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Senator Wirth. Mr. Longshore. 



STATEMENT OF FRANCES LONGSHORE 



Mr. Longshore. Good afternoon members of the subcommittee. 



First let me introduce myself. My name is Frances Longshore, a 

 life long resident of Sitka. I am a second generation mill employee 

 and I value my job. I am also a concerned Alaskan constituent who 

 strongly objects to any Congressional legislation that will cause a 

 recession in Alaska's timber industry. 



Let me take you back to a time after the transfer of Alaska. 

 There were great hopes that a timber industry could be developed. 

 The Russians left three sawmills, one of which was in operation 

 sporadically for 60 years. By the end of 1870 the mainstay of south- 

 east Alaska's economy was the government payroll, logging was 

 not economically feasible. For the most part, those Alaskans who 

 were not on the government payroll had to depend on seasonal jobs 

 and subsistence living, a situation which continued until the 

 timber industry was developed in the 1950s. 



Today, as 30 years ago, the market for timber exists. As I am 

 sure this Senate subcommittee is aware, the timber industry in 

 Alaska came about as a result of government contracts which 

 made investing in Alaska timber feasible. In that respect, nothing 

 has changed. In order for the timber industry to survive, those cur- 

 rently valid contracts must be allowed to continue. Members of this 

 committee, I am a mill worker, I cannot speak for the several thou- 

 sand people directly employed by the timber industry, I can only 

 speak for myself. Without my job I would have to leave Sitka to 

 seek employment elsewhere. I am an Alaskan. I live here because I 

 choose to and nobody loves this great state and her natural re- 

 sources more than I. 



I feel we can use a small portion of our renewable forests and 

 still have ample wilderness for generations to come. I also believe 

 all of Alaska's resources are vital in maintaining a strong and 

 stable economy for all Alaskans. Moreover, I would not like to see 

 any Alaskan community experience a major economic setback due 

 to congressional politics. 



As I said before, I am a mill worker. I realize many people are 

 much more qualified to quote facts £ind figures than I am. Howev- 

 er, it does not take degrees or expertise to see that a compromise 

 between the timber industry and the environmental groups needs 

 to be reached. 



Please remember, a compromise is an agreement which all par- 

 ties can live with. Any legislation that cripples the timber industry 

 will cause severe economic repercussions, not only locally, but na- 

 tionally as well. 



Thank you. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you all very much. 



Senator Murkowski. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to note 

 here Mr. Watson, I believe you had some water problems from time 

 to time with your hatchery, I believe and I hope that we can ad- 

 dress those adequately for you. I also want to thank you for sup- 

 porting the Tongass legislation as we submitted it. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you, Senator. 



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