The Alaska daily empire., 1923-03-07
nial expert audits provided for.
 Relief and Pensions

In the care given to needy pD- neers, mon and women. and other deserving persons. the Territory has been proyideat and generous. Il has set an excellent example to older communities in the administration of it's charities. It's pension system in- wolves no costly methods of handling Money appropriated for relief goes. directly to those in need. It is doubt- ful whether any other Territory eyer made as good a record in caring for it's own.
 "The Alaska Pioneers Home is ef iicently managed and it is gratify- ing to note for the last calendar year a marked reduction in maintenance costs, approximating nearly S12,000 without in the least curtailing the comforts of the institution Looking ahead, it is clear that the present old and decaying structures must, within few years, be rebuilt or re- placed with new buildings. Grounds for gardening aN small farming in connection with the institution woul1 greatly facilitate it's successful man agemcnt.
 "Extension of Territorial charities should be approached with caution consistent with growth and possible revenues. Under the liberal existing system the outlay must naturally in crease with increasing population.
 "A merging of the appropriations for the relief of Restitution and the care of dependent children is ad- visable and here recommended, as their aims are virtually the same. For the biennium deficit of the fund at the disposal of the Juvenile Courts developed. owing to unusual demands, whereas the relief fund shows a substantial balance. The es- tablishment Of two government train ing schools has been authorized and this will obviate the necessity and added expense of sending dependent children to distant points outside the Territory.
 ''The system of transporting in sane persons outside the Territory for care and treatment under con tract is commendable only in it's eco nomical phase as affecting Alaska Otherwise it is objectionable and a better system must be devised and substituted as soon as the Terri tory s means will permit.
 Mine Inspection Work
 'The Territorial Mine Inspector, who had served with recognized ii. delity and competency. resigned on June 30, 1922. to accept the position of Supervising Mining Engineer for 'Alaska of the Federal Bureau of Mines. Under a cooperative arrange ment with that Burcau and a eoor. dir of work the Territory was enabled to ret3in the benefit of his services wlthcut cost, except as to clerk hire incident to his continued duty as Labor Commissioner and. minor office expense. Thus a saving ef several thousand dollars to the Territory was effected, with an inn proved and enlarged service. The current mining report, prepared jointly, which has been placed iF your hands, is a. most complete and satisfactory review 0i mineral condi- tions in the Territory and attests convincingly the value of coordina- tion. I strongly recommend. in view of the fact that the Bureau of Mines is now equipped for larger field ac- tivfties in Alaska, that the coopera- tive arrangement be perpetuated, and that the Territory provide reason able fund to meet it's just share of the expense of the combined service. Such an arrangement is operative in connection with the mining industry in Utah and has abundantly demon strated it's economy, efficiency and general usefulness.
 The Fisheries
 Conservation of the fisheries of Alaska is of the utmost importance. Under system of reservation and regulation by zone. the government, through the Department of Com merce, is now undertaking, for the first time in the history of these fisheries, to compel conservation. Al askans justly look with disfavor upon such reserves of water or land and oppose the principle involved, but the system inaugurated as the only