TERRITORY OF ALASKA, OFFICE OF SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith my governor of Alaska for the fiscal year ending J gether with relevant appendixes. Respectfully. Hon. FRANKLIN K. LANE, THOMAS Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C 404 INTRODUCTION. It is my sincere hope that this report will be read by those Members of Congress and departmental executives before whom came the enactment and administration of laws affecting the Territory of Alaska. It is not generally recognized that, in proportion to population, Alaska furnishes more trade to the United States than any other part of the Nation and equals the total trade of any of the other Territories, even with their great population and vast development. I have endeavored to obtain figures regarding Federal taxation with only partial success, but from what data I have been able to procure, it would seem that had the Nation paid taxes last year in proportion to Alaska, the Federal Treasury would have been enriched by between five and six billions of dollars. It is well understood by those departments governing the Territory that Alaska is one of the greatest assets of the United States and that the original investment of $7,200,000 has been repaid many times over; but, as with every other investment, we can not allow our property to be neglected, but must encourage and develop along sound, commercial lines. To use a mining term, Alaska is simply being "high-graded," to the detriment of the whole country. With the exception of one or two great low-grade mines, only the rich mineral deposits are being worked; only the greatest salmon and halibut fisheries exploited, while for lack of intelligent governmental assistance, the truly big resources of the country must perforce lie in idleness. I think I am safe in stating that every Government official or Member of Congress who has ever visited Alaska has recognized its potential greatness, but to those to whom has not been given the opportunity of seeing the Territory and noting conditions, it is still viewed as the distant and desolate land at one time known as "Seward's folly." As a consequence, appropriations are placed at such low figures as to preclude any effectiveness; the rich mining regions are made unavailable for lack of transportation; the fisheries are threatened with exhaustion for lack of protection; lawlessness, particularly that fomented by pro-German, I. W. W., and Bolshevik elements, is becoming a menace; as happens nowhere else in the United States, the natives in time of epidemics are allowed to die either of disease or starvation; roads and railroad building must stop for a lack of funds; unwarranted reserves and withdrawals of lands frighten away prospective investors and settlers; oil lands can not be entered upon and explored, and, as a result of laws and regulations, at every turn appears the huge Teutonic sign "verboten." And yet, notwithstanding all governmental neglect and repression, the people of Alaska, during the World War, responded more nobly to the call of duty than did the people of any other State or Territory. In three loan drives Alaska headed the Nation in oversubscription of her allotted quotas; and, in its support of the American Red Cross, Alaska, in proportion, completely eclipsed all competitors. To 405 furnish soldiers and sailors, Alaska was practically depopulated of young men, over 12 per cent of the entire number of white inhabitants-men, women, and children-answering the call to arms. As required by law, in my report, I shall endeavor to cover all conditions existing in the Territory and make recommendations for the administration of existing laws and for new legislation to cover Territorial needs. I note that recommendations made by past governors have received little attention or consideration. In this, a mistake has been made, as the governor of Alaska is a Federal executive, appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and established at the capital of the Territory for this very purpose. He is the only Federal official before whom come all phases of Territorial problems, and in a territory where practically the entire Government is by Federal law or regulation, it is important that his recommendations should receive consideration. While much that herein appears may seem critical, it must not be thought that the people of Alaska are not keenly alive to, and appreciative of, the few constructive measures which have been inaugurated by the Federal Government. The governmentally constructed and operated railroad between Seward and Fairbanks will open up a vast territory to exploitation and settlement; slowly, very slowly, aids to navigation and coast surveys are lessening marine perils; the scientific bureaus of the executive departments are rendering undoubted help to the prospector, the miner, and to the farmer; patrols of small naval craft have cooperated with other authority in the suppression of lawlessness and the several fatal epidemics of influenza; the military cable and telegraph lines are invaluable. But I sincerely believe that, unless the Government pursues a most liberal policy in connection with the development of Alaska, the Territory can never reach that stage of productiveness for which there is every possibility and so become one of the great sources of revenue now so greatly needed in this period of national readjustment. We hold out our hands to Washington, not as supplicants for bounty but in petition for permission to be allowed to develop as were the greatest western Territories, now the great western States. REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF ALASKA. The report of the governor should cover the calendar year instead of the fiscal year as at present. The major part of Territorial activities are seasonal, and any report covering merely the fiscal year must of necessity omit the commencement or completion of the great yearly operations of mining and fishing. In this report there will be mention of events happening subsequent to June 30, but included to make complete narrative. Another reason lies in the fact that during the summer months the governor should take advantage of the season of open travel and visit as much of the Territory as possible so as to acquaint himself at first hand with Territorial problems and not be tied down by the writing and compilation of the annual report. DISASTERS DURING THE YEAR. In addition to the trials of war visited upon Alaska, in common. with the whole Nation, the Territory has been the victim of a number of disasters. We have suffered from flood, fire, famine, sickness, and sudden death. Floods have caused great destruction_in several of our towns, notably Seward, Juneau, and Nenana; fire has wiped out a large part of the business section of Fairbanks; and even now a large proportion of our native population on the Seward Peninsula is receiving relief from starvation through agencies authorized and empowered by me. Influenza has swept through our coastal regions like flames through a forest, and in the wreck of the steamer Princess Sophia, on an unlighted reef, the lives of 350 persons, many of whom were Alaskans, were suddenly blotted out, there being no survivor to tell of the last agony. In the list of those lost is found the name of an able and energetic official, Mr. John F. Pugh, collector of customs for Alaska. INFLUENZA. From a Territorial standpoint, the most serious of these disasters. has been the scourge of influenza. Following the lines of steamer travel, early in October, influenza broke out in practically all the coastal towns. Cordova, under strict quarantine, escaped until a premature lifting of the health regulations allowed the disease to become established. Travel to the interior was stopped and so escaped an outbreak. Had the epidemic reached the native and white settlements of the Yukon the mortality would have undoubtedly been high, as pneumonia is very fatal in the intense cold. It is estimated by the acting assistant commissioner of health for the second division and the officials of the Bureau of Education that there have been 1,500 deaths, chiefly among the natives, on the Seward Peninsula and vicinity. I have been told that there were over 140923°-INT 1919-VOL 2 -27 407 |