35. Cooperated with State officials of Illinois in remedying troubles from underground water in oil fields.

36. Made a nation-wide investigation of the grades of motor gasoline being marketed.

37. Demonstrated the value of absorption for recovering gasoline vapors in the residual gas from compression plants for obtaining gasoline from natural gas.

38. Gave further attention to the recovery of oil from the oil shales of Utah and other States.

39. Continued investigations of the fusing temperature of the ash of different coals, in order to show the liability of the coals to clinker.

40. Began a comprehensive investigation of the best methods of utilizing lignite.

ALASKAN ENGINEERING COMMISSION.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, the following work on the Alaska Railroad was accomplished:

Considerable rehabilitation work on the old Alaska Northern Railway, from Seward (mile 0) to mile 70.

Thirty-eight miles of grading between mile 227 and mile 265 was practically completed; also the greater part of the grading for the 36 miles between mile 417 and mile 453 was completed.

Seventeen miles of rail were laid between mile 74 and mile 91; also 26 miles between mile 365 and mile 391; also 3 miles between mile 414 and mile 417; also 6 miles between mile 453 and mile 459-a total of 52 miles.

Location surveys were continued between mile 265 and mile 365 over the Broad Pass region.

The bridge over the Talkeetna River at mile 227 was completed. Approach to dock in Anchorage Harbor was practically completed. Necessary maintenance of sections of the line in operation was attended to.

Fifty-five thousand three hundred and ninety tons of coal were mined at the two Government mines in the Matanuska field.

During the year work was seriously hampered through lack of funds caused by the delay in the passage of the deficiency and sundry civil bills until July. Such a handicap is not expected to recur, as the bill authorizing the appropriation of $17,000,000 (in addition to the $35,000,000 originally appropriated) for the completion of the Government railroad was passed by Congress in October. Six million dollars of this amount has been appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920, and it is expected that the balance of $11,000,000 will be appropriated as needed.

140922°-INT 1919-VOL 1-6

Since June 30, 1919, and prior to the time that this report went to press, grading has been completed and track laid from mile 417 to mile 453, thus connecting Nenana and Fairbanks; also about 10 miles of rail has been laid north from Talkeetna at mile 227; also such progress in the construction of the dock at Anchorage has been made that the largest steamers now dock there.

The work which remains to be done includes the following: Completion of the rehabilitation of the Alaska Northern Railway, including construction of snowsheds and enlarging of tunnels.

Construction of line from mile 237, ten (10) miles north of Talkeetna, to mile 365, five (5) miles north of Nenana Canyon. This is now the only gap in the line from Seward (mile 0) to Fairbanks, mile 471, with the exception of the bridge at Nenana, crossing the Tanana River, and a permanent bridge at mile 373 over the Nenana River. Completion of the dock at Anchorage.. A map showing progress on the railway will be found in Appendix C, page 218.

Col. Frederick Mears, shortly after his return from France in July, was appointed chairman and chief engineer of the Alaskan Engineering Commission. Mr. Wm. C. Edes has been appointed consulting engineer.

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

1. Continued and expanded the work of informing the public about the national parks and monuments under the jurisdiction of this service.

2. Prepared 185,000 and distributed about 167,500 circulars of information relating to these recreational areas.

3. Prepared and distributed approximately 86,000 automobile maps of the national parks.

4. Continued the circulation of large quantities of motion-picture film and lantern slides of scenes in the national parks.

5. Handled the largest volume of tourist travel in the history of the parks; 1919 season, 755,527; 1918 season, 454,841; 1917 season, 490,705; 1916, 358,006; 1915, 335,299; 1914, 240,193.

6. Automobile travel to the national parks during 1919 season, 95,140; 1918, 54,596; 1917, 55,296; 1916, 29,828.

7. Grand Canyon National Park created February 26, 1919, thereby adding this titanic example of erosion to the national park system.

8. Lafayette National Park created February 26, 1919, giving States east of the Mississippi their first national park, and establishing first national park on the seashore.

9. Investigated and reported on merits of Mount Evans section in Colorado as national park material.

10. Completed the improvement of Sitka National Monument in Alaska, which included the repairing and painting of all the great totem poles on this reservation.

11. Secured the repeal of the inhibition against expenditure of more than $10,000 per annum for Rocky Mountain Park, thereby paving way for greater development of that great scenic area.

12. Investigated status of lands in Hawaii National Park, and arranged for legislation which, when enacted, will assist in securing desirable private lands within park area by exchange of territorial lands.

13. Cooperated with highway and other associations in dissemination of information regarding parks and monuments.

14. Arranged for donation of block of land in city of Hot Springs, Ark., for location of free public bathhouse.

15. Installed a new water system in the Muir Woods National Monument.

16. Completed the road around the rim of the crater in Crater Lake National Park and trails from the road to Sun Notch and Crater Peak.

17. Established the feasibility of airplane travel to Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Parks.

18. In cooperation with Smithsonian Institution conducted excavation and repair of ruins in Mesa Verde National Park.

19. Constructed new road in Mesa Verde National Park ascending the east side of Point Lookout, giving commanding view over surrounding territory.

20. Improved road through section of Petrified Forest National Monument, thereby opening up further area to visitors.

21. Made important repairs to Tumacacori Mission to preserve it from decay.

22. Made improvements in Casa Grande National Monument for better accommodation of visitors, and cooperated in archaeological investigations made there.

23. Completed trail to Forst's Cave in Shoshone Cavern National Monument, thereby opening up this natural curiosity to the public. 24. Cooperated with scientific societies in excavation work in Chaco Canyon and Gran Quivira National Monuments.

25. Engaged in cooperative work with the Bureau of Service, National Parks and Monuments, of the Railroad Administration, es-, tablished in Chicago, to inform the public regarding railroad rates and tours to the national parks, monuments, and other resorts.

26. Established a course of lectures on the national parks and their attractions to be given each year in Yosemite National Park.

27. Furthered the establishment of museums in Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Also at the Casa Grande Monument.

28. Completed new road in Gardiner River Canyon, Yellowstone National Park.

29. In cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution arranged for assembling of data for a book on the wild flowers and trees of Glacier Park, and with the Biological Survey and the University of Washington for a popular volume on the wild life of Mount Rainier National Park.

30. Cooperated with the National Parks Association, the Association of Mountaineering Clubs of America, and other organizations in the dissemination of information leading to a broader use and appreciation of the national parks.

31. Gave special attention to the conservation of the wild life of the parks and monuments, by reduction in number of predatory animals and establishment of game preserves.

32. Planted large consignments of fish in the lakes and streams of some of the larger parks, in cooperation with Federal and State commissions, in order to develop and maintain good fishing waters for tourists.

33. Conducted investigations of large tracts of land containing the redwood, with a view to the further conservation of this rapidly diminishing tree in national parks, and including the reservation of timber along public highways.

34. Collected $196,703.03 in revenues from the national parks.

35. Prepared new edition of popular pamphlet Glimpses of Our National Parks, and copy for Glimpses of Our National Monuments. 36. Established new department of landscape engineering for the harmonious development of the national park areas.

37. Surveyed lines for new roads and trails in Grand Canyon, Glacier, and other national parks.

38. Planned for the extensive enlargement of facilities within the park to provide adequate accommodations of every kind for the traveling public.

39. Planned comprehensive trail development for Yosemite National Park.

40. Started detailed survey of floor of Yosemite Valley.

41. In addition to above attended to repair and maintenance work in all the parks under funds provided.

ABSTRACT OF REPORTS OF BUREAUS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR.

The following table shows the number of matters received and disposed of during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1919, which were docketed or recorded. It does not, however, account for a very large number of miscellaneous matters of which no formal record was kept.

1 Under "Miscellaneous" are grouped such matters as opinions, Indian matters, contracts, leases, etc. as well as many other varied matters arising in the several bureaus of the department and which, for one reason or another, may be referred to the solicitor's office for consideration.

From the above table it will be noted that out of a total of 11,427 matters docketed, only 712 were pending and undetermined at the close of the fiscal year; and that the total of each class shows a reduction over that of the previous year. This volume of work represents formal appeals and a great variety of miscellaneous matters coming from every bureau of the department. An additional class of work now also being submitted for consideration by this office is that arising under the law providing for relief in certain cases of contracts connected with the prosecution of the war, commonly known as the "War minerals relief act." Notwithstanding the great volume and variety of work of the office, it is now reached in docket order for consideration within a little more than two months after receipt. By such early disposition, after careful examination of records and thorough consideration of the questions involved, a substantial benefit is conferred not only upon the parties in interest, but also upon a great many others transacting business before the department in various ways dependent upon such adjudication.