DEVELOPMENT OE PULPWOOD RESOURCES. 5 



ritory has been losing population and retrograding commercially and 

 industrially in the last few years, primarily because after the first 

 cream of her mineral wealth had been skimmed general economic 

 conditions were not favorable to immediate further progress. An 

 alteration in these conditions now opens an opportunity to start the 

 tide running the other way. 



Obviously, the building up of Alaska generally will work to the 

 advantage of any business enterprise located there, since it will make 

 for better living conditions, greater contentment and stability of 

 labor, and superior facilities of many kinds. At the same time that 

 the interests of Alaska will be advanced by establishment of a local 

 paper and pulp industry, such an industry will itself participate in 

 the benefits of local development. 



LOCATION OF THE REGION. 



The timber described in this report is situated along the coast and 

 on the large islands of southeastern Alaska, on the Tongass National 

 Forest. The region is about as far west as it is north of Seattle 

 and takes the one hundred and fiftieth meridian time, which is one 

 hour slower than Pacific coast time. The largest towns in southern 

 Alaska are Juneau and Ketchikan. Ketchikan, which lies at the 

 extreme southern end, is only 670 miles from Seattle and approxi- 

 mately only one-third of the distance from Seattle to the well-known 

 town of Dawson on the Yukon River, in the Klondike region. 

 Ketchikan is only 60 hours by steamer from Seattle and is only 93 

 miles from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the terminus of the 

 Grand Trunk Pacific, a transcontinental railroad. The scheduled 

 time for passenger trains from eastern points is seven days. It is 

 possible to ship freight by car ferry from Ketchikan to Prince 

 Rupert, and thence by rail eastward to its destination. 



COMMUNICATION AND ACCESSIBILITY. 



Southeastern Alaska is favored with numerous deep-water harbors 

 open the year round, and there is comparatively smooth water in the 

 straits and passages. This region is advantageously located, with 

 reference to shipments by rail and water, to the United States and 

 water shipments to the Orient, South America, and Australasia. 



The distances by water and rail to important markets are : 



From— 



To— 



Distance. 









Statute 

 miles. 

 2,658 



Prince Rupert.. 











(Seattle . 



932 







3,113 



Sitka 





4,021 

 4,134 







1 Boston 



