Photo by Curtis & Milk 



FLOWER GARDEN AT VAEDEZ, ALASKA 



Many parts of Alaska are destined to become famous for their equable climate. For 

 instance, the summers of Sitka are cooler and the winters warmer than those of Washington. 

 The average temperature for the year is only one degree lower than that of the National 

 Capital. 



ions from the Commission commissary at 

 reasonable prices. 



No racial, sectional, or political distinc- 

 tions have been made in accepting or re- 

 jecting applicants for employment. Ordi- 

 nary day laborers receive about $3 a day, 

 and are charged a dollar a da)/ for good 

 board at the construction camps. Eight 

 hours constitute a day's work, and the 

 eight-hour law has been strictly enforced. 

 This does not, of course, apply to the 

 "stationmen," who are contractors, and 

 there has been some criticism of this sys- 

 tem. It appears, however, that the com- 

 plaints concerning conditions on the job 

 do not come from the workers them- 

 selves, but from outsiders who are not 

 so desirous of work as they are of shar- 

 ing in the government appropriation. 



FREE HOSPITAL CARE 



A system of compensation has been 

 adopted to provide for the care and bene- 



fit of disabled employees and the benefit 

 of the families of any who may die of 

 injuries received on the work. Free hos- 

 pital attendance and medical attention is 

 given by the government to all employed 

 on the construction, whether employees 

 or contractors ; and when it is decided 

 that injured or sick employees should be 

 removed to Seattle or elsewhere for spe- 

 cial treatment that they cannot receive in 

 camp or at the Anchorage hospital, the 

 expenses of their removal and treatment 

 are paid by the government. 



Early in the summer the Commission 

 was authorized by Secretary of the In- 

 terior Lane to provide a recreation and 

 amusement hall at Anchorage for the 

 benefit of employees and their families, 

 and this has proven a popular and much 

 appreciated feature, which bids fair to 

 be of even greater popularity during the 

 long nights of the winter season. 



Engineers and employees attached to 



S84 



