The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-09-06

tration in the welfare of the Alaska natives is braced in the extension of the Civilian Conservation Corps activities in the Territory During the fiscal year 1888 approximately S717O0o expended in eco work in Alaska and approximately two thirds of that amount was spent among the natives and for their benefit For the fiscal year 1939 the aot ment is $715O00 so that the program will not be cuS- tailed These funds have enabled the natives not only to draw sustaining wages during the period when they would otherwise be unemployed but has also made possible useful improvements in almost every native settlement in the Territory, particularly
 in central and southeastern Alaska Streets and roads have been built, sanitary conditions improved and least system has been installed It is now planned to ask for more money this work
 the Territory principally for the aid of the native people establishing better living conditions among them
 By special act of Congress certain provisions of the so-caled Wheeler Howard Act or the Indian Re- organization Act were extended to Alaska upon the expressed desire of the natives themselves Prepara- tions are now under way whereby through the pro- visions of that the natives will be largely aided
 in establishing businesses and industrial enterprises MT Zimmerman Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs who is in Alaska recently expressed his belief that in 1889, between million dollars and million dollars would be available for that pur- pose to the Alaska natives.
 While it is recognized that many desirable things still remain to be accomplished and that the mien- nium has not yet arrived it is yet true that the body of legislation and work mentioned is of in- comparable value to all of the natives of Alaska and
 that they have been the object of the special thought and of both the Territorial and Federal Admin istrations
 Nor does the foregoing tell the whole story. Per haps the most important feature of the work done by Delegate Dmond and other officials of the admin istration lies in the unprecedented enlargement and extension of appropriations for relief and education and medical aid to the Alaska natives Large appro- priations have been secured for the schools con- struction of hospitals well as for administration The hospital program. which looks toward the build ing of a sufficient number of hospitals to adequately take of the health problems of the natives, is now well under way, A hospital is nearly completed at Barrow another will be started this fall Bethel Money for a third one has been appropriated and that hospital will be built in Kanakanak The pro- gram of the Indian Bureau which has been at least tentatively approved by the Bureau of the Budget, calls for the construction of at least hospital per year. until sufficient number have been built to give the necessary service and particularly to control tuberculosis among the Indians and Eskmos. For the
 fiscal year 1889 more than $1 5OOOoO was appropriated by Congress for educational medical and relief work among the natives of Alaska
 It is also worthy to note that two years ago for the first time in the history of Alaska an appropra- tion made by Congress for the expressed purpose of giving indgent relief the Alaska natives, and such appropriations have been since continued.
 All in all. the record is of which everyone in Alaska take just pride and which the native people themselves undoubtedly appreciate whenever they fully informed of the facts.