The Alaska daily empire., 1914-11-20
GoNE2NaRS RH

With an optlmiHtc picture oi ~. sslaa future Govenor J. r. A slgons in his annual report 10 seegelat8 ol the Interior Franklin x. Lane urged that the government exereiae oipser supervision for lhe consesyatlon ol the territory's weallh oi n5hegseH. pointed out tbe need for Che eonslrnc, tion ol ystem of wagon roads aud trsiis to supplement government reil, ro0ds and declared means mpsf be taken Co stump out diaease among .he native population.
 With the nromise that the future holds. aaid Gov strongi sand the eN- net knowledge o1 the e2ten' ano 3aI. lety of tho great mineral and other .resources of AlRskal coupled with the new breed policy of development which the goyornment has lpaugarated Al- asl,n, t is confidently believed VIII hereafter occupy an important piace In tho mining Industrial and econo- mic history Of the United States.
 Population Shove inefa1ee,
 It is estimated that there are now Ss.00O white people in the Territory an lncrease of 5000 over Inst years estimate. The total value oi the 1913 mineral output was Sl9440,SS6. and the total value Of the products oi the Alaskan fisheries was Sl5,87s058. Both showed some decline from the preced- ing year. The Territory's commerce. ln the last fiscal year showed exports of more than $6l,0OOOOO--a decrease because of lesser gold production while the United States sold mer. chandise worth S21929,16O to the ter ritory
 Aaskn's mineral resources, Gov. Strong said waited development to restore some of the foreign supplies cut of by the European war Lack of an adequate coal supply ho said had retarded industrial development Con- gress recently passed a leasing bill to open the coal fields in the far north ern territory.
 Coke Needed For Copper
 Although copper production said Gov Strong, 'is now important and promises to increase largely within the coming years Given a supply Of coke which cannot now bo had at prices which make it available for Industrial use, the copper industry would be greatly stimulated by Che erection of smelters for the treat ment of the ores.
 The governor said that the agricul- tural possibilities of the territory are beginning to be appreciated. There are probably 50.0OO.0OO acres Of land suitable for agricultural purposes he said. and millions of acres adapted for cattle raising and dairying. Outlining other sources of natural riches in lSin' erals and forests. the governor said the territory must present inviting field for the home seeker. for capital and for labor. for men of brain and brawn such as have caused the great West to bloom and blossom.
 Railroads to Do Much.
 "The construction Of railroads by the government" Che governor added ewHl be a mems of opening to deyel opment 9 vast extent Of territory now practically inaccessible. bat which E ] known to possess great possibhiae. from a mineral and agricultural stand point of view.
 "I wish to emphasize here. however that supplementary to railroads en' as producers of added tonnage io railroad transportation, there shonl' be a largely increased appropriation ! by congress for the construction an' maintenance Of new roads and trails I "Health conditions among the whit people of Alaska, said Gov Strong "continue to be excellent Among tn native population, however disease of various kinds are widespread, thi being especially true in remote sec lions, in some parts of Southwestern I Alaska and the eastern shore or bei 1 ing Sea, where such things as gam I tatlon and hygiene are unknown. n added. eTuberculosis is the principa disease, and there Is no doubt cha lff not eradicated in the near future ! it win exterminate the natives wei within the present century.
 Native Conditions Horrible.
 Gov. Strong said that during th ! summer Rev. J. F. Condit, an Alaa | kan missionary, visited native yillag ] es of Southwestern Alaska and th ] eastern coast of Boring sea
 He described conditions among tn' natives Of those sections af htti' lsbort of horrible. the governor said I sDisease, suffering and death arc ey 1 erywhere apparent neither age noi sex being exempt Sanitation and hy giene in any form arc absolutely on known, little medical relief can be oD tained nor are there hospitals to cor' | for the sick and diseased. Dr. Con dit found children and . years old who he'd never learned to walk, they were victims of disease and neglect of hunger and Of dirt and cold.
 Wanta doapltals Established.
 Missionary societies could not cope with those conditions, Gov Strong sad He urged the establishment Of we'll equ pped hospitals and the education of the native in sanitation anu ny gione.
 The fishing industry second in i'm portance to mining In the territory "calls loudly for the protecting care of the federal government GOV strong declared. Tt has been and # is sHil she victim of neglect and tnis neglect is directly attributable 70 lne