in Alaska, particularly those engaged in the fishing and canning industries, has been continued at the request of the Territorial authorities. 800 750 WHITES 1918 1919 1920 1921 1932 1933 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 The legally adjudged insane from the Territory of Alaska have been cared for at Morningside Hospital under contract with the Department of the Interior for a period of 251⁄2 years. During this period there have been admitted to Morningside Hospital a total of 1.253 patients. The following is an outline of the disposition of these patients. Patients under care June 30, 1928, 207 males, 31 females---- 238 42 280 1 7 22 2 4 3 | Patients released on bond during fiscal year of 1929, 1 male- For the first time in several years the population at Morningside Hospital has shown a slight increase. The previous figures have shown a gradual shrinkage. The increase is evidently due to the fact that eight more patients were admitted in 1929 than was the case in 1928. The increase of three, as shown, however, is very nominal. INCORPORATED TOWNS There are at present 17 incorporated towns in Alaska, 16 of which have a total assessed property valuation of $23,444,571. The rates of taxation range from 5 to 20 mills. NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS Mount McKinley National Park, the farthest north national park and second largest park in the United States, was established in 1917. It is proving to be one of the main objects of interest in Alaska, with paramount attention being given to Mount McKinley (20,300 feet), the highest mountain in North America. With an area 62717-29 -7 of 2,645 square miles or 1,692,800 acres, it affords unlimited protection to the thousands of caribou, sheep, bear, moose, the many furbearing animals, and numerous species of birds, the park area being the only known nesting place of the rare surf bird. The steady increase of fur bearers is evidenced by good catches made by the trappers along the boundary of the park. Moose are more plentiful than in the past along the east boundary. Due to the severe winter and exceptionally heavy snowfall, more sheep perished than in any past winter for several years. Observations of the rangers show that the lamb crop this spring was exceptionally light, due to the late spring snows. Caribou and grizzly bear are steadily increasing. A superintendent is in charge of the park, having a clerk, chief ranger, and three park rangers to assist in the administration and protection of the park. Park headquarters are located 2 miles from McKinley Park station on the new park road, at which point the office building and personnel quarters have been constructed by the park force. This season there is being constructed a new residence for the superintendent, a water and sewer system including a reservoir and pumping plant, a cabin for laborers, and a dog-feed cook house, all of which will be located at headquarters. A new ranger station is to be built at Copper Mountain and a relief cabin on east fork of Toklat River, making a total of nine relief cabins and one ranger station, for use of rangers on patrol. A ranger residence, barn, and warehouse have been constructed at headquarters. Five sheep which were rescued from the deep snow drifts last winter are being kept at headquarters, as well as 35 park dogs, and all prove to be of much interest to the tourist and traveler. The sheep will be turned over to the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines at the close of the present season. It is the intention of the college to crossbreed them with domestic sheep and produce a sturdy woolbearing sheep that will be able to winter in interior Alaska. This year there was a total of 10,000 miles of patrol, of which 7,000 miles was by dog team. The result of protection is shown by the increasing tameness of animals, especially in the eastern section of the park. The public operators in the park continue to furnish a high class of service to the traveling public. Savage River camp, 12 miles from the railroad, is the base of operations and can conveniently accommodate 100 persons. A road from Savage River camp at the head of Savage River, a distance of 12 miles, is maintained by the Alaska Road Commission. The greater part of it is built on gravel bars of the river and has to be reconditioned each spring. The public operators have a large tent house at mile 8 for the convenience of visitors. Game may be seen at any time, which makes an attractive trip that may be made by saddle horse, auto, or horse stage. A chain of comfortable camps has been erected, averaging 16 miles apart and extending 65 miles into the park to Copper Mountain, at which point one may get a wonderful view of Mount McKinley, Muldrow Glacier, and the Alaska Range. Wonderful scenery and an abundance of game may be seen along this route. Upon the completion of the road to Copper Mountain, a modern and comfortable hotel will be constructed at that place by the public operator. Under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, the Alaska Road Commission has charge of road construction and maintenance in the park. To date $371,000 has been authorized for the Mount McKinley Road. Forty-three miles of the main park road, from the railroad to East Fork, will be in service this fall. The present season's road work consists of the maintenance and improvement of the main road from the railroad to mile 29, the building of a new road from mile 29 to 31, including the construction of a pile trestle across the Teklinika River 400 feet long, improvement and maintenance from mile 31 to 38.5, the opening up of mile 38.5 to 43.5, and preliminary work between mile 43.5 and 49. A saddle trail has been constructed down the Savage River Canyon from the Savage River bridge, which affords a scenic view and excellent grayling fishing at the lower end of the canyon. The plan is to open up mileage as rapidly as practicable, maintaining a good serviceable road in the rear, but not attempting to complete it to full standard until after several years of seasoning and stabilization. The entire project contemplates 901⁄2 miles of construction which will provide for a usable road clear across the north end of the park from the railroad to the west boundary near the north end of Wonder Lake, where connection will be made with an extension to the park boundary of the existing Alaska Road Commission project_from Roosevelt Landing, the head of navigation on the Kantishna River, to Kantishna. A program has recently been adopted which assures completion of the McKinley Park Road within two years. Eight hundred and two people visited the park during 1928, as compared with 651 for the previous year. 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 indications of more or less coal deposits at various points. A bill was introduced into the Senate which provided "That hereafter the location of mining claims under the mineral laws of the United States is prohibited within the area of the Mount McKinley National Park, in the Territory of Alaska: Provided, however, That this provision shall not affect existing rights heretofore acquired in good faith under the mineral laws of the United States to any mining location or locations in said Mount McKinley National Park." 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. The Sitka National Monument, situated in southeastern Alaska, contains 57 acres and is a reservation of great beauty and historical |