ALASKA II^DUSTRIES, 327 



These five orphans are destitute, and the majority of them have been heretofore 

 supported by the comjiany. They have only chant'ed residence since hist year. 

 IMaxini is an imbecile who is quite helpless. Ellen Volkotfhas a rooui in her brother's 

 house, and she wants for nothing except coal. 



The answer of the superintendent to this communication is embodied 

 in the reply to my letter of August 8, 1892, concerning the coal supply, 

 and has already been quoted. 



On the island of St. George there are but three widows who come 

 under this arrangement. 



Suggested arrangement. — In conversation with the superintendent of 

 the company upon this subject, I called attention to the fact that ib 

 wonld tend to produce harmony and be advantageous to all parties con- 

 cerned if some arrangement could be made by which the amonnt of 

 subsistence stores and general supplies furnished to the widows and 

 dependents by the company each year could be made a matter of record 

 before the Department, and expressed a willingness to cooperate in 

 any possible way in bringing about what seemed a desirable condition 

 of aiiairs. I ])ointed out to the superintendent that there were oijly two 

 ways by which the Government could be informed as to the carrying 

 out of this portion of the lease. First, by the unsupported statement 

 of the Treasury officer, who would have to acquaint himself with the 

 facts by continual investigation and inquiry, a method distressing to a 

 self-respecting man and one which would ultimately become exceed- 

 ingly offensive to the company's agent and be productive of endless 

 friction and irritation; second, by the simple and effective method of 

 an annual accounting. To this latter the superintendent strongly 

 objected, feeling that the Government had no right to make such a 

 demand, but should trust to the honor of the company, and further that 

 the company could not be expected to make a long itemized account of 

 things furnished the natives, but that it should be sufficient to have the 

 Government officers state that no complaints were made by the natives. 



UmvmJom of indefinite arrangements. — It is certainly unfortunate that 

 no practical business like method has been put in operation by which 

 it can be clearly shown at a moment's notice and beyond question that 

 this class of dependents is cared for. It may be that the company is 

 doing all in this direction that can reasonably bo expected of it^but in 

 the absence of such a method as that indicated it is not plain that such 

 is the case. This is not intended as criticism, but is here presented (1) 

 as an evidence of the unwisdom of not having a careful definition of 

 the«duties of each jjarty to the lease, and (2) in support of views that I 

 shall advance later as the necessity for a change in the general methods 

 of administration. 



SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. 



Improvements should he ynade. — The sanitary improvement of the vil- 

 lages of St. Paul and St. George was a subject of frequent conferences 

 between the sui)erintendent of the company and myself. From our own 

 observations and from conversations with others of long residence on 

 the island it is evident that while the present sanitary condition of the 

 villages in no wise jeopardizes health, nevertheless certain improve- 

 ments can be profitably introduced. 



Natives are chief obstacle to improvement. — It should be borne in mind, 

 however, that the most important factor in the execution of sanitary 

 improvements is the characteristics of the people most interested. The 

 native villagers have absolutely no conception of any danger wliich 

 may attend unsanitary conditions; it is therefore extremely diflicult to 



