The Alaska daily empire., 1918-12-24
Governor in His Annual Re. port to Congress Pays High Compliment
 to the Natives.
POWER BOAT IS NEEDED
Declares That Difficulties in Getting Supplies Could Then Be
 Overcome.

tary Lanes report to Congress includ. ing the report of Gov. Thomas Riggs Jr., of Alaska, touches upon the Al aska Native school service in Alaska as follows:
 The schools for Native children in Alaska are under the supervision of the Bureau of Education of the Interior Department, being directly supervised by five district superin- tendents in Alaska. responsible to the chief of the Alaska Division of the Bureau of Education, with headquar- ters in Seattle For the past year these schools numbered Il, two of which were Summer schools, having a total enrolment of approximately $500 a.s.5 ae. 4lt These Native Alaskans are self-re liant. -biding, and honest, and the only help that they have had from the Federal Government arc the establishment of schools, in the larger villages, a little medical re- lief, and the introduction of reindeer among the Northern and Western tribes. This assistance has been giv- en them through the Bureau of Edu- cation. That the Natives are loyal l to the United States has been es pecially proved the past year through the work which the Natives have contributed for the Red Cross and he purchases they have made of Liberty Bonds and war savings stamps. Through the agency of the .eachers, Red Cross auxiliaries have been established in many Native vii lages. and the jealous and untiring work of these Native organizations is a great credit to them. The work lone in knitting, sewing, etc., for he Red Cross is equal to the best work done in white organizations. Reports from II Native villages in Southeastern Alaska show that SIP, }2OS5 was contributed toward war. -elief funds and that $9700 worth ,f Liberty Bonds and $283.70 worth ,f war savings stamps were pur- chased. In these villages there are 1908 Red Cross members, and dur ng the year 16 sweaters, 328 socks, l13 wristlets, 220 gun wipes, 30 scarfs, and 12 moccasins were made for the Red Cross.
 The need of power boat for the Bureaus work has been especially emphasized this year. The schools nave been supplied this season with he greatest difficulty, and the ship nents to the various stations have )een necessarily unsatisfactory and laphazard. After completing the
 Summers shipping the boat would )e available as a training ship at
 he Bureaus stations in Southern and Southeastern Alaska, where naviga- ions is open throughout the year. Thus the boat would be put to useful service the year around.
 The Native people are primarily ,ishermen; they are an important actor in the country, and fishing to hem is essentially means of liyli' hood. If commercial fishing must be pcrmlJteu III TlNcTS, d PohSy VI AfAAAS'S ed fishing is the only one that will safeguard the food supply Of the Natives.
 During the past year the Bureau of Education operated a very com plete 20-bed hospital for Natives at Juneau, while the hospital at Kama
 kanak, on Bristol Bay, was enlarged and completely equipped for Il beds capacity. A modern hospital was erected and placed in operation at Awiak, on the Kuskokwim. It's ca pacity Is also Il beds, together with comfortable quarters for the staff A small hospital in charge of phys ician and nurse was also maintained
 1t Nulato, on the Yukon. In addition Q the hospitals physicians were sta toned at Nome and Cordova, and contracts were had with resident physicians at Ellamar, Candle. and
 Council to care for cases in their To- calities. The Bureaus appropriation
 of $62, 300 is just half of the minimum
 amount needed during normal times
 10 make an effective beginning.