420 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



that in former days wheu natives used less coal, seal blubber was very 

 plentiful, since 85,000 seals were killed here every year. This blubber 

 placed on the fuel added greatly to its durability, being greatly like a 

 lamp wick fed by oil. Seventy-five pounds of coal in those days went 

 as far as 300 or more now. 



As last winter was mild the expenditure of coal was less than will 

 occur during ordinary winters. Two hundred and fifty tons will not 

 ordinarily be too much. I would reque^st your attention to the coal 

 house in which ]>art of the Government coal is stored, the remainder 

 being stored in the company's coal house. It was erected by the natives 

 and has a small shed attached, built by the company. It is too small, 

 the house and shed both holding about 140 tons. 



The weather here is at times very severe, and it is necessary, until 

 considerable coal has been removed, to stand out for considerable time 

 exposed to the weather while coal is being issued. This is very severe 

 for people who are inclined to be consumptive. 



I would recommend a coal house which will hold 350 tons, where, if 

 that amount will not probably be stored, a shelter will be aftbrded from 

 the weather. Any extra room can be utilized for storage of wheel- 

 barrows, picks, rakes, axes, spades, and shovels for village work, should 

 the Department decide to furnish such. Also water buckets for use in 

 case of fire. 



The first native came for assistance on the 29th of October, and the 

 number gradually increased until on your arrival 28 families were being 

 supported by the Government. I endeavored to serve these destitute 

 people with what was necessary, and not be extravagant, and I am con- 

 fident that no one suffered. 



I found on my visits to the widows and other dependents of the com- 

 pany that they were reasonably well supplied with the necessaries of 

 life, and I have no cause for complaint against the company. 



The company's last issue of dried salmon to the natives was Septem- 

 ber 10, when 2,000 pounds were issued. This exhausted their supply 

 of dried salmon. About March 1 the natives stopped using the salt 

 salmon, claiming that it was not good. The cook at the company's 

 house cooked me some which was said to be taken from a barrel the 

 natives had been using. On eating it at the table with the others I 

 noticed nothing the matter with it. On telling some of the natives of 

 the fact they said that was true for two or three times, but after that 

 the fish would taste bitter. At any rate the natives stopped using it, 

 and the company issued canned salmon to those whom they were sup- 

 porting. 



In May the natives were employed at village work when the weather 

 permitted. At first the ground was found frozen, and work was delayed 

 until it had partially thawed out. Some of the men were required to 

 guard rookeries. 



I have mentioned in the first part of this report how the men were 

 employed last autumn. 



Three new privies were erected last fall for use of the natives. It 

 was the intention to build new ones as an experiment, the material 

 being furnished by the company free of cost, but to be coiistructed by 

 the natives at no expense to the company. The company's agent could 

 only fu»nish niateiial for 3, as the lumber was scarce. He, however, 

 gave an old privy which stood near the billiard hall, and another which 

 was near the north end of the village, on the first street. The new ones 

 were each divided into 4 comi)artmeuts and one of the old ones divided 



