1938: Alaska

Economic Progress.

'In practically all lines of endeavor,' said Governor John W. Troy in his annual report. 'Alaska made substantial progress during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1938.' Commerce, which enjoyed a healthy increase over the previous year, showed exports to the United States of $81,906,036 and imports of $42,701,222 with a trade balance in favor of Alaska. Of the exports from Alaska, the most important was canned salmon comprising 52.1 per cent in value and valued at $42,677,210; gold comprising 22.7 per cent and valued at $18,575,022 and other fish and fish products valued at $7,547,815. Fiscal 1938 showed an increase in the amount of gold and copper ore exported, but a decline in the amount of fish, particularly salmon.

Other aspects of Alaskan economic life continued in a healthy condition. On June, 30 the eleven territorial and four national banks in the Territory showed deposits of $15,308,175, an increase of $533,512 over the previous year.

Transportation.

Records of the five regular steamship companies serving Alaska revealed a total number of 73,209 passengers carried as compared with 72,734 the previous year. The Government-owned Alaska Railroad, running regular passenger service between Seward and Fairbanks, with supplementary service out of Fairbanks to Nenana and McKinley Parks and out of Seward to Anchorage and Palmer, had total operating expenses of $2,142,617.97 and total revenues of $2,212,844.65. With other small profits the railroad had a total income in excess of expense of $76,703.69.

Transportation improvements during fiscal 1938 included the completion of a $450,000 hotel project at the McKinley Park station on the Alaska Railroad, the completion, by the Alaska Road Commission, of 56¾ miles of road and 54 miles of sled roads, besides improvement and maintenance of existing roads. The Bureau of Public Roads of the United States Government expended $634,097 during the past year while the Territorial Road Board operated on a territorial appropriation for the biennium ending March 31, 1939, amounting to $400,000. The lack of a complete highway system in the Territory has developed a large volume of passenger and freight traffic by airplane which has led to a growing demand for more and larger airfields. Sixteen new fields were constructed during the year, making 109 in all, and many existing fields were improved. Seaplane floats have also been established at Craig, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Hoonah, Tenakee, and Skagway. Alaska benefits each year from the River and Harbor Acts of the United States Congress, and projects were completed during 1937 and 1938 at Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Seward, Nome and other harbors. During the year a new radio beacon was established on St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands, and a new concrete light and fog signal building was placed in commission at Mary Island Light Station. For the year ending June 30 1938, 5,634,461 passenger miles were flown in Alaska and 3,415,750 pounds of freight carried.

Education; Medical Service.

Social progress is demonstrated through the work of the University of Alaska, with a total enrollment, including short courses, of 952, through the work of the Agricultural Experiment Station, which carried on 14 projects during the year at the University and Matanuska stations, by the extension service and by the establishment of a territorial experiment station for fur-bearing animals. Four-year course high schools accredited by the University of Alaska are maintained in eleven cities. In addition the Office of Indian affairs operated 90 elementary schools and 2 vocational schools with an increased enrollment for the year. For medical service to the Alaskan natives the sum of $370,000 was appropriated for the fiscal year 1937-38. Seven hospitals were operated while 12 others furnished hospitalization on a contract system. The most serious native medical problem continues to be tuberculosis and little impression is being made on it with existing facilities. Statistics reveal that mumps led all recorded communicable diseases during the year, followed by tuberculosis.

Matanuska Valley Project.

The Matanuska Valley colonization project, established in May 1935 by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and continued under the direction of the Works Progress Administration has continued to develop. Although the original 200 settlers have declined to 165, those remaining have cleared 2,300 acres of timber land, successfully harvested two crops and are working out a successful community through the Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperative Association under the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation.

Relations with Japan.

A difficult Alaskan situation was improved on March 25 when Japan assured the United States that she would stop her vessels from salmon fishing in Alaskan waters.

Recommendations of Governor.

In his annual report Governor Troy urged the development of aeronautics through Government aid, and a continuation of aid to roads, schools and other public projects. He urged that the full territorial form of Government be given to Alaska, and suggested that the serious liquor problem among the Indians be met by reenacting a law of 1913 forbidding the selling of intoxicating liquors to Indians.