Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-14

now practically inaccessible, but which
is known to possess great possibilities
from a mineral and agricultural point
of view. / wish to emphasize here,
however, that supplementary to rail-
roads, and as producers of added ton
mage for railroad transportation, there
should be a largely increased appropri-
alton by Congress for the construction
and maintenance of new roads and
trails"
Health conditions among the white
people of Alaska, said Governor
Strong, continue to be excellent
Among the native population, how
ever, diseases of various kinds are
widespread, this being especially true
in remote sections. in some parts of
southwestern Alaska and the eastern
shore CT Boring Sea where such things
as sanitation and hygiene are I'M
Known" he added. tuberculosis is
the principal disease, and there is no
doubt that if not eradicated, in the
near future, it will exterminate the
natives we'll within the present CEN
fury"
Governor Strong said that during
the summer, the Rev. ]. H. Condit. an
Alaskan missionary, visited native
villages of southwestern Alaska and
the eastern coast Of Boring Sea.
He described conditions among the
natives in those sections as little short
of horrible. The Governor said, Dis
ease, suffering and death are every
where apparent, neither age nor sex
being exempt. Sanitation and hygiene
in any form are absolutely unknown;
little medical relief can be obtained,
nor are there hospitals to care for the
sick and diseased. DIR. Condit found
children four and five years old who
had never learned to walk; they were
victims of disease and neglect, of hun
ger and dirt and cold"
Missionary societies could not cope
with those conditions, Governor
Strong said. He urged the establish
ment of well-equipped hospitals and
the education of the native in SANTA
ton and hygiene.
The fisheries industry, second in inn
pcrtance to mining in the territory,
calls loudly for the protecting care of
the federal government" Governor
is the victim of neglect, and this ne
glect is directly attributable to the
insufIiciency of funds to employ the
necessary personnel to enforce the
laws and regulations for the protection
of the fisheries and for their proper
supervision and extension. fragrant vi
olations of these laws on the part of
fisheries operators are common oc-
curence and attempts to prosecute
known violators have been only par
TALLY successful. The waste of fish at
many of the canneries is excessive
Governor Strong declared that the
waters of Alaska had been exploited
for their wealth for many years, but
that at no time had the exploiters con-
tributed an adequate return for their
privileges.
1.-THE system of rebating taxes" he
said, lin return for the release OF
salmon fry by some of the cannery
operating hatcheries is, and
always has been; more or less or a
solemn farce. No one has benefited ex-
cept the cannery companies which
are thus given direct bonus by the
operation of the rebating system and
the government has been deprived
yearly of a substantial amount of
taxes.
.'These fisheries should be held in
trust for all the people and not re-
served for wholesale exploitation. rms
statement applies not alone to the
salmon fisheries, but to all the others
prosecuted in Alaska; and those who
are engaged in the industry should be
to pay a just and reasonable
tax for the privileges which they en-
joy." The Governor added that taxes
were levied on the salmon output
alone
Gradual transition from placer to
lode mining was indicated in the gold
industry, Governor Strong said, but
the building of roads probably would
result in increased output from the
placer mines. Decrease in the 1913
output, he said, was partly accounted
for by shortage of water in the plac-
er mining regions which curtailed OPP
erations. Governor Strong urged that
Alaska be given a full territorial form
of government.
Under enlarged powers" he said,
mo additional expense to the federal
government would be entailed, and
matters which properly belong to the
legislative functions of the local leg
islature could be dealt with in way
suited to the needs and requirements
of the territory"
He declared the need of an attorney
general for the territory was i'm
perative."