sity for action along the following | lowing the contest. The 1924 contest lines clearly demonstrated: was the third so far held.

(a) Competent inspection by a fire prevention bureau of the Fire Department to keep the city free from rubbish accumulations and other bad housekeeping conditions which cause fires.

The purpose of the National Fire Waste Council is to coöperate with chambers of commerce and trade associations in their fire prevention activities. Its members may be called upon for assistance at any time. American In

(b) Revisions of, or amendments They are as follows: to the building code requiring stitute of Architects, American Ingreater general use of fire-safe mate- stitute of Electrical Engineers, rials in building construction, fire- American Society of Mechanical Enresistive roof coverings, protected gineers, Boy Scouts of America, Facvertical and horizontal openings and tory Mutual Inspection Department, automatic sprinklers. Fire Marshals' Ass'n. of North Amer

(c) Adequate ordinances govern- ica, International Association of Civiing the storage and use of explo- tan Clubs, Mutual Fire Prevention sives and inflammable liquids.

(d) Adequate laws and procedure for apprehending and convicting incendiaries.

(e) Public education in the proper transmission of fire alarms and the value in all properties of first aid extinguishing devices. These remedies are regarded as simple as a kindergarten lesson, and there is no doubt of their effectiveness if applied, but action in these matters cannot be secured by correspondence or the dissemination of literature. The creation of a competent local committee of influential citizens assembled about the city officials charged with the community fire safety furnishes the most practical organization for a successful attack upon these conditions. Such a local committee, in whatever spirit of enthusiasm it may be created, requires constant encouragement and stimulation. It is the function of the field work of the Association to advise with and serve such committees where they exist and to create them where needed.

Bureau, National Association of
Credit Men, National Association of
Insurance Agents, National Auto-
matic Sprinkler Association, Na-
tional Board of Fire Underwriters,
National Fire Protection Association,
Railway Fire Protection Association,
Underwriters' Laboratories, U. S.
Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Bureau of
Mines, U. S. Bureau of Standards,
Western Actuarial Bureau.

Fire Losses.-America's bill for fire waste was $1,044 a minute, an annual loss of $548,000,000, exceeding all previous high records. These are the figures of the Actuarial Bureau of the National Board of Fire Underwriters quoted in a bulletin issued by the Insurance Department of the Chamber and the National Fire Waste Council. The total amount of property destroyed during the year was equivalent to more than half the annual interest on the national debt. Much of this enormous loss is preventable waste. "Although the fire losses of the United States continue to mount," says the bulletin, "it is National Organization.-The Cham- not necessarily an indication that ber of Commerce of the United States they cannot be reduced. The experithrough its Insurance Department is ence of the 1924 Inter-Chamber Fire carrying on a similarly vigorous cam- Waste Contest shows that losses in paign in conjunction with the Na- the reporting cities were reduced to tional Fire Waste Council. Its prin- the extent of $4,000,000 over their cipal propaganda is through the ob- average for the preceding five years servance of Fire Prevention Week coincident with the activities underwith the cooperation of the trade as- taken by local fire prevention comsociations affiliated with the Cham-mittees. The per capita loss in these ber. A feature of Fire Prevention communities was $3.10, as compared Week is the "Inter-Chamber Fire with the national average of approxiWaste Contest," the results of which mately $5.00. What has been done are announced early in the year fol- in some cities might well be dupli

cated in others through energetic fire
prevention programs carried on under
the auspices of local chambers of com-
merce and similar organizations. Al- ties."

SELECT REFERENCES ON MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
BY CLINTON ROGERS WOODRUFF

HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

ANDERSON, William.-American City | PHELPS, Earle B.-Public Health EnGovernment. N. Y., Holt.

BARNARD, James Lynn & Evans, J. PURDOM, C. B.—Building of Satellite
C.-Citizenship in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Winston.

DIVISION VII

TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES

ORGANIZED TERRITORIES AND GOVERNMENT
BY FRANK MCINTYRE

MAJOR-GENERAL AND CHIEF OF U. S. BUREAU OF INSULAR AFFAIRS

ALASKA

Labor.-George A. Parks was appointed Governor in 1921 succeeding Thomas Riggs. The Governor reports that the slow but steady progress apparent for many years has continued.

Because of the scarcity of local labor in some districts and the short fishing seasons the canneries must depend to a large extent on labor imported from outside of the Territory. Further study may solve this problem by evolving a plan for the development of diversified fishing which will provide almost continuous employment for this labor. If this can be brought about it will result in a substantial increase in the permanent population in the coastal regions.

months, beginning November 16, 1924. It is interesting to note that the enforcement of a three months' closed season did not result in decreased production. On the contrary the catch was considerably increased over 1923.

The census of the seal herd on the Pribilof Islands indicates a substantial gain and the revenue derived from the sale of sealskins was more than $700,000.

Industries. A gradual resumption of mining, both placer and lode, is apparent in all of the districts. The gold production in 1924 exceeds that of 1923. The supply of common labor for all branches of industry in the Territory was generally satisfactory during the year. Exploration in the several oil fields continued throughout the year, but so far the wells on the Alaska Peninsula have not produced oil in commercial quantities. The only producing oil wells are near Katalla.

Transportation facilities continue to improve to keep up with the increased travel during the summer season. The airplane service inaugurated last year in the Tanana Valley is greatly improved. The wagon roads and trails have been improved and extended throughout the Territory.

Fisheries. The value of the fisheries products and the investment in the fisheries increased about 4 per cent. over 1923. The chief expansion was in the herring industry. All fishing operations were carried on under the regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce as authorized by the act of June 6, 1924. Fishing seasons were shortened, or commercial fishing for salmon closed entirely, in many districts and an effort was made to regulate the fishing so that a sufficient escapement of salmon would reach the spawning Fox farming is one of the imporgrounds. tant industries and it is estimated The closed season provided for in that there are approximately 391 the North Pacific halibut treaty be- farms containing over 36,000 foxes. came effective for the first time in The total value of the improvements 1924. Under this treaty fishing for and stock is estimated to be about halibut was prohibited for three $6,000,000. The propagation of blue

foxes has developed very extensively in Alaska in the last five years, especially on the smaller islands, each of which can be used exclusively by one fox rancher.

greater than that in 1924. The outstanding scenic attraction of Alaska is Mount McKinley National Park. It is the second largest national park in the United States, comprising an area of 2,645 square miles, the chief feature of which is the highest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley.

Realizing the great value of fur and game to the Territory and the need for making Alaska's lands sustain such animals to the fullest possible extent, the Territorial legis- Governor Parks has recommended lature of 1925 passed an additional the creation of a constabulary or Teract adopting a program of stocking ritorial police responsible for law suitable available lands of Alaska enforcement in the Territory to rewith valuable fur and game animals. place the eight organizations now in A total of 1,280 reindeer has been existence. imported from Siberia since 1891. Railroads and Roads.-In July, There are now in Alaska approxi- 1924, Mr. Noel W. Smith was apmately 300,000, and it is estimated pointed special assistant to the Secthat two-thirds of them are the prop- retary of the Interior, and was sent erty of Eskimos. It is estimated that to Alaska to study the operation of there are in northern and western the Alaska Railroad and to make recAlaska approximately 200,000 square ommendations to the Secretary as to miles of treeless region, worthless for the future policy of the road and an agriculture, which could furnish pas- estimate of the cost of completion. turage for about 4,000,000 reindeer. Mr. Smith assumed personal charge At a not distant date the United of the operation of the railroad, and States may draw a considerable part later he was appointed general manof its meat supply from the reindeer ager. It is estimated that to comherds in Alaska. plete the Alaska Railroad-furnish Finance. The condition of the Ter-it with the necessary facilities and ritorial treasury for the year ended equipment for performing its proper December 31, 1924, was as follows: function as a transportation agency -an expenditure of $11,878,781 will be necessary. This expenditure for completion is due to the fact that in the original construction the early completion of the line was considered important, and it was found necessary to adopt many expedients, such as construction of wooden trestles from hastily cut and prepared native piling, the building of bridges on pile foundation instead of permanent masonry, the laying of track without the proper quantity of ballast under the ties, constructions of cuts and fills with only sufficient width to allow of laying the track, and similar methods of construction. The result of this character of construction is that the costs of maintenance are entirely out of proportion to what they will be when the railroad is completed.

Balance of cash on hand, Jan. 1,
1924
Total receipts from all sources..
Total disbursements under appro-
priation made by the Terri-
torial legislature
Balance of cash on hand, Dec.
31, 1924

$148,911.53
976,753.10

858,550.46

267,114.17

At the close of the year there were thirteen Territorial and four national banks doing business in the Territory. Combined deposits in the several Territorial banks June 30, 1925, totaled $6,920,937.97 as compared with total of $6,609,427.81 at corresponding call of June 30 of the year previous. The combined capital of all Territorial banks totaled $630,000 as compared with $605,000 for the year previous.

There are at present eighteen incorporated towns in Alaska, sixteen of which have a total assessed property valuation of $21,283,127.97. The rates of taxation range from 10 to 20 mills.

The Alaska Railroad, during the fiscal year 1925, made progress in economy and efficiency of operation and maintenance as follows:-Earnings from rail and water transporta

Tourist business for 1925 was

tion were $861,237 as compared with | tion with an increase in its enroll$907,174 in 1924. Expenses for ment of more than 50 per cent. over maintenance and operation were last year. The total enrollment is $2,152,802 as compared with $2,643,- 133. 750 for 1924. The deficit decreased

Health.-The Bureau of Education from $1,739,274 in 1924 to $1,295,- maintains for medical relief for the 099 in 1925, or 25.5 per cent. Serv-natives five hospitals with a staff of ice for other departments of the physicians and surgeons, nurses, Government, amounting to $92,277, is cooks, and orderlies at Noorvik, not included in the above revenue. Akiak, Nulato, Kanakanak, and JuSeveral bridges have been rebuilt neau, and contractual relations with and improvements made to tracks and a number of other hospitals in Alaska road bed. as well as outside in Washington and Oregon.

During 1924 there were recorded 568 deaths and 641 births in the Territory.

Tuberculosis continues to exact its heavy toll among the natives. During the first part of January diphtheria appeared at Nome. There were thirty-four cases with five deaths. A supply of antitoxin was dispatched from Fairbanks by special dog team, with no further deaths reported after its arrival.

It is believed that no great im

of the native races is possible until some form of Territorial contact is made with the various services and agencies engaged in medical relief among them.

The Alaska Road Commission's energies were largely directed to extending the general rehabilitation to trails and roads in remote portions of the Territory begun in 1920. This gradual rehabilitation, starting upon the more important projects, has now reached trails extending to all inhabited parts of the Territory. The work accomplished during the fiscal year may be summarized as follows: New construction, 464 miles wagon road, 45 miles sled road, 188 miles trail, and 1,040 linear feet of bridges of over 60-foot span. In addition provement in the deplorable condition several miles of wagon road were reconstructed, many miles graveled and a number of small bridges and culverts rebuilt. There were also many miles of various classes of roads and trails on which maintenance Commerce and Industries.-The work was done. The work of mainte- number of persons employed in the nance and rehabilitation has been fisheries of Alaska in 1924 was pushed and the roads and trails un- 25,194. The total active investment der the jurisdiction of the board are in the fisheries was $62,660,637, of in better shape than ever before. which $52,677,670, or approximately Education.-There are seventeen schools with 124 teachers and an enrollment of 2,822 pupils in incorporated towns. The per capita cost of these schools for the school year 1924-1925 was $106.63. Schools were maintained in fifty-six districts outside of incorporated towns. The per capita cost of these schools was $117.98. There were seventy-one teachers and a total enrollment of 1,258 pupils. In addition to the above, four cooperative schools were maintained. Citizenship night schools About 100,000 tons of coal were were conducted in ten communities. produced from eight mines as comA keener interest was shown in these pared with 119,826 tons from twelve schools than at any time since their mines in 1923. The Alaskan coals establishment in 1917. The third at present commercially available year of the Agricultural College and range in quality from low-grade ligSchool of Mines finds this institu- nite to semi-bituminous. Of the coal

84 per cent., was invested in the salmon-canning industry. The total value of Alaska fishery products, exclusive of aquatic furs, was $40,289,273, an increase of $1,610,448 over the preceding year.

The Alaska mines in 1924 produced $17,457,333 worth of minerals as against $20,330,643 in 1923.

Alaska produced 74,071,273 pounds of copper, valued at $9,703,721, as compared with 85,920,645 pounds in 1923, valued at $12,630,335.