a healthy forest industry and wilderness 

 conservation can live and prosper together. 



Jack and I did a lot of boating for pleasure in Southeast Alaska 

 and, in addition, for many years conducted charter trips to Chicha- 

 gof Island and Glacier Bay. When it comes to scenic areas, famili- 

 arity does not breed contempt. On the contrary, it makes those 

 areas all the more valuable and dear to you. 



I think you can tell from the foregoing that I am not an advocate 

 of legislation that would close the APC mill in Sitka, because it is 

 important to the economic base of our community. On the other 

 hand, I believe the Tongass should be managed in a sound econom- 

 ic manner and at the same time having the areas Wilderness char- 

 acter in general and certain areas in perpetuity for the enjoyment 

 of future generations. 



I believe that achievement of both of these goals is possible in 

 the Tongass through appropriate legislation and judicious manage- 

 ment. How best to achieve this? With all due respect to our senator 

 from Alaska, S. 237, the Murkowski bill, is not what is needed. 

 Granted it repeals the $40 million automatic appropriation, but 

 otherwise it perpetuates extensive and expensive mismanagement 

 of the Tongass and continues to waste precious public assets. 



On the other hand, S. 346, the Wirth bill — and we thank you for 

 introducing it — by eliminating not only the $40 million annual al- 

 lotment but also the 450 million board foot allowable cut and by 

 cancelling the 50-year contracts would provide for competition in 

 the industry. Just as Russia is recently discovering, such competi- 

 tion would strengthen the logging industry in the long run. It 

 would allow for normal management flexibility for land alloca- 

 tions. 



