here at the old village after their massacre of the Russians and defended themselves until the decisive "Battle of Alaska" in 1804, when the Russians established their supremacy in southeastern Alaska over the Indian tribes. Had the Russians not been successful in their attempt to subdue these Indians undoubtedly Alaska would have been settled by the English soon afterwards, and been retained by them, instead of coming into the possession of the United States through purchase from Russia. The graves of a Russian midshipman and six sailors killed in this battle are within the monument boundaries. The principal objects of interest in the Sitka National Monument are the 16 totem poles, relics of the aboriginal life of the region. Silently they stand, sentry-like, each telling its own story. Several of the totem poles in the Sitka monument are unequaled as relics of the work of the savage genealogists of the Alaskan tribes. They are of red cedar, gaily painted. The Interior Department is making every effort to preserve the poles, having the carvings restored by Indian workmen where vandalism has occurred, and repainting them as nearly as possible in their original colors. Another interesting feature of the monument is the witch-tree, an object of awe and veneration to present-day Indians. It was here that the Indians of other days held their weird trials for witchcraft, and on this tree the victims were hanged. The monument contains some beautiful forests, and upon entering it the road plunges at once into the shadows of the trees. Sitka National Monument is reached by road from the town of Sitka, a mile away, which is the port of call for steamships from Seattle. Upon the recommendation of the governor several years ago, the National Park Service has made an agreement with the president of the Alaska Road Commission for the supervision of annual repairs and improvements in the Sitka National Monument. During the fiscal year $1,594.85 were expended in repairing and painting the totem poles, reconstructing benches and footbridges, clearing and graveling additional footpaths, and extending and repairing a bulkhead along Indian River to protect the monument from overflow. The National Park Service, the Alaska Road Commission, and the Territory all contributed in providing the necessary funds. A similar allotment has been made for the current season. Katmai National Monument, situated near the base of the Alaska Peninsula on the southern shore of Alaska, bordering Shelikof Strait, lies midway of a volcanic belt which has shown extraordinary activity during recent years, and is the largest and most spectacular member of the monument system, with an area of over a million acres. It is a wonderland of great scientific interest in the study of volcanism. Here is located Mount Katmai, which in 1912 gave vent to a violent eruption, the initial stage lasting three days, during which several cubic miles of material were emitted. This eruption was of such violence as to rank in the first order of volcanic explosions. The crater left by the explosion, measured along the highest point of the rim, has a circumference of 8.4 miles. The volcano is now quiet, and in its crater lies a lake of milky-blue water over a mile long and nearly a mile wide, in which is a little crescent-shaped island measuring 400 feet from tip to tip. The most spectacular feature of the monument is the mountainencircled Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes in the northwestern portion of the reservation. For over 15 miles down this valley, which measures 9 miles at its greatest width, the ground is broken open, giving vent to several million fumaroles, or little volcanoes, from which rise jets of steam. In addition to the volcanic phenomena, the surrounding region contains some magnificent lake and mountain scenery. Waterfowl and fish are abundant, as are the great Alaskan brown bears, the largest of carnivorous animals. At present the Katmai National Monument is comparatively inaccessible, but the last expedition party of the Geographic Society in 1919 discovered Geographic Harbor at the head of Amalik Bay, previously uncharted, which may in the future afford a fine entrance to the region. When this harbor can be developed and an automobile road about 30 miles in length constructed into the area it will be readily accessible and will undoubtedly draw many visitors. Until this development takes place none but the most experienced and hardiest of mountain climbers and explorers should attempt a visit to the region. HISTORICAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM The Alaska Historical Library and Museum is now housed in a two-story building at Juneau, purchased by the Alaska Legislature in 1923, the ground floor being devoted to the museum and library. A balcony covering three-fourths of the wall space is used for the library collection, and the museum specimens are displayed on the main floor space. In addition, a small room adjoining the main floor is used for mineral and agricultural exhibits. Under ruling of the Attorney General at Washington, September 30, 1922, the Alaska Historical Library and Museum became a Territorial institution. Since no appropriation from Territorial funds was available for the maintenance of the institution, the Alaska Historical Association, composed of public-spirited citizens, gave voluntary assistance to the institution until the Alaska Legislature, by act May 3, 1923, assumed control. By that act a Territorial commission was created which now has complete charge of the property contained in the library and museum. The commission is composed of the Governor of Alaska, the secretary of the Territory, the commissioner of education, the treasurer of the Territory, the attorney general and one member of the board of managers of the Alaska Historical Association. The Alaska Historical Museum is now recognized as having the most complete collection of Eskimo antiquities to be found anywhere in the United States. During the year many rare and valuable specimens have been acquired by purchase and donations, the most valuable being the skulls and vertebræ of preglacial animals, dug up at Tolovana at a depth ranging from 35 to 98 feet. There is no phase of Alaska's resources and development that is not considered and displayed. The library at present contains approximately 9,000 volumes, books, and pamphlets. There are 854 bound volumes of the newspapers published in Alaska since 1885. The value to the public of this institution and the advertising value to the Territory can not be overestimated. The curator and librarian in charge of the institution, in addition to his duties in connection with the museum and library renders service to the people of the Territory and the States in answering numerous inquiries concerning the history, geography, and ethnology of the Territory, giving these inquirers prompt attention after thorough investigation and research. A great deal of interest has been manifested by the many visitors to this institution in the exhibits and rare specimens of native lore which show the progress and development of the Alaskan natives both prior to and during the Russian occupation of the Territory. Nearly 6,000 visitors registered at the museum during the fiscal year 1924. Visitors during July and August of the present fiscal year number 3,800. APPENDIXES APPENDIX A REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS TREASURY DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE, OFFICE OF THE COLLECTOR, Port of Juneau, Alaska, February 8, 1924. According to commerce statistics compiled from the official records of this office, the year 1923 recorded a pleasing industrial and commercial advancement for the Territory of Alaska. The year closed with a total commerce of $94,075,748, a gain over 1922 of $6.538.275. Shipments into Alaska for the year amounted to $31,300,441, or an increase of $3,650,518 over 1922. Shipments from Alaska aggregated $62,775,307, which represents an increase over 1922 of $2,887,757, and a balance of trade in Alaska's favor for the calendar year 1923 of $31,474,866. The outstanding increase in Alaska's trade with the United States was centered in the canned-salmon industry. Total shipments of canned salmon to the United States amounted to 232,491,587 pounds, valued at $30,514,286, which represents an increase of 11,706,514 pounds of fish over 1922 shipments, and an increase in value of $1,026,660. The copper-ore industry, which stands second in importance, shows an increase in shipments of 14,074,093 pounds of ore, and an increase of $3,514,296 in value. Measured by production, gold mining declined during the year. The total shipments of gold and silver amounted to $6,569,139, which represents a decrease of $862,736. Part of this decrease in gold production was due to abatement in placer mining on account of an unusually dry season. A further cause of decrease was due to the fact that the Chichagof mine operated only half of the year. If it had not been for improvement in gold dredging in the fourth division, the loss of output from placers would have been much greater. The decrease in gold production for 1923 does not represent a discouraging condition as to the future mining industry of Alaska. Despite disrupted economic conditions the world over, which causes high operating costs, much important development work has been carried on in lode mining districts, noticeably in the Salmon River district, at the head of Portland Canal; at Helm Bay, in the Ketchikan district; properties in Lisianski Straits; in Prince William Sound; Kenai Peninsula, and in the Kantishna district in the interior. Some of these prospects will doubtless become producers in 1924. New interests have taken over the Chichagof mine and it will again become a producer in 1924. For In connection with the segregation of merchandise shipped from the United States to the several towns in Alaska, this office wishes to be understood that in some cases the values shown must only be considered as approximate. instance, in some shipments where freight is destined for small scattered villages, the steamship companies manifest the same only as far as the first port of entry. Therefore the port of entry is credited with such shipments rather than the town of destination. These cases are exceptions rather than the rule, but these facts must be borne in mind in making comparisons. 63 In the following table a portion of the exports is in the nature of intransit commerce and not considered as a part of the actual trade of the Territory: Merchandise from the Merchandise from foreign Gold and silver from foreign ports.... Total imports.. EXPORTS Merchandise to the United States.. Merchandise and gold and silver to foreign ports. $39, 838, 168 $40, 412, 258 $37, 476, 232 $36, 876, 855 $19,274,215 $26,777,806 $30,781,206 44, 431, 600 41, 625, 564 38, 957, 259 38, 418, 473 20, 209, 228 27,649, 92331, 300, 441 76,651, 968 3,093, 590 Domestic gold and silver to United States.. 14,939, 440 Foreign gold and silver to United States.... 75, 026, 578 60, 473, 623 60, 929, 241 36, 916, 924 51, 082, 995 54, 878, 426 Total exports. Grand total of im 96,693,862 85, 423, 568 70, 695, 080 69, 911, 422 45, 745, 338 59, 887, 550 62, 775, 307 ports and exports... 141, 125, 462 127, 049, 132 109, 652, 339 108, 329, 895 65, 954, 566 87, 537, 473 94, 075, 748 To the corresponding items in the table upon the following page should be added the following values exported from southeastern Alaska : and to arrive at the total value of fish products the following exports foreign should be added to the appropriate items in the table: When the sum of these two items is added to the total shipments from Alaska to the United States the resulting value of products is $62,286,774. In the tabulated statistics "Merchandise and gold and silver shipped from Alaska to United States" a slight rearrangement has been made this year to admit of a more detailed segregation of commodities. It is believed that such a segregated statement will be of more value to those interested in the different industries. |