22 BULLETIN 950, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



snow is experienced on the line of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway through 

 the mountains than on any other northern Pacific coast line, which includes the 

 Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul, Great Northern, Northern Pacific, and Cana- 

 dian Pacific Railways. 



At Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the railway recently installed a car-ferry 

 slip dock, and a similar slip dock has been installed at Swanson Bay, British 

 Columbia, by the Whalen Pulp & Paper Co., in order to cater to the loading 

 and unloading of carload traffic at Swanson Bay, thus avoiding the expense 

 and delay occasioned by steamer service and transfer of shipments at Prince 

 Rupert from or into cars. The distance from Prince Rupert to Swanson Bay 

 is 112 miles. 



The installation of a car-ferry slip dock at Ketchikan, Alaska, could, we 

 understand, be easily accomplished, and navigation would be safe between that 

 point and Prince Rupert. British Columbia, a distance of 93 miles. The 

 channel between Prince Rupert and Ketchikan is protected practically all the 

 way by islands, which form a natural breakwater, thus insuring safe opera- 

 tion of a car ferry ; and the same remarks apply with equal force to other 

 points in southeastern Alaska, such as Prince of Wales Island, Wrangell, 

 Petersburg, Treadwell, Douglas, Juneau, Haines, and Skagway, including inter- 

 mediate points. 



In answer to your question as to whether a car-ferry service appeals to us 

 as feasible under present conditions, we beg to reply in the affirmative, pro- 

 vided slip-dock facilities are installed and such industries located and in opera- 

 tion as to make it an object to the railway to inaugurate the service. 



PROCEDURE IN GOVERNMENT TIMBER SALES. 



National Forest timber is examined and, if its sale is desirable, it is 

 estimated and appraised by a forest officer. It is then advertised at 

 a minimum stumpage rate or rates, the highest bid (sealed) accom- 

 panied by the required deposit from a responsible party is accepted, 

 and the award is made on condition of the execution of a satisfactory 

 contract and the delivery of a sufficient bond. Required deposits are 

 made as cutting continues, and at stated intervals the timber is reap- 

 jDraised and new rates fixed in accordance with the terms of the con- 

 tract. The local forest officer in charge scales or measures the tim- 

 ber, requires the deposit of funds, and represents the Service in the 

 enforcement of the contract. 



The United States Forester is represented by the district forester 

 and forest supervisors, who are in a position to explain in detail all 

 the requirements as to organization, financial showing, and conditions 

 of sale. 



It should be understood that timber is sold by the Forest Service 

 only for continuous operation, and that the general policy or form 

 of contract does not permit the acquirement of timber on a specula- 

 tive basis. The Forest Service recognizes the difficulty in promoting 

 an enterprise of the magnitude of a pulp or paper mill in Alaska, and 

 gladly gives assistance and data to the extent of its resources, but 

 declines to enter into a sales contract before it is assured of the 



