The number of seals in the waters about Alaska has greatly increased, owing to the restrictions placed upon sealing by laws passed by Congress. The seal herds in 1919 numbered 524,269 seals. The number of seals taken during that year was 25,381. Under the International Con vention, 15 per cent. of all seals taken go to Canada and an equal number to Japan.
Agriculture.—The United States De partment of Agriculture has for many years made persistent and intelligent efforts to develop agriculture in the territory and these results have met with considerable success. There are large areas of land suitable for the raising of crops, both agricultural and horticul tural. The Central Tanana Valley has been extensively occupied by farmers and in the Fairbanks district there are nearly 100 homesteads comprising nearly 25,000 acres. Nearly all varieties of hardy grains can be grown in Alaska and most hardy fruits and vegetables can be grown without difficulty.
Education.—There were in 1919 65 schools for natives in which were enrolled about 3,600 pupils. There was a Fed eral appropriation of $215,000 for the support of these schools. Schools are also maintained in the different localities for white pupils.
Banking.—In 1919, the Territory had one National bank, with $125,000 in cap ital, $11,250 in outstanding circulation. Much of the banking is done in Seattle, Wash., and San Francisco, Cal., whither the bulk of the output of gold is sent.
Commerce.—Trade between Alaska and continental United States has greatly in creased in recent years. The value of shipments into and from Alaska in 1916 was $97,917,650; in 1917,. $121,265, 947; in 1918, $131,767,788; and in 1919, $117,018,135. The loss in the last year was chiefly due to the falling off of mineral production. Trade suffered from insufficient and irregular transportation.
Railroads.—There was under construc tion in 1919 the so-called United States railroad, authorized in 1914 at a cost of $35,000,000. This sum was increased in 1919 to $52,000,000, of which $6,000,000 was appropriated for work during 1919. The purpose of the project is to furnish transportation between a port on the Gulf of Alaska and the rich mines and lands of the Tanana valley and the Cen tral Yukon valley. The system when completed will include 601 miles of track from Seward on the Kenai Peninsula to Fairbanks, the mining center of the Tanana valley. There will also be branch railroads to other important localities. There was at the end of 1919 in prep aration a northern section of 143 miles and a southern section of 206 miles. There are only two railroads in the Territory under private control. These run from Cordova to Kennecott and from Skagway to White Horse.
Government.—Up to 1912 Alaska was an unorganized Territory and had no local legislative body. It was governed di rectly by Congress, and the officers were appointed by the President. In the year mentioned Congress passed a Civil Gov ernment Act which created a Legisla ture and Assembly with limited powers. By this act Alaska became an organized Territory with a Legislature consisting of a Senate of 8 members, two from each of the four districts, and a House of Representatives, consisting of 16 mem bers, four from each judicial district. Senators serve four years and repre sentatives two years. The Legislature meets every two years. Its first session was held in March, 1913. The legisla tive powers are limited, and it can pass no laws which are inconsistent with the laws already passed by Congress. At
its first session the Legislature modified the qualificttions for voters by extend ing the franchise to women. The gov ernor has the usual power of veto. The executive officers are a governor, ap pointed by the President, secretary of the treasury, the secretary of the gov ernor, and a surveyoil-general. There are four judicial districts, with centers at Juneau, Nome, Valdez, and Fairbanks. Except in towns of 300 or more, which are allowed to incorporate, there is no local government. Alaska is represented in Congress by one delegate.
History.—Alaska was discovered by Bering in 1741, and Russian settlements were made to a considerable distance southward. In 1772 many trading corn panies were established, and later Cap tain Cook's accounts of the fur animals there caused many more to be organized. In 1799 the Territory was granted to a Russian company by the Emperor Paul VIII., and in 1867 it passed to the United States by treaty with Russia. For sev eral years there has been a contention between the United States and Great Britain concerning the boundary line be tween Alaska and the British territory in Canada, which became greatt ac cented in 1896 in consequence of the remarkable discoveries of gold in the Yukon valley. Both governments have had the disputed region surveyed, sep arately and by a joint commission, and the delimitation of the boundary was the most important matter referred to the Anglo-American Commission of 1898. In January, 1900, it was believed that a satisfactory settlement had been nego tiated by the two governments.
On Jan. 24, 1903, a treaty was signed between the United States and Great Britain, by which was created the Alaska Boundary Tribunal, consisting of three from each country to settle questions it dispute. This tribunal met in London in the following September, and on Oct. 20, 1914, the majority voted against the Canadian contentions. The deciding vote was cast by a representative of Great Britain. By this decision Canada was shut off from the seacoast north of 54° 40'. Surveying was at once begun to determine a new boundary, and con tinued through the years following. In 1910-1911 there was carried on an acute dispute in regard to the coal lands of Alaska, as a result of charges made that large corporations acting under laws passed by Congress were attempting to secure control of valuable coal lane. As a result of this agitation, R. L. Ballinger, Secretary of the Treasury, resigned, and his successor, Walter L. Fisher, under took a thorough investigation of the matter. The syndicates which had at tempted to secure possession of the coal lands finally withdrew. At the outbreak of the World War over 3,000 men en rolled for service, a number far beyond the required quota. Ninety-four per cent. of the white population and 1,303 of the natives were enrolled in the Red Cross. Alaska led all other States in its per capita subscription for War Stamps. In 1918 the Government set apart as a National monument the great volcano of Katmai and the surrounding region, com prising over 1,000,000 acres. This vol cano erupted violently in 1912 and had sin:ller eruptions in following years. The National Georgraphical Society in 1919 carried on explorations in the Kat mai regions. Since its creation as ari ganized Territory, Alaska has steadily advanced in population and industries.