NoWwhose folly is it?

by Bruce S. Trachtenberg Communications Coordinator Louisiana-Pacific Corp. Porfland. Or.

lltHEN ALASKA was purchased UU from the Russians in 1867 some short-sighted fellow countrymen labeled this new addition to the United States "Seward's Folly", naming it after then Secretary of State William Seward, the man responsible for the transaction.

In the years since, this icy regard for Alaska has warmed considerably, mainly due to the discovery of the wealth of resources found both on the land and beneath it.

Today, there's a storm brewing on the legislative front which could reduce the state's mineral, oil and timber producing potential both in the near and long-term. Appropriately, this pending worry could be labeled, "Alaska's land folly."

To date, some 25 bills have been introduced in Congless, seeking, in varying degrees, to close portions of Alaska's public lands to future development.

The most troubling of all proposals is H.R. 39, the bill backed by Rep. Morris Udall, D-Ariz., and Rep. John F. Seiberling, D0hio, which, if passed, would withdraw 83 million acres of Alaskan land as instant Wilderness and 45 million acres for Wildemess study.

The result, should such a measure pass, would be disastrous. Businesses would be forced to lay off workers, to reduce, if not curtail investments in the state, and to halt some operations.

The opportunity to plan for future mineral, oil and timber development from Alaskan lands, crucial to the nation's growing resource needs, would be choked off.

The problems faced in Alaska are not unlike those in the "lower 48" where questions about the land-use classifications of our public lands are involved.

Here again, preservation has been pushed to the wall. Balance is an unheard-of word.

The crux of the problem, be it with the Alaskan lands or in the continental United States, iS, simply stated: how do we achieve a balance which recognizes and protects the competing demands made on our public lands; demands which range from timber and mineral production to forest preservation.

These decisions can only be made to the ultimate satisfaction of all involved if we take the time to become involved, to leam the issues, and to force our legislators to face the issue. and in some cases. to face "the folly" of their actions.

We, as an industry, we as consumers can ill-afford to sit idly by asunreasonable solutions are fostered for pressing problems.

Story at a Glance

A Louisiana-Pacific Corp. spokesman attacks the "folly" of the pending Udall-Seiberling bill to withdraw over 120 million acres of Alaskan lands for instant Wilderness and Wilderness study.

The progress this nation has made in the preceeding years can be duplicated only if those directing our destinies are sensitive to those who they are affecting.

The thought of locking-up millions of acres of prime resource producing Alaskan lands is incomprehensible. Yet action is proceeding to make this a reality.

We. cannot be extreme in our demands. Instead we have the unique opportunity to challenge the lack of logic in bills zuch as Udall's and Sieberling's and to speak instead of a reasonable balance; to ask that proper attention be paid to existing laws which already provide an established means for determining the future resource needs of the nation. how to meet those needs, and also how to protect other needs such as pres€rvation.

On the surface it sounds simple. Yet, it requires a $eat deal of work, of dedication, and concern for the outcome.

The bitter irony is that Alaskans, and the nation dependent on the resources the state contains, are being threatened by a legislative decision based on unfounded allegations, on fear for that matter. that unchecked economic development in the coming years will bring destruction to Alaska's nafural beauty.

This judgement is being imposed on a people whose developmental activities to date have touched less than one one-thousandth of one percent of Alaska's total land baseNow, whose folly is it?

R.V. PETERSEN executive secretary

QeNonrc A MAN to congress

1)for the purpose of expressing the will of his constituency sounds like a splendid democratic gesture.

'l o be sure, there may be occasions when it seems more like an exercise in futility, but whether his actions meet your approval or earn your condemnation, the Congressman should certainly develop a more knowledgeable approach to his re- sponsibilities through awareness of your attitudes and opinions.

His position, his presence in Congress requires him to make decisions affecting the national welfare, decisions most probably having direct bearing on your life, your business, your community. The burden of his legislative schedule makes it difficult for him to keep in close personal contact with his constituents. He needs to hear from you, to know your problems and opinions. And therein lies a problem.

The modern, convenient, instant

Mountain Staties

KENT MOXEY executive secretary

AxE NEW member, before he \fjoine^d, but after listening to me soout off for l5 minutes on the advantages of membership, looked me straight in the eye and asked "What will the association expect from me iflbecomeamember?"

In nearly 8 years of talking with lumber dealers, members and nonmembers, no one has ever before asked me a question like that. I had to strain my brain for an answer.

The interesting thing about the question is that here's a lumber dealer who wanted to understand what he would be expected to give, as well as what he could expect to get. It was the word "expected" that made me have to stop and think. There are many things we want the members to do like attending the convention, schools and seminars, use the group insurance, buy sales tickets, buy educational materials, etc. But none of these things seems to raise any spirit of obligation or something we expect them to do.

To develop an answer, my mind went right to the fundamental purpose of the association - governmental relations. My answer to him was: "Association members are expected to take action when asked by the association to contact their government officials about some issue of importance to this industry"

There is strength in numbers. Our numbers are not that great, so every member is expected to join in these