54 BULLETIN 1241, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 
contain 100 million cords available for pulp wood, and probably even a larger 
amount. The estimates are based upon intensive cruises covering nearly 600,000 
acres, upon more extensive cruises covering nearly 800,000 acres in addition, and 
on a general knowledge of the remainder of the area. The surveys have dis- 
closed stands running as high as 200 cords to the acre. An average stand of 
nearly 40 cords to the acre was found on one large pulp and paper tract. 
The pulp and paper industry can no longer atford to locate in new regions on 
the basis of existing stands of timber alone. It must inquire also into the pro- 
ductive capacity of the soil and the timber species which can be grown. The 
heavy rainfall of southeastern Alaska insures rapid growth, not equal, to be 
sure, to that of western Washington and Oregon, but probably far in excess of 
anything that can be hoped for in the Middle Atlantic, New England, and Lake 
States. Using only the estimated growing rate of the spruce-fir forests of New 
England, the Alaskan forests will easily produce 2 million cords of pulp timber 
each year. From the standpoint of permanent supplies, it will be safe, in the 
judgment of the best informed foresters, to develop in the immediate future a 
pulp and paper industry up to these requirements. 
The production of the Alaskan forests is more than twice enough to make up 
the 800,000 to 900,000 cords of spruce-pulp-wood imports from Canada. It 
would take up for eight and one-half years the normal annual increase of 237,000 
cords of spruce, fir, and hemlock for sulphite and mechanical pulp. It is more 
than half of our total dependence for pulp wood, pulp, and paper from all 
countries, equivalent to 3,916,000 cords, derived from these species. The total 
cut of spruce and fir for Canadian mills was 2,660,611 cords in 1922. Alaska 
has frequently been described as a second Norway in its possibilities for pulp 
and paper making. Yet the Norwegian industry consumes only about 1 million 
cords a year, and that only by overcutting. Swedish consumption has reached 
about 3 million cords. 
The pulp and paper industry can not, however, depend upon ti. rplies 
alone. Abundant and cheap water power is equally essential, especially in the 
manufacture of mechanical pulp. It will require not to exceed 500,000 horse- 
power of continuously available power to convert 2 million cords of pulp wood 
a year. Four hundred thousand horsepower is already known to be available 
in southeastern Alaska, 325,000 horsepower of this in sites or groups of 5,000 
power or more that can be developed economically for pulp manufacture. 
Tin—- statements of water-power resources are based upon data collected in a 
systematic survey which the Forest Service has had under ■< a number 
of years, in cooperation with the water-resources branch of the United 81 
Geological Survey and with the Federal Water Power Commission, 
surveys have still to cover half or more of southeastern Alaska. A ( msiderabie 
but unknown amount of power can be developed from the flood 
river- For about six months of the year. A few airplane High; - 
Indicated a large number of Lakes which had not previousry been 
map; some of which will undoubtedly be <>f value for storage ptrrpo es. 
Economic development and ability to pay higher prices for power will hk 
r of Bites thai can be develi 
conditions favorable to the development of a pulp and paper ind 
1 suitable mfll locations and deep-sea transportation. Mills .an 
be Located within easy and cheap towing distances from adequate Umber sup- 
plies. Sheltered channels afford yearlong deep-oea transport*! I the 
advantages which such transportation affords for incoming supplies and 
outgoing products. 
