ried to interior points during the winter is limited, and consequently there are heavy accumulations at the points of shipment to the interior. These accumulations necessarily must be held until the opening of navigation in the spring, and when the delayed mail reaches its ultimate destination it is many months old and therefore often of practically no value to the recipients. An increase in the amount of mail carried each trip is desirable and should include mail other than that of the first class. During the year the Post Office Department called for bids for an aeroplane mail service from Valdez and Seward to Fairbanks and other interior points and to Nome, but satisfactory tenders were not obtainable.

Militia. The act of Congress approved June 3, 1916, entitled “An act for making further and more effectual provision for national defense, and for other purposes," includes the organization of the Alaska Militia, but no such organization has yet been effected.

Historical museum.-There has been no change in the status of the Alaska Historical Library and Museum during the year. Additions to the library by contributions have been received from time to time and stored in the limited quarters available in the building occupied by the governor as an office pending the construction of a suitable building in which the valuable collections of books, papers, public documents, ethnological and other subjects may be properly shelved and displayed. With the construction of a Federal building at Juneau in the immediate future, provision should be made for suitable space for the Alaska Historical Library and Museum. Buildings. In 1910 Congress authorized the erection of a public building at Juneau, the capital of Alaska, to cost $200,000. A site was purchased at a cost of $22,500. Juneau is growing rapidly and the population of southeastern Alaska, in which the capital is located, is also steadily increasing. Conservative estimates of the population of Juneau place it between 5,000 and 6,000, while in the nearby towns of Douglas, Treadwell, and Thane there is a probable population of 6,000. No steps have been taken looking toward the construction of a building, in view of the rapid increase in population and the apparent necessity for the construction of a much larger building than that contemplated in the act of 1910; and besides, in 1912 the territorial legislature was created, and there is no place in which it may meet, except in rented quarters, not at all suitable for the purpose. A bill which was introduced at the last session of Congress and which was favorably reported by the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, appropriates an additional sum of $300,000 for the Juneau public building. The need for this building is becoming more and more imperative each year.

Mine experiment station.-One of the eight mine experiment stations authorized by Congress in 1915, to be erected and maintained in

a number of mining States and Territories, has been located at Fairbanks in the interior of Alaska, but owing to the selection not having been determined upon until comparatively late in the season, coupled with uncertain transportation, the station will not be ready for service until next year.

Water power. The water powers of the Pacific coast of Alaska are of potential importance to the Territory, economically and industrially. There are in the Territory some of the finest water powers to be found on the entire Pacific coast. In interior Alaska there are few water powers that can be successfully utilized to any considerable extent, although there are some which probably will be made use of with the further development of the interior region along industrial lines. Many of the water powers of southern Alaska are ideally located and can be developed at moderate cost. A few have been already harnessed and are furnishing electric power for the operation of the large mines in the vicinity of Juneau. Still more await the time when their energy may be utilized, when legislation by Congress shall permit and encourage their development. When this has been provided, it may be expected that in southeastern Alaska at least will be developed some of the finest water powers on the coast, and hydroelectric power will be furnished for many industrial enterprises, including the manufacture of wood pulp and electrochemical products. Under the direction of the Federal Government the United States Geological Survey and the United States Forest Service last year began an investigation of the waterpower resources of the Territory. Automatic water gauges have been placed in various streams to determine the flow throughout the year.

Coal areas. Surveys of coal areas of Alaska in the Bering River, Matanuska, and Nenana regions were completed late last year, together with a classification of the coal lands and the reservation of certain areas in each field for the uses of the Government. A form of lease was perfected during the year under the coal-land leasing bill, and coal-land areas may now be leased under the law and regulations based upon it and carried in the lease. Under the law which provides that units of 10 acres or less of coal land may be leased free of cost, there has been some mining of coal for industrial and domestic purposes. A mine near Moose Creek, in the Matanuska field, 62 miles from the town of Anchorage, was opened during the year, and coal shipments have been made to towns in that section and for the use of the Government railroad. The opening of these fields should mean the use of Alaska coal by the Federal Government for naval and other purposes on the Pacific coast and the establishment of one or more coaling stations in the Territory.

Labor conditions.-The supply of labor during the greater part of the fiscal year was fully equal to the demand, except in the closing months of the year, when the demand for mechanics of various kinds and for workmen on railroad construction was greater than the supply. The demand for miners has also been greater than during the previous year. A strike of laborers and artisans employed on the construction of the Government railroad at Anchorage occurred during the early spring. Increased wages were asked for, and work was partially suspended pending an adjustment of the matters involved. A board of conciliation and mediation proceeded to Anchorage, where an exhaustive investigation was conducted. The board recommended an increase in the various wage scales and the men returned to work. There has been no difficulty experienced since, and the wisdom of settling the strike in an amicable manner has been warmly commended. No other labor troubles of importance have been reported elsewhere in the Territory. In some mining districts increases of wages have been reported; also a decrease in the working hours of men employed in surface work about the mines.

Care of indigents.-With the increase of the population in the Territory and the lapse of years the demand for the relief of those persons who have become indigent and incapacitated from labor through old age, sickness, or accident has naturally increased, and these receive some measure of relief when it is required through the operation of the act of Congress, which provides that 10 per cent of the Alaska fund, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be appropriated and expended for their relief by the judges of the different judicial divisions. An appropriation for the relief of indigents in the Territory, expendable under the direction of the governor, has also been made by the Territorial legislature. The Territorial legislature, session of 1915, enacted a law granting certain old-age allowances or pensions. There were on September 1, 1916, 107 persons receiving allowances from the Territorial treasury, as compared with 13 on September 1, 1915.

Game. The control of the game of Alaska is vested in Congress and not in the Territorial legislature, although unsuccessful attempts have been made to transfer such control to the legislature. Three distinct departments exercise control over the game, fish, and furbearing animals. These include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, and the governor's office. The Department of Commerce, through the Bureau of Fisheries, exercises complete. control over the fish and marine fur-bearing animals, the Department of Agriculture over the terrestrial fur-bearing animals, while the latter department and the governor of Alaska share in the operation of the game laws. This divided responsibility does not work for

efficiency in the enforcement of the game laws and regulations, nor does it increase respect for the law on the part of the people. In the enforcement of the game laws and regulations nine wardens are employed, and, besides, the employees for the suppression of the liquor traffic among the Indians are ex officio game wardens without pay. Special game wardens are employed from time to time or whenever the funds at the disposal of the governor's office will permit.

In June last the Territorial Council of Yukon Territory, Canada, passed a resolution recommending that some plan of action be mutually undertaken by the Governments of Canada, the United States, and the Province of British Columbia for the protection of game animals, game birds, and fur-bearing animals in Yukon Territory, Alaska, and British Columbia; and it was further recommended that such protection can be best afforded by exterminating the wolves and coyotes. If such joint action can be secured on the part of the Governments interested, a long step forward will be taken in the protection and conservation of the game animals, birds, and furbearing animals in the districts adjoining the boundary lines of Alaska, Yukon Territory, and British Columbia, all of which are geographically connected, and besides have many interests in

common.

Commerce. The development of Alaska during the fiscal year is well illustrated in the growth of its commerce, which was the greatest in the history of the Territory, exceeding in value that of 1915 by more than $25,000,000. The fiscal year 1917 will show a still greater increase, if one may judge by the figures for the three months of the present fiscal year that have elapsed. Statistics show that the volume of merchandise shipments, including precious metals and copper between Alaska and the United States and between Alaska and foreign countries, for the fiscal year amounted to $97,340,420, as compared with $71,352,276 for the fiscal year 1915. The largely increased value of copper-ore shipments from Alaska is a notable feature in the business of the year. There is no abatement in the volume of these shipments, and, indeed, they are steadily increasing and will reach greater proportions during the fiscal year 1917 than ever before. The principal increases in imports to Alaska from the United States embraced lumber, hardware and machinery, spirituous and malt liquors, and provisions.

Wagon roads. The era of wagon-road construction in the Territory began only within the past decade. Prior to that time there were no roads in Alaska. There were moose and caribou runs or paths in the interior country, which were welcomed by the sorefooted and tired prospector and miner. There were crude trails hewed through the wilderness, both on the coast and in the interior

country, over which the weary traveler carried his pack, or, if he was fortunate enough to own a horse, the poor animal stumbled over the trail, through swamp and timber, more often knee-deep in mud than on solid ground. The roads that have been constructed are not the fine highways of many of the States, but they mark the beginning of a system of military and post roads which are of incalculable service in the development of the regions through which they run. Automobiles during the open season negotiate the road between Valdez and Fairbanks and Chitina and Fairbanks, making regular trips. The further development of the mineral, agricultural, and other resources of the Territory is as much dependent upon the construction of roads as upon railroad construction. Railroads will open to development extensive districts, to be sure, but wagon roads must, in the last analysis, be depended upon to develop tonnage for the railroads. Through the agency of good roads the natural resources of the Territory will be developed; over these roads mail routes will be established, and the present cost of transportation largely reduced, and, therefore, they will be money savers as well as money makers, for the national wealth will thereby be greatly increased. The Federal appropriation for roads in Alaska for the present fiscal year was substantially increased, and it is suggested that hereafter Congress should appropriate annually not less than $500,000 for this purpose for a period of years. It will be an investment that will be productive of lasting results. The Territorial government is cooperating with the Federal Government in the building of roads and trails so far as its means will permit, and it is probable that hereafter the sum available from the Territorial treasury will be substantially increased. The expenditures by the Alaska Road Commission, which is charged with the work of constructing and maintaining roads and trails in the Territory, during the fiscal year amounted to $300,720.62, of which $135,708.89 was received from the Alaska fund and $165,000 from a special appropriation made by Congress. Total mileage, wagon roads and trails, on June 30, 1916, was 2,210.

Aids to navigation.-During the fiscal year the Department of Commerce, through the Lighthouse Service, continued its excellent work in providing additional aids to navigation along the Alaska coast, so far as the appropriation at its disposal would permit. Thirty-five lights were added to the existing number, and two were improved. Eighteen buoys, including one gas buoy and five beacons were established. The work of making wire-drag surveys of the navigable waters along the Alaska coast through what is known as the Inside Passage was continued during the year, but much additional work remains to be done. This work is of inestimable value and should be vigorously prosecuted until the navigation of the inland