The public operators in the park are continuing to improve their facilities and service. Savage River Camp, 12 miles from the railroad, has been improved and enlarged for the better comfort and entertainment of visitors. One hundred persons can now be comfortably accommodated.

The crude road built by the park forces from Savage River Camp to the head of Savage River has been improved by the Alaska Road Commission, giving 12 miles of fair automobile road through scenic game country.

A chain of comfortable camps has been erected at intervals of 16 miles extending 65 miles into the park to Copper Mountain. Along this route there is an abundance of wild game.

Under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, the Alaska Road Commission has charge of the road construction in the park. Thirty-four miles of the main park road from the railroad to Igloo Creek will be in service this fall. The present season's road work consists of the maintenance of the road from the railroad to Mile 22, improvement of the road to the head of Savage River and improvement of the road from Mile 22 to 34. Construction work is pushing ahead from Mile 34 on Igloo Creek to Mile 40 on Sable Pass. At present the construction of a saddle trail down the Savage River Canyon from the Savage River Bridge is in progress.

Prospecting and mining are permitted under the act establishing the park. Though a number of prospectors have been operating within its boundaries, no mineral deposits of importance have been found, except possibly a silver-lead ledge at Copper Mountain, the value of which is unknown. There are some indications of coal deposits at various points.

There are three national monuments in Alaska under control of the National Park Service. These are Sitka National Monument, which was established in 1910; Katmai National Monument, established in 1918; and Glacier Bay National Monument, established in

1925.

Katmai National Monument lies near the base of the Alaska Peninsula on the shore bordering Shelikof Strait. This area of over a million acres includes Mount Katmai, which in 1912 gave vent to a violent eruption, covering many miles of ground with volcanic ash. Another interesting spectacle in this monument is the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, in which several million little volcanoes or fumeroles continually throw out small jets of live steam. In addition to volcanic phenomena, the surrounding region contains some magnificent lakes and mountain scenery, in which waterfowl and fish are abundant, as are the great Alaskan brown bears, the largest of carnivorous animals. This monument is practically inaccessible to any but the hardiest of mountaineers at present.

Glacier Bay, largest of the national monuments, was created upon the petition of the Ecological Society of America and the indorsement of the National Geographic Society. This latest addition to the National Park Service in Alaska is situated in southeastern Alaska. It contains approximately 1,820 square miles of glaciers and ice-covered peaks of the first rank, among which are Mounts Fairweather, Lituya, La Perouse, and several others. The region

also contains a great variety of forest covering, consisting of bodies of young trees which have been established since the retreat of the ice, and offer a unique opportunity for the scientific study of glacier behavior, of resulting movements, and the development of flora and fauna, and certain valuable relics of ancient interglacial forests.

The Sitka National Monument, situated in southeastern Alaska, contains 57 acres and is a reservation of great beauty and historical interest. It was the scene of massacre of Russians by Indians in 1802 and contains the graves of a Russian midshipman and six sailors killed in 1804. Among the prinicpal objects of interest in this monument are 16 totem poles, relics of the aboriginal life of that region. The old blockhouse used by the Russians has now been restored in its original dimensions and appearance by the Department of the Interior. This restoration work was made possible through the action of the Alaska Historical Association and the Sitka Commercial Club, through which the necessary funds were raised. The work was accomplished under the direction of the Alaska Road Commission in connection with related work in the vicinity.

ALASKA HISTORICAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

During the past fiscal year there were but few additions made to the library and museum collection. The space for the display of specimens in the museum and for books in the library is becoming congested, so much so that many of the articles can not be displayed to an advantage as the cases are crowded, while all available floor space is now occupied.

Students from both Juneau and Douglas grammar and high schools continued to take advantage of the institution in studying Alaskan history, ethnology, and geology. The interest in the museum for educational purposes was quite evident from the marked attention paid by teachers and students; classes accompanied by teachers came at regular intervals.

The same lively interest in the ethnic and historical specimens was shown by the visiting public. The increase in the registration of visitors to the museum was approximately 16 per cent.

The following table shows the number of visitors each year at the museum from 1921 to 1928:

The library contains a complete file of all Government publications as well as files of all Alaskan newspapers and magazines, and are referred to extensively by the public.

RELIEF MEASURES

Very liberal provisions are made by the Territory for the relief of the aged and the indigent, for the rescue and relief of lost persons, for dependent children, and for the pioneers of Alaska. The legis lature of 1927 appropriated the sum of $335,100 for expenditure under the provisions of the various relief measures.

The Pioneers' Home, located at Sitka, is entirely supported by the Territory. Any worthy pioneer who is incapable of self-support, who is qualified by five years' residence in Alaska, may apply to the board of trustees for admission to the home. The inmates are well cared for and the maximum of freedom is allowed them. A complete modern hospital is maintained in connection with the home.

The management of the Pioneers' Home is in a board of trustees, of which the governor is the chairman. This board also passes on applications for allowances, which are granted to indigent residents who are citizens of the United States and who have attained the age of 65 years in the case of men and 60 years in the case of women, and who have resided in the Territory for 15 consecutive years immediately preceding the filing of application. The maximum allowance for women is $45 and for men $25 per month.

During the past fiscal year 137 persons were cared for at the home, 43 persons were admitted, 14 were discharged, and 19 died.

RELIEF OF DESTITUTION

The governor is vested with the superintendence of the poor with authority to appoint an advisory board in each judicial division composed of such officers charged with the administration and enforcement of the laws of the Territory as he may designate. Persons who are destitute and unable to earn a livelihood in consequence of bodily infirmity and who have no relatives of sufficient ability to assist them may receive limited relief from the Territory. When a person without means is sick within any division of the Territory and not able to pay his board, nursing, or medical attendance and who makes application with proper evidence of inability to the board may receive such assistance as may be necessary. If the beneficiary dies, the Territory must give him a decent burial.

FURTHER RELIEF FOR NEEDY AND INDIGENT

Further relief for the needy and indigent is provided through appropriation to be expended by the district judges of the four judicial divisions of the Territory and may be used by such judges for the purchase of food, clothing, or other necessary supplies, for hospital services, medical treatment, transportation, or in such other way as the district judge may direct.

RED CROSS

The Juneau Chapter, American Red Cross, has been active in its work and ever to the front in case of disaster or need, and while there occurred only one disaster which required the attention of the Red Cross during the past fiscal year very effective assistance was given to residents of the town of Killisnoo, which was stricken by a fire on June 8 rendering 107 natives homeless. Immediate aid was extended in the form of clothing, bedding, cooking utensils, dishes, and other necessities which were distributed with the assistance of the Bureau of Education, the Salvation Army, and the Killisnoo Fisheries Co., with the result that misery and want was held at the minimum.

In addition to its other activities, this agency employs a graduate nurse to make semiannual health inspections of the school children throughout its jurisdiction.

RESCUE AND RELIEF OF LOST PERSONS

Funds are provided for the rescue and relief of persons who are lost while prospecting, boating, hunting, or otherwise in the Territory, and the United States commissioners throughout the several precincts are authorized and required-upon being notified that any person or party is lost or has been absent from his usual place of abode for such a period of time, or under such circumstances as to have reasonable apprehension that the person or party may be lost-to order search under the guidance and direction of some person who is familiar with the surrounding country and who is competent to organize and supervise a party to search for such lost person or party.

DEPENDENT CHILDREN

A board of children's guardians in each judicial division-composed of the judge of the district court, the United States marshal, and one woman citizen appointed by the governor, all of whom serve without compensation and hold office for a period of three years has power to conclude arrangements with persons or institutions for the care of dependent children at such rates as may be agreed upon and to appoint agents. This board is charged with the legal guardianship of all white children under 16 years of age committed by the juvenile court

(a) Who may be guilty of misdemeanor under the laws of the Territory of Alaska;

(b) Who are destitute of suitable homes and adequate means of earning an honest living;

(c) Who are abandoned by their parents or guardians;

(d) Who are of habitually drunken, vicious, or unfit parents; (e) Who are kept in vicious or immoral associations;

(f) Who are habitually begging or receiving alms; or

(g) Who are known by their language or life to be vicious or incorrigible.

FARM ASSOCIATIONS

Associations of farmers and others interested in the development of agrarian pursuits, improvement in home economics, and kindred subjects have been organized in the Tanana Valley at Fairbanks, southwestern Alaska at Anchorage, and southeastern Alaska at Juneau. Each of these organizations promotes an annual fair, where the products of the soil are displayed. The Territorial legislature contributes $2,000 per annum to each association to help defray the expenses of the fair. The associations render assistance to the farmer and housewife and take an active part in all community enterprises. In Fairbanks members of the association have organized a company and erected a flour mill with a daily capacity of 25 barrels. They guarantee $2.40 per bushel at the mill for wheat and produce in excess of 40 tons of flour annually for which they receive $15 per barrel.

LAWS RELATING TO ALASKA PASSED AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SEVENTIETH CONGRESS

[Excerpts from Public, No. 32, Seventieth Congress, first session]

AN ACT Making appropriations for the Departments of State and Justice and for the Judiciary, and for the Departments of Commerce and Labor, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1929, and for other purposes. (Approved, February 15, 1928)

BOUNDARY LINE, ALASKA AND CANADA, AND THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

To enable the Secretary of State to mark the boundary and make the surveys incidental thereto between the Territory of Alaska and the Dominion of Canada, in conformity with the award of the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal and existing treaties, including employment at the seat of government of such surveyors, computers, draftsmen, and clerks as are necessary; and for the more effective