The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-19
MINERAL LEND LAWS.
A Request That They Be Immedi-
ately Extended.

GlCAJ GAlCAQSQ.
New York, July ia special to the
Tribune from Washington says: The
increasing number of goldseekers in
the Yukon BASIN. not only IL the Clon-
!. dyke region in British Columbia, but
| in Alaska, has impressed the govern
Ipent in Washington with the necessity
of reinforcing the agencies of govern
{ ment in the latter. From Circle CITY
Tin the Yukon during the last few
months have come the most urgent ap-
peals and demands TO have the min
eral land laws of the United States
extended over the surrounding region.
and il is probable that in his first an
nual message TO congress Secretary
Bliss of the interior department will
approve the recommendation Of Com
missioner HERMAN of the general
land office that this be done, and also
that fully equipped local land office
be, esta blished at Circle City. OF course
Neither of the things can be done until
authority is given by congress. Among
members of that body strong indis-
position is manifest toward the extern
sion of the power and agencies of civil
government over Alaska ever since the
acquisition of the territory 80 years
ago. because of the meager population
and the apparent lack of necessity for
such legislation. In the course of d
recent conversation with correspond
ent on this subject Representative La
cey of Iowa, who was chairman of the
committee on public lands in the last
congress, said:
L suppose that one reason no legis-
lation has been had TO remove some Of
the anomalous conditions which exist
in Alaska is because the committee
on territories had its time fully oc-
cuDied with other matters, and the
committee on public lands has not
thought it expedient to take action in
regard to land legislation there until
after some further general legislation
respecting the government Of the ter
rir5ry has been enacted.
Our committee, however, did recon-
mend the passing of bill for the es-
tablishmene of a land office at Ju-
neau, and the house passed il, but the
senate did not act on it.
Juneau is q town of several thou
sand inhabitants. some 5000. I believe.
and I am informed that it is a thriving
pace. containing a number of sub
stantial brick buildings for business
purposes and so On. and that all the
improvements stand on the public
lands of the United States, the owners
being simply squatters. 1 am also in
formed that there is no legal author
ity to levy and collect taxes, or for Of
ficials 20 receive and disburse such
taxes if collected. Whenever money /
is. needed for any public purpose the |
hat is passed. l have always been /
2Terse 10 legislation providing full !
fedged territorial government FOR
Alaska with a delegate TO congress and .
so on, but conditions there appear TO 1
have been. changing rapidly during the 4
last three or four years and il is pos {
sible that the time has come when /
the subject ought 60 5e dealt with by /
congress
1t is not improbable that Major La /
cey viii visit Alaska after the ad +
j0urnment Of congress and try By per- /
sOnal investigation and observation /
what legislation in regard to the pub !
tic lands in that territory would be ]
expedient and wise in order to meet
existing conditions.