FOREST POLICY. 

 FORESTRY CONDITIONS OF ALASKA: 



1. Area: The total area of Alaska is 590,000 square miles. 

 The area of woodlands can scarcely exceed 60,000 square miles. 



2. Physiography: The territory of Alaska forms a square, 

 traversed by the east and west course of the Yukon River and 

 framed by the ocean on three sides, with two appendages, namely: 



(a) In the S. W., the Aliaskan Peninsula, with Kadiak 

 and Apognak Islands. 



(b) In the S. E., the mountainous coastal belt, 60 miles 

 wide by Soo miles long, with over 1,000 islands (notably Sitka 

 Island) fronting the coast. 



Mt. McKinley, in the Alaskan Range, lying somewhat south 

 of the center of the territory, 20,464 feet high, is drained by the 

 Kuskokwim River. The Kuro Shiwo causes abundant (60 inches 

 to 160 inches) rainfall and high atmospheric along the southei'n 

 coast. Eternal snow, however, lies above the 2,000-foot contour 

 line, even in the coast range and St. Elias Mountains. The moun- 

 tains are beset with the hugest glaciers on earth, outside the polar 

 region. Short growing season. Geologically, Alaska is one of 

 the latest portions of the continent. 



3. Distribution: The south coast, east of Kadiak Island, 

 shows splendid coniferous forests, stocked with Sitka spruce, bal- 

 sam fir (grandis?) hemlock, red cedar (Thujaplicata) and yel- 

 low cedar (Chamaecyparis Nutkaensis). Amongst the hardwoods, 

 Cottonwood alone reaches commercial size. Sitka spruce pene- 

 trates, in stunted form, to the Arctic Circle. 



The hills of the lower Kuskokwim River have little wood; 

 heavy spruce forests, however, exist on the mountain slopes of its 

 upper course, whilst the valleys exhibit splendid summer prairies. 



The northwestern hills are bare. Woodlands are found 

 along the west coast up to Norton Sound. 



Arctic tundra — a treeless plain full of ponds and swamps — 

 extends from the Yukon northward to the Arctic Ocean. Dwarfed 

 spruces and willows dot it far to the north. 



4. Forest ownership: Practically all woodland belongs to 

 the federal government, though the Russian Greek Church may 

 own comparatively small tracts. Lack of surveys prevents land 

 entries. 



5. Use of timber: Most lumber is imported from the 



