The Alaska daily empire., 1923-12-06
ALASKA ACTIVITIES Of BUREAU
OF EDUCATION TOLD IN REPORT
MADE BY SECRETARY OF INTERIOR

WASHINGTON, Dec 6.--Regarding
the Bureau of Education work in
Alaska, with respect to the natives,
Secretary Work in his annual report
says that to make all the detectives
of the Bureau in Alaska anything
like 100 per cent. effective would re.
quire infinitely more money than
is now appropriated BY Congress
Educational opportunity is now pro
vides for possiblit 81 per cent. OF
the natives. whiles medical Nrelief Is
extended to an even less proportion.
AS an instance OF the lack at this
point, Is per cent. OF the natives
have tuberculosis and per cent.
of deaths arise from this disease,
but there is not tuberculosis hos
nital for natives in the entire Ter
ritory.
During the year the field force
in Alaska included superintendents
144 teachers. physicians, 16 nurses
3 nurses in training, II hospital at.
tendants, and hdrders in charge OF
reindeer belonging to the govern
ment Seventy-fise schools were in
operation, with an enrolment of ap-
proximatcly 1000 Orphanages were
at Kanakanak and Tyonek
for the care of the children left des-
titute by an epidemic of influenza
which prevailed In. those regions a
few years ago.
The Bureau maintains hospitals
at Juneau, Kanakanak, Akiak, Nulato.
and Noorvik Inadequate as is the
medical service to meet the needs
of the entire no,iYe population, It
has neveatheless accomplished graft
tying results. During the year 1921
20. 6,4O3 treatments were given to
1924 patients by physicians and at
hospitals. In the villages the nurses
gave $3.50 treatments to 1917 pa
tients; at 81 schools 1869 treat
ments were given.
heinoeer Industry
The reindeer industry has expend-
ed until it has assumed chief i'm.
portance in the Bureaus activities in
behalf of the natives. Herds are
now found near all of the principal
native settlements of Western AL
aska from the Arctic to the Pacific
Ocean. So rapidly have the herds
increased that the total number OF
reindeer in Alaska is now estimated
at 100000, of which about 100000
are owned by the natives themselves.
The reorganization of this important
industry is one of the main prob
lens now confronting the bureau.
The present commercial value OF the
Alaskan reindeer herds is approx
mately s7,50000O. or 100000 more
than the sum paid by the United
States to Russia for the Territory
This does not take account OF some
200 900 reindeer slaughtered and used
in the past. The possibilities Tor
reindeer raising In Alaska are almos'
l;mitless. and the region producing
the reindeer moss necessary for win
ter grazing would probably support
900 900 head.
One of the greatest problems In
the past in connection with the Al
aska activities OF the bureau has
been the securing OF transportation
of appointees and supplies from Sc
attle to the remote settlements. The
bureau now has its own vessel. lr
April, 1920, the y. s. S. Boxer D
wooden vessel which had been used
as a training ship for naval cadets
was transferred from the Navy lie
to the Interior Department
for use by the bureau in connection
with its work in Alaska. Funds 10
cover the expense of fitting the vessel
for service in Alaskan waters were
in the Interior Department
appropriation act approved May a.
1922. The Boxer started om its.
maiden trip inn May Of this year
It is hoped that operation OF the
Boxer under the direct control of the
bureau will lessen the transpcrta-
ton problem.
Recommendation
The recommendations made pre-
which do not involve In
creased appropriations. have peen
all carried out with the
of moving the bureau &c
more suitable quarters. In Alaska
there is need Of reorganization OF
the entire work, with great emphasis
upon vocational training for the ma
lives. Likewise the medical woTk
and the reindeer industry require
plans for both OF
which will be submitted during the
coming fiscal year.