The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-11-27
SMOKE REPORTED, INDICATING EIELSOM STILL ALIVE
Alaska Makes Progress in Past Fiscal
 Year, Co., Parks Reports to Secretary
 Wilbur; Makes Many Recommendations

1ncreaSed prosperity was expcri- enced in Alaska during the fiscal year ended June 30, last, Gov. George A. Parks declared in his an- nual report to Secretary Ray Lyman Wilbur, of the Department of the Interior, which was made public today.
 The returns derived from the natural resources of Alaska are in- dicative of the economic and indus trial conditions in the Territory. The major industries are fishing and mining and the combined value of the products from these sources for 19e3 shows an increase of about 25 per cent over that of 1927" and this was marked "by an increase in the capital investments and num- Der of persons employed" the re- port said.
 Presents Closeup View
 The report is one of the most comprehensive ever written by the Governor and presents a closeup view of conditions prevailing in the Territory for the period it covers. It reviews the interests, activities and word of the several Federal bu- reaus and, also, the Territorial ad- ministration.
 Bank deposits increased from $l2,196,500 to $12,754,500 during the year gain of $558,000. The assess- ed valuation of property in incor- porated towns jumped to $23,444,- 75l, a gain of S753,8 over the pre- vious year.
 The Territorial Treasury's cash balance at the close of the fiscal year was $1,o59, ,153.31, one of the largest in it's history.
 Labor conditions remained satis- factory. During the year labor was well employed in nearly every section of the Territory, and, with the exception of one district, there were no widespread epidemics," said Gov Parks.
 Increased Income Taxes @1
 Federal income tax collections from Alaska, as shown by the Col lector Of Internal Revenue, increas- ed five per cent over 1927.
 The report of the Collector of Customs for the calendar year 1928, Secretary Wilbur was told, showed very gratifying increase over 1927 in the value of commodities pro- duced in and shipped from the Ter ritory. The total value of exports was s74,849,918, or $17,288,271 more than the previous year.
 Imports were valued at $32 ,636 ,833, or s3,739,537 less than 1927. The balance of trade in favor of Alaska was s42,2l3,085 as compared to $2O,- 566, 6,605 for 1927. "The increase is accounted for almost entirely by the large salmon pack"
 Salmon Fishery Outstanding
 Continuing, the Governor said: "The outstanding feature of the year from an economic viewpoint | was the remarkable improvement l in the production of the salmon | fisheries and this was the result of | regulations adopted by the Bureau of Fisheries during the previous 
 The value of the fisheries pro- | ducts, manufactured, exclusive of | acquatic furs, was $54,545 ,588, an increase of $14,382, ,288 over the year. It was estimated | that the value of the catch to the fishermen was about S17,343, ,000. This wasi mainly in salmon and herring. In round figures the sal mon catch landed by fishermen was proximate 517,069 ,403 pounds and herring 134,020,216 pounds.
 A total of 31,086 persons were in the commercial fisher es in 1928, an increase of 2,214 f ,ver the previous year. Of these 7,326 were whites, 5,614 natives, and he remainder Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, Negroes, in the ,rder named. Tn the salmon can- ling industry alone, 24,428 per- 1 ons were employed to pack 6,O83,- '03 cases valued at $45,383 1885. It s estimated that 89,584,685 salmon if all species were taken. The herring industry was marked y somewhat greater production ( han that of 1927. An important { actor was the discovery of large $ chools of this fish in the vicinity { f Dutch Harbor. Sixty-five plants l were operated, employing 1892 per- { ons, producing 16,056,995 pounds if Scotch cured herring, 20,0O4, ,164 bounds of meal, 2,543,6 500 gallons of il and 6,553 ,266 pounds of bait. The alue of the production was $3,O98,- AT.
 Decline in Halibut
 The halibut industry suffered a ecline in prices and in the amount z f the total catch for the year. ' Employed in this industry were ,24l persons who took 31 ,567 900 I 'ounds of fish having value of I 3 ,094. 900 as compared with 34,491,-
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