Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/690

 638 UNITED STATES : — ALASKA TERRITORY

Of the population in 1900, 30,507 (27,307 male) were white ; 29,536 natives (Indians, Eskimo, Aleuts, &c.,) ; 3,116 Chinese ; 265 Japanese ; 158 N egroes.

In 1910, of the total population, 36,347 were whites, and the others Indian or other coloured. About 20,000 people, employed in mines, canneries, and railway construction, spend a few months a year in Alaska, but these are not included in the enumeration. In 1920 the population was estimated at 57,000.

The largest town is Juneau, the seat of Government, which had (1919) a population of 3,126 ; the second largest is Anchorage with 1,200; other towns are Fairbanks, 1,200; Nenana, 800; Nome, 800; Skagway, 500 ; Sitka (300 whites, 700 natives), Valdez, 600 ; Ketchikan, 2,800 ; Cordova, 1,200. There are altogether 16 incorporated towns.

Instruction, Justice. — In Alaska many religious missions are at work, representing very diverse denominations : Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and others.

In 1920 there were 67 schools in Alaska with 3,418 enrolled pupils and 163 teachers. Total cost of instruction, 330,038 dollars.

For the administration of justice the territory is constituted as a judicial district with 4 subdivisions and 4 courts.

Finance. — In the territory of Alaska there is no provision for taxation of real or personal property, except in municipalities where real estate and personal property may be taxed 2 per cent, for municipal purposes only. The revenues are derived from licenses to conduct businesses, a long list of which, with the cost of the respective licences, is prescribed by law.

For the year ended December 31, 1919, the revenue and expenditure were as follows : —

Dollars. Balance January 1, 1919. . . 533,842 Receipts, 1919 " 555,887

1,089,729 Disbursements, 1919. . . . 675,386

Balance December 31, 1919. . . 414,343 The Territory has no funded debt.

Production, Industry. — In some parts of the territory the climate during the brief summer is not unsuitable for agricultural operations. There are agricultural experimental stations which are giving valuable demonstra- tions. In 1910 there were 222 farms with a total area of 42,544 acres, of which 2,659 acres was improved land. Total value of all farm property in 1910 was 1,468,402 dollars. Reindeer have been introduced from Siberia, and the industry is thriving. There are now 180,000 reindeer in the country.

There are considerable timber resources, mostly of the spruce, hemlock and red and yellow cedar sort. The National forests in Alaska (June 30. 1920) have an area of 20,579,740 acres. In 1910 there were 152 industrial establishments, employing a total of 73,479 persons (3,099 wage -earners), having a capital of 13,060,116 dollars. The pulp manufacturing industry is becoming established, spruce being suitable lor the purpose and abounding in large quantities.

The chief industries are seal and salmon fisheries, and mining. The sea