thousands to a people who have never been charges of the Government and who ask for only a little assistance to their own efforts to make them useful and self-reliant citizens.

The Bureau of Education could easily make excellent use of an appropriation of $200,000. With this sum an effective medical service could be organized with which to meet the needs of these people. While the vast extent of the Territory will always be a handicap in covering this field, the sum mentioned would make possible the establishment of additional hospitals and appointment of physicians at strategical points in the Territory, where the greatest number of serious cases could be treated, and the appointment of nurses in communities not sufficiently populated to justify the establishment of a hospital large enough to warrant the services of competent

nurses.

As tuberculosis is so prevalent among the natives, special attention should be given to this disease. The bureau's estimates include the construction of tuberculosis cabinss in connection with the hospitals at Akiak and Kanakanak and the erection and maintenance in the Chilkat Valley of a tuberculosis sanitarium of 50 beds. It is to be sincerely hoped that this, as well as the other plans for this urgent work, will be speedily realized. The establishment of hospitals for natives is not only of benefit to the native people, but also to the whites. The present hospitals, excepting Juneau, are, and the proposed hospitals will be, located in sections not served by white hospitals. The appropriation act is so worded as to permit the admission of white patients, and this provision has already proved a godsend to sick and injured miners and prospectors.

There is at present no definite arrangement in regard to supplying the needs of natives in villages where Territorial schools are located. The bureau holds that when white inhabitants of such a village have secured a Territorial school for their com munity the bureau is not justified in continuing its school in a place where the total population, both native and white, is not large enough to support two schools. Upon the withdrawal of the native school, the bureau no longer has a representative in such a community and is, therefore, not in a position to attempt to look after the natives. It also holds that, since the Territorial school was voluntarily requested, the accompanying responsibility for the care of all the inhabitants and their interests is thereby assumed by the Territorial authorities. However, these local school boards have renounced this responsibility and the Territory has been unable to assist in the matter. Consequently the natives in these communities receive no attention at all. Were the bureau's appropriations sufficiently large to meet the needs of the natives this question would not arise. Under the present conditions, however, the bureau must expend its funds where the greatest benefits to the natives will accrue, and the communities sufficiently populated with white people to justify a Territorial school are not considered as dependent on the bureau's oversight as are more purely native villages.

Alaska reindeer service.-Statistics for the year ending June 30, 1917, are not yet available, but a conservative estimate would place the total number of reindeer in Alaska at 95,000. This large number is the result of the introduction into Alaska of 1,280 reindeer from Siberia. The statistics for the year ending June 30, 1916, show a total of 82,151 reindeer, distributed among 85 herds. Of this number, 56,045, or 58 per cent, were owned by 1,293 natives; 3,390, or 4 per cent, by the United States; 5,186, or 6 per cent, by missions; and 17,530, or 22 per cent, by Laplanders and other whites. That this industry is of paramount importance to the natives interested is recognized in the fact that the income of the natives from this industry, exclusive of meat and hides used by themselves, amounted to $91,430. That the reindeer industry has proved a successful enterprise from a financial standpoint is seen in the following

table.

uration of 56,045 reindeer owned by natives n 1916, at $25.

al income of natives from reindeer, 1893-1916.

sation of 26,106 reindeer owned by missions, Laplanders, and other whites and the Government in 1916...

Total income of missions and Laplanders and other whites from reindeer, 1893-1916.

Total Government appropriations, 1893-1916..

Total valuation and income..

Gain (756 per cent)....

$1,401, 125

470,837

652,650 146,926

2,671,538

312,000

2,359, 538

This industry was introduced into Alaska for the sole purpose of making the natives momically independent in such portions of Alaska to which the industry could be adoted. In this the industry has been eminently successful. The distribution of deer has now been firmly established and the natives affected thereby are assured fa livelihood that is usually limited only by the individual's energy. Even in such sections where conditions are not favorable to the opportunities to realize any financial returns from reindeer, his herd provides the native and his family with food, clothing, and transportation, which are sufficient in themselves to prevent him from becoming a charge of the Government.

The distribution of the deer has been accomplished through a system of apprenticeship whereby a native serves four years as apprentice, at the end of which time he owns the deer called for by the contract of apprenticeship, namely, 6 deer the first year, 8 the second, and 10 each the third and fourth years. Having satisfactorily served his apprenticeship, he then becomes a herder and assumes charge of his herd. Each herder is required by the rules and regulations to take apprentices under the ame terms that he himself served as apprentice. The distribution is thereby perpetuated and will continue long after the Government itself owns no deer. While the primary object of the industry is to assist the natives and for this reason has been restricted to them as much as possible, the past three years have seen the entrance of the white man into the enterprise. The rules and regulations forbid natives to sell female deer, except to natives. However, certain Laplanders who were brought to Alaska for the purpose of instructing natives in the care of deer, for which they received reindeer, were not subject to this restriction and consequently a herd of about 1,200 deer was acquired by Lomen & Co., of Nome, during 1914. During 1915 this company, desiring to increase its herd and not finding any more Lapp deer conveniently available, negotiated a purchase of about 1,000 deer from herds of the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant of America, at Golovin. These herds were the result of a loan of deer made to the mission during the earlier days of the industry, when it was the desire of the Bureau of Education to distribute the deer as quickly as possible. The appropriations being small and the philanthropic enterprise being in line with missionary work, it was thought that the loan of a small herd to each mission in the field, with the understanding that the same method of distribution to the natives should be used as in the Government herds, would be of mutual assistance and would aid materially in the rapid distribution of the deer. Some of the earlier contracts covering such loans were drawn very loosely. It appears the Golovin mission's loan was made under oral agreement with the then local missionaries. Years later the missionaries had changed and the agreement was gradually forgotten, so that when the offer of about $18,000 was made by Lomen & Co. it was forthwith accepted. The matter has since been the subject of controversy between the bureau and the mission board, in which the former has tried to show the board that, although the legal reasons may be poor, the board is morally bound to preserve the original objects of the introduction of deer into Alaska, namely, the distribution among the natives. The final disposition of this matter depends on the outcome of litigation at present under way, in connection with a later and similar violation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church at Teller, which, in 1916, Bold about 300 deer to Lomen & Co. The loan to this mission is covered by written

contract, which it is alleged has been deliberately broken by the mission in its sale of female deer to other than natives. The matter is now in the hands of the Dan ment of Justice and its final outcome will be important, since it will affect t of all deer now held by missionary organizations in Alaska.

Four reindeer fairs were held during January and February, at Akiak on t kokwim, Shatolik in the Norton Sound region, Igloo on Seward Peninst Noatak in the Kotzebue Sound district. These fairs were largely attended by and whites who are interested in the reindeer industry. The usual contests en the week's festivities. Lectures were given daily on various phases of the discussions were held and many controversies arising in connection with the ship of deer and the personal affairs of herders and apprentices were settle native council elected by the delegates to the fairs. These conventions ha become permanent annual affairs, and their importance to the natives and the try can not be rated too highly. The rivalry engendered makes for increased i and renewed efforts in the various phases of reindeer work. The annual comp of methods means increased efficiency of herders and apprentices, and the am settlement of differences which invariably arise between reindeer men rest harmony and good-fellowship.

The needs of this service may be summarized in an increased appropriation purpose of employing two specialists, whose duties will be to introduce meth improvement of breeding and scientific handling of the deer; to investigate re diseases and establish means of combating them, and to give special attent matters pertaining to the improvement of the industry. This enterprise assumed proportions that make it imperative that it be handled in a scienti ner. The present appropriation of $5,000 is, and the past appropriations ha only large enough for the work of distributing the deer among the natives. of a lack of funds this distribution has necessarily been limited and very The time has now arrived when this industry must be handled with due re its size and importance. That Federal appropriations invested in this er bring a magnificent return has already been proved. Congress should, there hesitate in providing additional means for continued improvement and s management of this industry.

contract, which it is alleged has been deliberately broken by the mission in its sale of female deer to other than natives. The matter is now in the hands of the D ment of Justice and its final outcome will be important, since it will affect the s of all deer now held by missionary organizations in Alaska.

Four reindeer fairs were held during January and February, at Akiak on the kokwim, Shatolik in the Norton Sound region, Igloo on Seward Peninsula, Noatak in the Kotzebue Sound district. These fairs were largely attended by nat and whites who are interested in the reindeer industry. The usual contests enlive the week's festivities. Lectures were given daily on various phases of the w discussions were held and many controversies arising in connection with the own ship of deer and the personal affairs of herders and apprentices were settled by native council elected by the delegates to the fairs. These conventions have n become permanent annual affairs, and their importance to the natives and the ind try can not be rated too highly. The rivalry engendered makes for increased inter and renewed efforts in the various phases of reindeer work. The annual compari of methods means increased efficiency of herders and apprentices, and the amica settlement of differences which invariably arise between reindeer men results harmony and good-fellowship.

The needs of this service may be summarized in an increased appropriation for purpose of employing two specialists, whose duties will be to introduce methods improvement of breeding and scientific handling of the deer; to investigate reinde diseases and establish means of combating them, and to give special attention to matters pertaining to the improvement of the industry. This enterprise has n assumed proportions that make it imperative that it be handled in a scientific ma

ner.

The present appropriation of $5,000 is, and the past appropriations have bee only large enough for the work of distributing the deer among the natives. Becau of a lack of funds this distribution has necessarily been limited and very gradua The time has now arrived when this industry must be handled with due respect 1 its size and importance. That Federal appropriations invested in this enterpris bring a magnificent return has already been proved. Congress should, therefore, no hesitate in providing additional means for continued improvement and scientifi management of this industry.

O