*

fog signals as well as lights *. These lights will be expensive, but the lack of proper aids at these and many other points in Alaska has caused the wreck of many passenger and freight steamships. Thirteen steamers of large tonnage, all of them carrying passengers, have been wrecked on the routes between Puget Sound and Alaska in the last three years and a half. Seven have been wrecked in the first nine months of 1911. The establishment of proper aids to navigation is a matter of as large economic importance, probably, as any other project for the development of Alaska. It is not only imperative that the lives of thousands of passengers be protected by this means, but that valuable property be conserved; and, by making navigation less hazardous, the rates of marine insurance, and hence of transportation and cost of supplies, reduced. It is probable that the sum of $400,000 would defray the cost of every remaining lighthouse project in Alaska that has thus far been examined and approved by the Lighthouse Establishment. It is earnestly urged that appropriations at least four times as large as those made for the current year be authorized at the coming session of Congress.

To demonstrate the imperative need of additional roads and trails in Alaska, it is only necessary to call attention to the fact that, as reported in 1910, in a territory as large as one-fifth of the main body of the United States there had been constructed since the organization of the board of road commissioners for Alaska a total of only 759 miles of wagon roads, 507 miles of sled roads suitable for 2-horse sleds, 661 miles suitable for single horse or dog sleds, 85 miles of trail staked permanently, and approximately 1,170 miles of trails temporarily staked. The maintenance cost of even this small system makes serious inroads on the total funds available for the construction of roads and trails. The subject is one calling for special consideration in connection with any modification of the territorial government. If Alaska is to be developed, adequate provision must be made for these primary means of transportation. I believe that Federal aid should be continued and increased and indeed that the Federal Government should make liberal appropriations in addition to the revenues which can be derived from the Territory itself. The revenues derived from the leasing of its coal and other lands should be devoted to the development of the Territory after the necessary expenses of administration have been paid.

The fact that the Federal Government has heretofore made direct appropriation for the benefit of the Territory and that increased appropriations are needed constitutes one of the chief arguments against the extension of the principle of territorial independence and territorial responsibility to Alaska. Taken in consideration with the comparatively small and widely scattered population and the inadequate means for transportation and communication, it would seem to demonstrate that a commission form of government would best meet the existing situation. Such a commission could consist of appointed representatives of the Federal Government and locally elected representatives of the Territory itself. To it could be transferred under appropriate limitations the authority to make territo

rial laws and regulations such as are now sadly needed. Among these needs are some of the fundamental requisites of modern civilized society, such as the regulation of the public health, sanitation, and quarantine; the registration of marriages, births, and deaths; poor relief, compulsory school attendance; supervision of banking institutions, etc. The distance of the Territory from Washington and the constant demands of other affairs upon Congress make it practically certain that matters of this character will receive proper attention only from a local legislative body. The improvement of its transportation facilities, the development of its natural resources, and the increase of its population-all of which seem certain to follow the enactment of remedial legislation-will enable the Territory to furnish the revenues needed for its local government, and will then entitle it to the same measure of territorial independence which upon the same basis has been given to other territories.

The annual report of the governor gives an account of the progress of the Territory during the year. The population has remained practically stationary and is now slightly less than 65,000, about equally divided between whites and natives. The improvement of the natives has not been as rapid as could be desired, chiefly because they are exposed to the temptations of intoxicating liquor. The great extent to which municipal expenses are paid from funds arising from liquor licenses has added to the difficulties of restricting this traffic and illustrates the unsatisfactory manner in which the local government is now carried on. The assessment of property for taxation is restricted to the incorporated towns. Several of these made no assessment of taxable property and levied no taxes during the year. One or two have never done so. However, action taken by the governor during the year has resulted in holding 20 white "whisky peddlers" for the action of the grand jury under the law making the selling or giving of liquor to natives a felony. The appropriation of $12,000 for the enforcement of this law should be renewed, as it is beyond question that the sale of liquor to the Alaskan Indians, if continued, can not fail to destroy the race. From 3,500 to 4,000 natives have received substantial benefit from the action of the Government in 1892 in introducing reindeer, which now number about 35,000.

The Territory entirely lacks any adequate laws for the protection of public health. There is no provision for establishing quarantine to prevent the introduction or spread of contagious diseases except in the incorporated towns. In like manner there is no law to enforce any of the ordinary rules of sanitation. The result is disastrous to the natives and also a menace to the white population, chiefly on account of the communication to it of diseases prevalent among the natives. There is no law in the Territory for the registration of marriages, births, or deaths. Such records are important to the public

and to the protection of property rights, especially of widows and orphans. Some general law should be passed upon the subject without waiting for any change in the form of territorial government.

The Government expends about $240,000 annually for education in Alaska, and in addition the incorporated towns expend for schools a considerable sum. The public schools outside of the incorporated towns have been administered by the governor's office more efficiently than hitherto. Better methods of accounting have been introduced and manual training departments have been established in some of the larger schools. The statutory limit of $1,000 for the construction. of a school building is reported to be insufficient to cover the cost. The suggestion is made that the maximum should be raised to $2,500, so that buildings may be constructed at a cost varying from this maximum to $1,200, which is the smallest amount for which a suitable building can be constructed in any of the towns. To make the system effective the law should compel attendance. This is especially necessary for the native children, for whom there are about 80 schools, administered by the Bureau of Education through a general superintendent and four district superintendents in Alaska.

Alaska's greatest resources are her minerals, and in the development of these the precious metals still hold the predominant place. The shipments of domestic gold and silver to the States during the last fiscal year amounted to $15,171,008, a sum greater than the value of the shipments of other commodities combined, and but slightly less than the importation of merchandise into Alaska from the States. The statistics of commerce have shown an increase in the value of the shipments other than gold and silver from Alaska to the States. Canned salmon and copper ore were the items which increased most. The increase in the copper shipments was largely in the last three months of the fiscal year, because of the completion of the Copper River Railroad and a larger increase is to be expected. The coal used in Alaska for all purposes during the year was 116,000 tons. The prices on the coast have ranged from $10 a ton at Juneau to $21.30 at Nome. The inadequate laws, the pending contests on private entries, and the general withdrawal of the coal lands have combined to prevent the development of Alaskan coal. The coal used has been imported and less than one-third of it has come from the United States. In the interior, wood is the fuel in general use for all purposes, while on the coast oil is supplanting coal, and the railroads and steamship lines of Alaska and the interior Pacific coast are being equipped for this fuel, the supply for which is drawn from the California oil fields. The fishing industry stands second to mining in its productiveness. It employs upward to 15,000 persons, and $20,000,000 has been invested. The finished product had an export value of over $10,000,000, which is an increase of over

$2,000,000. The recent season was the most prosperous ever experienced, due chiefly to an increase in the prices of the product, although it is probable that the pack of canned salmon was the largest ever produced. The halibut fishery quadrupled its output in 1910 and more than quadrupled the price received for it, which that year was over $800,000. The statistics for the season of 1911 when completed are expected to show a still further increase.

Many changes in the laws and regulations are necessary for the encouragement and protection of the fisheries. The effective cooperation of Federal and local authorities for this purpose could be brought about by such a commission as has been suggested. The governor's report, however, calls attention to some changes which should be made immediately, such as prohibiting the taking of herring for the manufacture of fertilizer and oil; the regulation of the number of salmon canneries; the readjustment of taxes; the maintenance of public fish hatcheries, and the discontinuance of the system under which the maintenance of private hatcheries entitles the canning establishments to tax rebates. The governor also calls attention to the need of additional legislation for the better protection of the fur-bearing animals.

During the year $548,447 worth of lumber was shipped from the United States to Alaska, being about the same amount that has been shipped annually for the past five years. The record of timber cut from the national forests in Alaska during the past year shows over 28,000,000 board feet, for which approximately $30,000 was paid. Timber outside of the national forests is used for domestic and other local purposes and the regulations governing its use are now undergoing revision with a view to making this timber more readily available.

The report of the governor contains many other suggestions and discusses conditions in detail. It should receive careful consideration by Congress.

ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.

The time draws near when the governmental affairs of Arizona and New Mexico will have no place in the annual report of the Secretary of the Interior. Under the enabling act of Congress approved June 20, 1910 (36 Stat., 57), a convention was elected in each Territory and framed a State constitution, which was approved by a vote of the people in January, 1911. On August 21, 1911, the President approved a joint resolution (37 Stat., 39) authorizing him to issue his proclamation admitting Arizona and New Mexico into the Union on the following conditions:

That there should be submitted to and adopted by the voters of Arizona a substitute for Article VIII of the pending constitution excepting the judiciary from the operation of recall by popular vote.

In that event the Territory will be admitted to statehood upon the completion of the necessary formalities.

That there should be submitted to the electors of New Mexico for adoption or rejection a substitute for Article XIX of the pending constitution providing an easier method of amendment in the future. The governor reports that this substitute was adopted at an election held November 7, when State officers and Representatives in Congress were also voted for. The issuance of the President's proclamation awaits the due certification of the results of this election.

Both Territories have developed sufficiently to fully justify their admission into the Union. Arizona's population is estimated at 225,000, an increase of approximately 10 per cent since the census of 1910 was taken. That of New Mexico was 327,301 in 1910, and is now estimated at 340,000. The increase of population is especially notable in the irrigated valleys, and therefore indicates not only present but permanent stability and prosperity. The annual revenues of each Territory slightly exceed $1,000,000. The annual expenditures of Arizona are slightly in excess of, and those of New Mexico slightly less than, said sum. The assessed valuation of the taxable property of Arizona is $98,032,708.64 and that of New Mexico $60,048,880.75, an increase of $11,906,482.29 and $1,735,754.57, respectively, over 1910. The tax rate for each Territory is 10 mills, and the debt of each slightly less than $1,000,000.

HAWAII.

The jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior over Hawaii is exceedingly limited. While the governor and some other territorial officials are appointed by the President, the islands are largely selfgoverning, under authority and limitations contained in the acts of Congress. Under the joint resolution of July 7, 1898, providing for annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States, Congress provided that the existing laws of the United States relative to the public lands should not apply to such lands in the Hawaiian Islands, but that special laws for their management and disposition should be enacted by Congress. Certain changes were made by intermediate legislation, and in 1910 Congress, by the act of May 27 of that year, made many important changes in the laws relating to public lands in the Territory. It has been held by this Department that there is no appellate jurisdiction in the Secretary of the Interior respecting decisions of the territorial officers in regard to the public lands, and this Department has never been called upon to administer those laws. It has occasionally been asked for advice by the territorial authorities, and on one occasion an appeal was attempted but dismissed. The annual report of the governor of Hawaii points out that imports and exports aggregated $69,451,163, which, although less by $2,173,796 than for the preceding year, was greater by $7,226,984