to handle Territorial affairs. The department should then centralize all bureau administration in Alaska itself. This would make an effective government responsible to but one chief. There could be one Territorial budget and one overhead administrative organization. Action at all times could be prompt, and there would not exist the need of corresponding at times with as many as three different departments before desired action can be taken.

POLICE PROTECTION.

If I were asked, What is the crying need of Alaska? I should unhesitatingly answer, Police protection. There are four United States marshals, one for each of the four judicial divisions into which the Territory is divided. There are 55 deputy marshals, including the chief deputies, clerks, stenographers of the various marshals' offices, leaving approximately 40 deputies available for the enforcement of law over 590,000 square miles of territory. These marshals are so hemmed in with departmental restrictions that they can not be considered a police force in any sense of the word. They are technically process servers solely, except when they exceed authority in the interest of law and order. It is really remarkable that with such restricted authority the marshals have been able to accomplish what they have, but the fact remains that as a force for the prevention and detection of crime they are not of the highest value.

In addition to the marshals there are some 30 or 35 wardens of various sorts-fish wardens, fur wardens, forest rangers, game wardens, and special agents for the suppression of the liquor traffic among the natives. I have endeavored to have reciprocal duties placed on all these wardens, and while this has nominally been done by the greater number of the bureaus, still there has been little interest evoked among the individual employees, excepting among those directly responsible to the governor's office. Our wardens have rendered undoubted service to the Bureau of Fisheries in the matter of detecting and seizing illegally taken furs and in the enforcement of fish regulations. Some employees of other bureaus have refused to cooperate at all.

In my report for 1918 I advocated the establishment of a uniformed constabulary. I again earnestly make this recommendation. A force so established could exercise the entire police power of the Territory, including that of the various bureaus with the exception of the necessary technical employees. The force could be patterned after the State constabulary of Pennsylvania or the royal northwest mounted police of Canada, and should be absolutely divorced from politics. The officers and men should be carefully picked and trained. The officers should be given the powers of justices of the peace when far removed from offices of United States commissioners. Now is the time of all others, while the Army is being demobilized, when it would be possible to pick up a splendid body of men, trained as soldiers and accustomed to hardship. We need a constabulary not only for police duty but we need it for all manner of relief work, rescue of lost persons, enforcement of quarantine and sanitary measures, and for special duty of every kind. Two hundred men of a constabulary scattered throughout the Territory, with travel equipment suited to their particular locality, would have a wonderful effect upon Territorial development and could perform all the work

now done by the wardens of the various bureaus. A battalion of troops divided among several Alaskan Army posts could be withdrawn and the posts turned over to the constabulary. Troops are absolutely lost in Alaska; they have no duties outside of barracks routine. In winter there is little opportunity for outdoor life; in consequence the men are discontented and unhappy. Aside from a moral influence and from the benefit derived from money spent in the towns near by, they are of little use to the Territory except in marked emergencies. Let a constabulary be substituted for the soldiery. The cost to the Government will be little more and a constructive service will be established.

NAVAL PATROL.

During 1918 a naval patrol, consisting of two submarine chasers, the 309 and 310 and the converted Coast and Geodetic Survey ships Explorer and Patterson, were established in Alaskan waters. The two sub chasers were stationed in southeastern Alaska, while the two larger ships were sent to Prince William Sound and Bristol Bay. Their presence had an undoubted effect on the seditious element within the Territory, which showed evidences several times of causing serious disturbances. The principal duty of the patrol lay in the protection of the fishing and canning industries, which at that time were furnishing greatly needed supplies of sea-food products. On account of the beneficial results of the former patrol, I requested that it be continued throughout the year 1919. The gunboat Vicksburg and the submarine chasers were returned to Alaskan waters in May and have been most energetic in their activities. The Vicksburg rendered splendid service in the Aleutian Islands and in the vicinity of Bristol Bay during the outbreak of influenza in May and June of this year. The 310, stationed in Prince William Sound, quieted what bid fair to be a serious disturbance between the white and native fishermen at Yakutat, and the 309 has rendered similar service at Klawock. At present the patrol is taking active steps to suppress fish piracy, which has been engaged in more than ever before.

There should constantly be stationed at Juneau a naval or Coast Guard vessel, available for rescue work in case of shipwreck and for cooperation at all times with the Federal and Territorial authorities. During the summer season there should be at least four of the smaller craft on constant duty. So far the results have been invaluable, particularly in the absence of other police power.

The patrol is ordered to Alaska "until the close of navigation," but as there is no close of navigation in southern and southeastern waters, I take this to mean until the close of the fishing season.

Besides the naval patrol during the summer months, the Coast Guard cutters Bear and Unalga, although under temporary naval control, have been at their usual summer stations, the Unalga having rendered distinguished service in the Aleutian Islands and Bristol Bay during the epidemic of influenza among the natives.

POPULATION.

During 1918 the population of Alaska reached its lowest ebb. Vessels reporting to the customs showed an excess of departures over arrivals of 9,909 persons. Small vessels carried a great number to

the States and British Columbia of whom there is no account. After the signing of the armistice immigration became noticeable. In the spring of this year all vessels coming to Alaska were crowded to capacity and at the time of this writing passage must be engaged weeks in advance. At the close of the calendar year 1918, taking the customhouse figures in consideration with the census of 1910 and the vital statistics available, the white population barely exceeded 30,000. I believe that during the years of exodus (1916-1918) fully 10,000 additional people left on small craft, Government ships, transports, and other unreported boats, so that the actual population probably did not exceed 20,000. The number of persons voting at the election of 1918 seems to bear out this hypothesis. For the first six months of 1919 the excess of arrivals over departures, as reported to the customs, was 11,588, but this figure includes a great number of cannery employees, perhaps 5,000 or 6,000, who return to the States at the close of the fishing season.

I estimate the white population at the end of the fiscal year 1919 to be about 32,000.

The census of 1910 enumerates 25,331 natives of pure and mixed blood. The Bureau of Education estimates that there had been little change in this number during the intervening years. During the past fiscal year there has probably been a loss of nearly 2,000 natives as a result of the epidemic of influenza. The normal death rate will undoubtedly increase, caused by tuberculosis, resultant of influenza. There are probably 23,000 natives now in Alaska. The total population, therefore, white and native, is about 55,000, or less than one person to every 10 square miles.

Indications point to a continued immigration as a result of Army demobilization and the closing of war-time industries. Alaska is receiving the extremes in the social scale. On the one hand, the fine young men of the type which developed the great western States are becoming evident in every community, and, on the other hand, the I. W. W., alien enemy, and Bolshevik, knowing the unprotected condition of the Territory, are arriving in force and making their presence known. The great number of foreigners in Alaska who can scarcely speak the English language fall an easy victim to the insidious propaganda of the seditious agitator. It does not seem right that the decent, honest, law-abiding majority should not receive full protection at all times.

MINING CONDITIONS.

GOLD AND SILVER.

Mining in Alaska has never before been conducted under such adverse conditions. The gold placers, heretofore the backbone of the industry, are the principal sufferers. Wages, costs of equipment and supplies, high rates of transportation, shortage of labor, together with the depletion of the known rich deposits, have all conspired to reduce not only the production of placer gold, but have also prevented contemplated development of the lower-grade deposits. For similar reasons the great low-grade lode mines of the Gastineau Channel have not been able to operate to any marked profit, although all modern devices for reducing costs are being employed. Gold

mining in Alaska is no longer a business to attract heavy investment, unless the world standard is changed and gold is put on a commodity basis and receives the benefits of market demands. Gold mining should receive every possible help from the Government.

A new gold and silver camp attracting attention is the Portland Canal district. The mineralized zone closely follows the international boundary, with, so far, the best showings in British Columbia, although excellent prospects are found on the Alaskan side. The mines and prospects of the Salmon River, both in Alaska and British Columbia, are all tributary to the Alaskan town of Hyder, while everything from the Bear River must pass through Stewart, British Columbia. One mine, the Premier, just across the boundary in British Columbia, has shipped several hundred tons of phenomenally rich gold and silver ore, and within a year should be a steady producer. At this mine no attempt is made to ship ore valued at Îess than $100 to the ton.

It is interesting to note that Col. Alfred H. Brooks, of the United States Geological Survey, has long predicted the finding of mineral deposits lying along the formation and extending the full length of the coast of southeastern Alaska. I look for extensive future development not only on Portland Canal but also up the Unuk and Iskoot Rivers. Willow Creek, near the line of the Government railroad, is forging steadily to the fore, and persistent rumors of large refractory deposits in the vicinity of Broad Pass raise hopes for increased railroad tonnage. In Prince William Sound, Valdez is once more creating excitement in new lode discoveries and reported platinum finds.

COPPER.

Owing to the lack of transportation during 1918 and governmental demands during the war for the higher grade copper ores, practically none of the low-grade copper mines were enabled to continue normal shipments to the great distress of the operators. During the first six months of 1919 the low price of copper was another deterrent feature. Complaints have been lodged with me by shippers of lowgrade ores that the slag loss charge of 26 pounds per ton is not warranted, as such loss in reality is not more than 4 pounds or 6 pounds at the most. There are a great number of low-grade copper mines and prospects in Alaska, which would seem to offer an attractive field for investment by parties capable of bearing the cost of installation of concentration plants.

CHROME.

Chrome ore of good quality was mined at Port Chatham and a considerable plant investment made, but the owners were unable to procure transportation when this metal was in demand, and in consequence suffered severe loss. I have made a careful investigation, and believe that operations were instituted in good faith, in the understanding that they would be protected by the Government. The chrome producers should be recompensed against loss.

COAL.

From present indications I am convinced that good coal in export quantity will be found in both the Matanuska and Bering River

fields. In the Matanuska field the Alaskan Engineering Commission has opened up the Eska Creek mine on a production basis. A washing plant is badly needed, but the coals, with only a small amount of hand picking, give excellent satisfaction for all railroad requirements. The Chickaloon mine, of high-grade naval coal, is being developed, and it is hoped will shortly be also placed on a production basis.

In the Bering River field, as a result of developinent work on a lease in the western part of the field, several good veins of semibituminous coal have been cut, ranging from 30 inches to 15 feet. Here, too, the coal will probably have to be washed, although there are sections of one vein, having good walls, which appear to be very clean. The lessee is confident that further development work will prove the mine.

In the matter of coal once more transportation becomes a prime factor. There must be an export outlet. It is probable that transpacific coal-burning ships will find it advantageous to establish a coal supply in the Aleutian Islands not far from the great circle sailing routes between Puget Sound ports and the Orient. A naval base in Alaska will demand coal in quantity, which can best be supplied from our coal fields. The opening up of the coal fields and their connection with rail and water transportation will eventually result in the building of a smelter on Prince William Sound, whereat all the ores of the district can be reduced. When this happens many of the lower-grade mines, not now workable to profit, will become active producers.

The company operating a mine along the Government railroad near the Little Susitna River has been quite active on a small scale during the year, the average monthly output being 135 tons, the coal being marketed principally in Anchorage and Seward, a quantity, however, being shipped to the copper mine at Latouche for experimental purposes.

In the Nenana field a mine has been opened up near mile 366 of the Government railroad on the west side of the Nenana River about 11⁄2 miles below the point where Hoseanna (Lignite) Creek flows into the Nenana. The Alaskan Engineering Commission has let a contract for 5,000 tons to the firm operating at this point. A fair grade of lignite was also discovered on the right of way of the railroad at mile 387 and a contract let for 2,750 tons. As the surveyed coal lands are on the opposite side of the river and are not situated in leasing blocks, some difficulty has been encountered in procuring necessary capital for development. This situation should be remedied by the Government completing the survey of this portion of the field and placing it into leasing units. It is hardly probable that sufficient coal can be mined on the west side of the Nenana River to supply the needs of Fairbanks, and steps should be taken as speedily as is consistent with the plans of the commission to construct a branch line into the coal fields proper.

PETROLEUM.

It seems probable at present that Congress will enact laws at this session which will permit the development of oil fields which are