The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-16
ALASKA DAILY EMPIRE SATURDAY, DECEMBER l6. l9l6

the present summer mail has been forwarded from Chitina, on the Cop per River & Northwestern Railroad to Fairbanks by automobile, over the government military road, and the experiment Is reported to have been a success, mall having been deliver ed in Fairbanks from Seattle in the unprecedented time of seven days. With further improvement in the military road. made possible by the increased appropriation by Congress, even this time may be reduced and regular mail route established un- til such time as the railroad is com pleted from Seward to the Interior, The post offices on the Yukon river and tributaries are served during the open season of navigation by steamers plying on those rivers, while the winter service Is by way of Cor. doya, Seward, Valdez, and Skagway on the coast.
 During the year the Post Office Department called for bids for an aeroplane mail service from Valdez and Seward to Fairbanks and other interior points and 10 Nome, but satisfactory tenders were not obtain able. Indeed, 1t is not probable that such a service can be afforded dur ing the winter season because of climatic conditions, though a sum- mer aeroplane service might be found satisfactory. However it may be that in time the difficulties which now seem to be presented can be overcome by improvements in aerial machines.
 Alaska Militia
 The act of Congress approved June 9, 1916. entitled An act for making for the national defense, and for other purposes" includes the organi- zation of the Alaska militia, but no steps have been taken to effect such organization. Alaska has nev. CT had any organized militia or reg ularly organized military force and there would seem to be no valid reason why this Territory should not contribute it's quota 10 the plan of national preparedness and de- rense. t is believed that no diffi- culty would be encountered in per fectlng an organization of the Ter ritorial militia of al least 1000 men. There are in Alaska many young men who have received some mill tary training. both in the United States army and in the National Guard of the various States.
 Library and Museum
 There has been no change in the status of the Alaska Historical Li- hrary and Museum during the year. Additions 10 the library, by cOntri- buttons, have been received from time to time and stored in the linn tied quarters available in the build. ing occupied by the governor as an office pending the construction of a suitable building in which the valua- ble collection of books, papers, and public documents, ethnological, and other objects may be properly shely- ed and displayed. There are in the collection of books and papers, own ed by the Territory a number of valuable works and papers. manu- scripts. etc. which were the prop erty of the Russian government at the time of the transfer of Alaska to the United States A part of this is in the, collection at Juneau, and a part in Sitka. the ancient capital. where they are stored. await ing the time when they can be re- moved to Juneau. a condition not now possible because fthe lack of a suitable place in which to store them. With the construction of a Federal building in Juneau in the immediate future, as now seems probable. provision will no doubt be made for suitable space for the Alas ka Historical Library and Museum. It is of great importance that such provisions be made.
 Mine Experimental Station
 One of the eight mine eXperiment- al stations authorized by Congress in 1915 10 be erected and maintained in a number of the mining States and Territories has been located at Fairbanks. in Interior Alaska, but, owing to the selection not having been determined until comparatively late in the seasonf coupled with un- certain transportation, the station will not be ready until next year. Anoth- CT of these stations should be locat- ed at Juneau. In Southeastern AL aska are number of the largest gold mines in the United States. be. sides a number Of smaller gold mines and copper mines on the coast and western AL lska A station located at Juneau would serve all the coastal region,