UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE The principal work of the Public Health Service in Alaska is the furnishing of medical relief to merchant seamen and other beneficiaries at nine regularly established stations, as follows: Third-class stations, Cordova, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Sitka, Wrangell; fourth-class stations, Nome, Petersburg, Unalaska. Besides seamen from documented American merchant vessels, the list of beneficiaries includes seamen from vessels operated by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Lighthouse Service, the Bureau of Fisheries, and the United States Army; the personnel of the United States Coast Guard, lighthouse keepers, and injured Federal employees who are patients of the Employees' Compensation Commission. Commissioned and enlisted personnel of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps and patients of the Veterans' Bureau are treated as pay patients upon request from the proper authorities. Medical officers of the Public Health Service are on duty on all Coast Guard cutters, and a dental officer is assigned to the cutter Northland. A dental officer was stationed at Unalaska during the summer of 1928. The Public Health Service cooperates with the Territorial authorities in measures to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases. The examination and vaccination of nonresidents employed in Alaska, particularly those engaged in the fishing and canning industries, has been continued at the request of the Territorial authorities. 800 750 WHITES 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 The legally adjudged insane from the Territory of Alaska have been cared for at Morningside Hospital under contract with the Department of the Interior for a period of 252 years. During this period there have been admitted to Morningside Hospital a total of 1,253 patients. The following is an outline of the disposition of these patients. Patients under care June 30, 1928, 207 males, 31 females---- Patients released on bond during fiscal year of 1929, 1 male_ 238 42 280 1 7 22 2 4 3 Patients transferred to other institutions during fiscal year 1929, 3 males-Patients remaining under care June 30, 1929, 212 males, 29 females---- 241 Patients admitted: 1926 1927 - 280 55 46 34 42 1928 1929 For the first time in several years the population at Morningside Hospital has shown a slight increase. The previous figures have shown a gradual shrinkage. The increase is evidently due to the fact that eight more patients were admitted in 1929 than was the case in 1928. The increase of three, as shown, however, is very nominal. INCORPORATED TOWNS There are at present 17 incorporated towns in Alaska, 16 of which have a total assessed property valuation of $23,444,571. The rates of taxation range from 5 to 20 mills. NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS Mount McKinley National Park, the farthest north national park and second largest park in the United States, was established in 1917. It is proving to be one of the main objects of interest in Alaska, with paramount attention being given to Mount McKinley (20,300 feet), the highest mountain in North America. With an area 62717-29- -7 of 2,645 square miles or 1,692,800 acres, it affords unlimited protection to the thousands of caribou, sheep, bear, moose, the many furbearing animals, and numerous species of birds, the park area being the only known nesting place of the rare surf bird. The steady increase of fur bearers is evidenced by good catches made by the trappers along the boundary of the park. Moose are more plentiful than in the past along the east boundary. Due to the severe winter and exceptionally heavy snowfall, more sheep perished than in any past winter for several years. Observations of the rangers show that the lamb crop this spring was exceptionally light, due to the late spring snows. Caribou and grizzly bear are steadily increasing. A superintendent is in charge of the park, having a clerk, chief ranger, and three park rangers to assist in the administration and protection of the park. Park headquarters are located 2 miles from McKinley Park station on the new park road, at which point the office building and personnel quarters have been constructed by the park force. This season there is being constructed a new residence for the superintendent, a water and sewer system including a reservoir and pumping plant, a cabin for laborers, and a dog-feed cook house, all of which will be located at headquarters. A new ranger station is to be built at Copper Mountain and a relief cabin on east fork of Toklat River, making a total of nine relief cabins and one ranger station, for use of rangers on patrol. A ranger residence, barn, and warehouse have been constructed at headquarters. Five sheep which were rescued from the deep snow drifts last winter are being kept at headquarters, as well as 35 park dogs, and all prove to be of much interest to the tourist and traveler. The sheep will be turned over to the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines at the close of the present season. It is the intention of the college to crossbreed them with domestic sheep and produce a sturdy woolbearing sheep that will be able to winter in interior Alaska. This year there was a total of 10,000 miles of patrol, of which 7,000 miles was by dog team. The result of protection is shown by the increasing tameness of animals, especially in the eastern section of the park. The public operators in the park continue to furnish a high class of service to the traveling public. Savage River camp, 12 miles from the railroad, is the base of operations and can conveniently accommodate 100 persons. A road from Savage River camp at the head of Savage River, a distance of 12 miles, is maintained by the Alaska Road Commission. The greater part of it is built on gravel bars of the river and has to be reconditioned each spring. The public operators have a large tent house at mile 8 for the convenience of visitors. Game may be seen at any time, which makes an attractive trip that may be made by saddle horse, auto, or horse stage. A chain of comfortable camps has been erected, averaging 16 miles apart and extending 65 miles into the park to Copper Mountain, at which point one may get a wonderful view of Mount McKinley, Muldrow Glacier, and the Alaska Range. Wonderful scenery and an abundance of game may be seen along this route. |