The bridge at Rockville spanning the Virgin River, also provided for in the deficiency appropriation, is nearing completion. The construction of this bridge makes possible the Zion Park-North Rim of Grand Canyon Cut-off Road, which will shorten the distance between these two points about 30 miles.

The most notable park improvement, however, has been the new trail construction. The West Rim Trail, 42 miles up the wall of the canyon, with a 9-mile loop on top, is perhaps one of the most scenic trails in the national park system. The new Lady Mountain footpath, 2 miles in length with over 1,400 steps chiseled out of the rock, two ladders, and 2,000 feet of hand cable, is a spectacular foot trail affording especially magnificent views from the summit of Lady Mountain. A third new trail known as the Highline Trail, 111⁄2 miles in length, has been constructed and the most difficult stretches of the East Rim Trail rebuilt during the year.

The installation of tourist accommodations and facilities by the Utah Park Co., not only in Zion but in southwestern Utah, assures the development of this section for tourist travel. The new camp layout in Zion, with ample central building and surrounding cottages for sleeping quarters, is now under way and should be ready by the opening of the 1925 season. This arrangement does away with the plan for a large hotel on the floor of the canyon.

With the further road improvement, which is slowly but steadily going forward in southern Utah and in the Arizona strip north of the Grand Canyon, Utah's scenic attractions, combined with the north rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, are becoming more readily accessible. When the beauty, variety, and colorfulness of these attractions become better known-and already travel is showing a steady annual increase-there will be no more popular tourist trip than this in America.

Wind Cave National Park, S. Dak.-Again this season the outstanding feature was the heavy increase in the number of visitors to this park. The protection force was inadequate to meet the demand placed upon it; new lighting equipment for the cave is essential for safety; and watering and camping facilities, now taxed to their limit, must be extended. The poor condition of the park roads caused much adverse comment, as the State approach roads were in excellent condition. More funds must be provided for the upkeep of the Wind Cave Park if it is to keep pace with the demand of park travel.

Lassen Volcanic National Park, Calif.-One of the first problems to be solved when the active administration of this park is undertaken is the extinguishment of the private holdings, of which there are a number. It is hoped that this may be accomplished by ex

17221-24- -8

changes. While surveys have been made for a complete road system to be developed when the general road budget funds become available, tentative plans call for construction only where roads can be built entirely on Government land, as it would be unwise to do any road construction that would enhance the value of the private property. The topographic mapping of the park is to be undertaken by the Geological Survey, some preliminary control work having been accomplished this year. This map will be invaluable in proceeding with the development work it is hoped shortly to undertake to open the varied attractions of this park to the public.

In spite of the lack of roads and of tourist facilities in the park, the number of visitors to the park steadily increases, showing a demand for recreational use that warrants early consideration. Excellent cooperation has been given by the Lassen Volcanic National Park Association in promoting the interests of the park.

Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska.-Mount McKinley Park was seen by 62 actual visitors last year, which is almost double the number who visited the park in 1923. In addition to these actual tourists, many prospectors and miners go through the park, but these are not considered in the light of visitors and are not recorded. At the present time only the hardiest travelers actually get into the park, as a pack and saddle trip is necessary to get inside. A camp is operated at Savage River, 12 miles from the railroad where comfortable sleeping and mess arrangements have been provided for 24 persons.

Road and trail work in the park was carried on during the year through the close cooperation of the Alaska Road Commission, and when the road funds under the three-year program authorized by Congress become available the road and trail work included in these plans will be handled by the commission.

Platt National Park, Okla.-Platt Park, which is open all year, was visited by 134,874 visitors last year, compared with 117,710 in 1923. On July 4 alone over 20,000 people visited the Bromide Springs and drank of the medicinal waters. The park is gaining in favor as a health and pleasure resort.

Sullys Hill National Park, N. Dak.-Sullys Hill is not actively administered by the national park service. The reservation is utilized primarily as a game preserve by the Bureau of Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, and as such is an important factor in preserving the wild life indigenous to the region.

National monuments under the control of the national park service. Two new national monuments were established and placed under the control of the national park service, bringing the number of these reservations up to 30. These were the Carlsbad Cave National Monument in New Mexico, a series of connected caves beauti

fully decorated with limestone stalactites and stalagmites, and the craters of the Moon National Monument, in Idaho, a volcanic region which in appearance closely resembles the surface of the moon as seen through a telescope.

The outstanding feature of the administration of the national monuments during the year was the designation of Custodian Frank Pinkley, of Casa Grande and Tumacacori National Monuments, to the position of superintendent of Southwestern Monuments. Under this arrangement Mr. Pinkley has general supervision over the monuments in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Mr. Pinkley's appointment to this position has greatly simplified the handling of monument affairs in the Southwest and has relieved the office of much detail work.

Under an appropriation of $5,000 for general repairs to the historic and prehistoric ruins which many of the monuments were created to preserve, repair work was carried on at Casa Grande, Tumacacori, Gran Quivira, and Aztec Ruin.

The area of the Pinnacles National Monument, in California, was increased from 2,653.46 acres to 2,972.46 acres, and that of the Scotts Bluff was reduced from 2,053.83 acres to 1,893.83 acres.

A total of 248,555 persons visited the national monuments during the past year, as compared with 212,826 during 1923.

THE TERRITORIES

Since the transfer under Executive order of July 15, 1909, of the supervision of affairs in Porto Rico to the insular bureau of the War Department, the former Territories of New Mexico and Arizona have been admitted as States, and there now remains under this department the supervision of but two territories-Alaska and Hawaii.

ALASKA

The Governor of Alaska, Scott C. Bone, in his annual report, says that the outstanding achievement of the year affecting and of enduring benefit to Alaska was the enactment of legislation by Congress to protect and conserve the fisheries. Strict regulations now control and will continue to control this colossal industry, and, vitally concerned in its perpetuity, the Territory is supporting the policy of conservation inaugurated and cooperating in the enforcement of the laws and regulations.

While not appreciably gaining in population the Territory, better known and understood as an inviting, habitable land, is steadily progressing and developing, and faith in its future is strong. Camps that sprang into being over night in stampede days have dwindled or passed, but in their stead have come thriving villages and towns which have acquired a permanency and are destined to be cities of

the future. Industry is expanding and on a more stable basis. Capital again has its eye on the Northland. Enterprises of magnitude, halted by the abnormal war period, are overcoming obstacles and approaching realization, and certainly the decade to come will show substantial growth and prosperity.

Improved transportation facilities are making a homogeneous country of Alaska. Widely removed sections have been brought into touch and relationship by the operation of the Government railroad and the building of roads and trails. Divergent interests of yesterday are merged into the common cause of general upbuilding of to-day. Distinctive frontier aspects are disappearing year by year. A journey that once consumed a fortnight or month by dog team is now made quickly by train or truck, and an airplane mail service from Fairbanks to Iditarod has furnished added proof of modernization. Automobiles have come into use throughout the territory. The Richardson Highway-still called a trail-is fairly alive with motor touring parties during the short summer season. Juneau, with thirty-odd miles of road, has nearly 300 licensed automobiles and all the coast towns maintain a taxi service. But roads and roads and still more roads and trails are still essential to the opening of the great domain. Countless acres in the interior and vast stretches on the islands have never been traversed or prospected.

Further impetus was given to mining during the year, especially in the Fairbanks district, on the Seward Peninsula, and on the islands of southeastern Alaska.

Fox farming has developed on a large scale and the growth of this industry justifies the establishing of fox farming experimental stations in southeastern and southwestern Alaska.

Guarding welfare of people.-Alaska emulates and practices Uncle Sam's spirit of paternalism in zealously looking after the welfare of its people. The helping hand is extended in many directions. Probably no State of the Union is quite so generous or vigilant in looking after its white population. In theory the Government takes care of the other half-the Indians and Eskimos. Almshouses are unknown and poverty is seldom in evidence. Adequate provision is made for the relief of destitution and the care of dependent children, and worn-out or afflicted prospectors find a haven in the Pioneers' Home at Sitka. Hardships encountered in the wilds are rarely accompanied by hunger, as game and fish abound and a beneficent nature supplies bodily wants. Shelter cabins are maintained on the trails and funds are always available to organize searching parties for the rescue of lost persons.

An old-age pension system supplements these helpful Territorial agencies and further insures the comfort of those in need. Originally

a monthly allowance limited to $12.50 was provided for impoverished men over 65 years who had lived in the Territory for 15 continuous years, and a maximum allowance of $25 for women of 60 years likewise qualified, but these amounts were subsequently increased to $25 and $45, respectively, and to-day 183-161 men and 22 women-are carried on the Territorial pension roll, drawing various sums according to their need. A substantial addition to the annual appropriation of $30,000 is now required to meet steadily growing appeals for aid. The average number of inmates of the Pioneers' Home is 82, all men, making a total of 265 who receive Territorial bounty. Alaska in pioneer days was essentially a man's country, which explains the small number of women pensioners. Approximately $250,000 is expended biennially toward charitable ends. Considering the Territory's scant population-30,000 whites-and its necessarily limited revenues, these liberal public benefactions are rendered possible only by the smplicity and utmost economy of administration. Every dollar appropriated for relief goes to the beneficiaries without administrative cost. Whether such a liberal system of paternalism could be maintained with a growth of population is problematical.

Education. The Territory is equally generous in meeting educational needs. Its public-school system, although yet in the formative stages, is maintained at a high standard and is the pride of the Territory. A paring of the budget invariably excepts the schools. With an enrollment of only 3,500 pupils, the cost of educating the children exceeds $100 per capita per year. The sum total of appropriation for the current biennium was $801,700.17, including $90,000 for the Agricultural College and School of Mines at Fairbanks, in addition to the annual Government endowment of $50,000.

Natives.-Indians and Eskimos, commonly called natives, who comprise almost one-half of the population, do not share in these Territorial benefactions and educational advantages.

Occupying the status of wards of the Nation, the Government, through its Bureau of Education, conducts native schools and maintains hospitals and otherwise generously, if not always efficiently or adequately, provides for them. As these wards are scattered over a wide domain, the difficulties attending their care are manifold, and the aid given them falls far short of the Territorial care extended to the whites, whose needs are under more direct supervision.

Tribal customs are largely of the past and native life has undergone a transformation from savagery and heathenism to civilization and Christianity. Notable progress has been made in southeastern Alaska. Kake, Bayview, and Hydaburg are model Indian villages. They have local government, with a mayor and council, and compare most favorably with communities of like size in the States. At Bay