Tongass roads lead to nowhere The Seattle Times: Editorial
Competition in the raw-material market is hurting Alaska as well. Russia and China are huge suppliers of logs. Alaska also competes with British Columbia and Lower 48 states for the U.S. domestic market.
Selling old-growth trees for the price of alder is no boon to the treasury. Despite all of Alaska's natural bounty, timber has not been a major source of Alaskan employment in the modern era, the state concluded.
If U.S. taxpayers are going to send money to Alaska, more people might be put to work for a greater return if the investment is made in tourism, recreation and commercial fishing.
Paying to build and maintain more roads to cut more trees no one wants is suspect public policy.