Alaska Forests

Alaska forests contain enough timber to supply the world. The forests of pine, spruce, fir and heMlock cover every i-land of the archipelago and a goodly portion of the mainland. The trees are straight and tall and grow close tojretuer. The only saw mili at present in operation is at Douglas Island, and so far there has not been a cord of timber cut for shipment. The trees, as a rule, do not have large dimensions, and will notalways cut up into good sized boards. For fuel, hovvever, the wood is excellent, and much of it is available for building purposes. There is little decorative wood, althoujth the yellow plne is riclily colored and might be used to advantage In interior work. Alaska spruce is an excellent variety and often mea8ures flve feet in diameter. It is considered the best spruce d the world, and the supply Is very abundant. In the interior of the country limber is of oiucli tieavier giowth than tiear tlie coast and on the islands. Kegurding the hemlock, thcre Is a large supply and the bark compares favorably with that of tlie eastern trees, used in tanninjr establishnients. Noue have yet attenipted to compute the value of the Alaska foreets. It may bethey will not be necessary for years to come, but whenever wood grows scarce elsewhere, or whenever civilization fastens itself on Alaska, the timber of the región will be found ready at hand and existing in rich profusión. Calculating only approximately the value of our possessions to-day the forests must be considered. Practical ly Inp-xhunstihlp. thpv ndd mo9t materiallv to