40 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA IN 1910. 



FIRE PROTECTION FOR PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



The villages of St. Paul and St. George are entirely without fire 

 protection, and with the high winds that prevail are fortunate indeed 

 in never having- had a disastrous conflagration. Aside from the 

 money loss entailed, such a contingency, should it occur in winter 

 and destroy the food supply in the warehouses, would probably result 

 in the starvation of the inhabitants. Native dwellings have been 

 ignited by overturned kerosene lamps and in one case a whole native 

 family while asleep was asphyxiated by fire in the interior of their 

 house. In every case so far, however, the blaze has been discovered 

 and extinguished before it could take serious hold upon the frame- 

 work of the building. 



I strongly urge the provision of adequate fire protection for both 

 islands. The isolation of the locality demands that some means be 

 supplied for the prevention of conflagration, which there would be a 

 catastrophe. The investment of a small amount for this purpose 

 would be sufficient to provide protection for years, and would be the 

 cheapest fire insurance that could be obtained. Should these buildings 

 burn, the business not only would be seriously interfered with, and the 

 native and white inhabitants threatened with starvation, but the 

 Government would lose the amount of its investment and be obliged 

 to spend twice as much to replace the plant as was paid for it. 



As to means, chemical apparatus could be used in summertime, but 

 would be of little avail in winter because of the likelihood of freezing 

 while not in use. 



In winter, running water under pressure would be the only resort. 

 Running water is not available at present, but could be supplied by 

 any of the following means: 



On St. Paul. — 1 . Sea water could be pumped through a small stand- 

 pipe by a gasoline engine and distributed through mains in the village. 



2. Fresh water from a lake a mile away could be piped to the village 

 by pumping, and held in a large reservoir of sufficient capacity to 

 furnish fresh water not only for fire protection but for natives' use. 



3. Water from wells a half mile from the village could be pumped 

 and used in the same manner as in suggestion 2. 



On St. George. — 1. Salt water could be pumped as in the preceding 

 suggestion 1. 



2. The water system already in use there, whereby water is brought 

 by gravity and siphoning from a lake to the village, could be adapted 

 to furnish a stream that would reach over any native dwelling and 

 probably any larger warehouse or dwelling. 



