New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-19
LAND LAWS FOR ALASKA.
GREAT DOMAIN WITH IMPERFECT
PROVISION FOR TITLE TRANSFERS.
REPRESENTATIVE LACEY EXPLAINS WHY rHU
PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS EXISTS
PROBABILITY OF ACTION By
fnY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBryE.1

my TELEGRAPH TO rRrBrxE.1
Washington. July 1S.-The increasing number
Of godseekers In the Yukon BASIN not only In
the Clondyke region In British Columbia but
In Alaska also. has impressed officials OF the
Government in Washington anew with the ne
cessity Of reinforcing the agencies Of Govern.
ment in the latter. From Circle City, on the
Yukon. during the last few months have como
the most urgent appeals and demands to have
the mineral land laws Of the United States ex.
tended over the surrounding region, and It 10
probable that in his first annual report to Con.
gress Secretary Bliss OF the Interior Depart.
ment will approve the recommendation Of Com
missioner Hermann of the General Land once
that this be done, and also that a fully equipped
local land office be established at Circle City.
OF course neither Of these things can be done
until after authority has been given by Congress-
Among members Of that body strong ndspcsi.
tion has been manifested toward the extension
Of the powers and agencies OF civil government
over Alaska ever since the acquisition OF the
Territory thirty years ago, because Of the mea-
gre population and the apparent lack Of necessi-
ty for such legislation. 1t was not until 1884
that an act was passed providing civil govern.
ment for Alaska and this act did not by any
means provide for all the functions OF such
government. The United States marshal or the
Territory was made ex ofticio Surveyor-GeneraL
but provision was made for the sale or other
disposition Of any OF the lands which might be
surveyed. for the establishment Of local land
offices. In 1891, however. provision was made
whereby townsite entries might be made under
certain conditions on the public lands In Alaska,
and also entries Of the same by individuals or
corporations for the use and necessities OF trade
and manufactures"
These comprise all the provisions OF law down
to date under which titles to public land IN
Alaska can be obtained, either by individuals
or corporatons and entries of lands containing
coal or the precious metals are expressly ex-
cepted from the provisions for the benent or
individuals or corporations seeking 10 purchase
lands "for the use and necessities OF trace
and manufactures" In the course or recent
| conversation with a Tribune correspondent on
this subject Repres antative Lacey, OF Iowa
who was chairman 0. the Committee on fuoHo
| Lands in the last Congress said:
Il suppose one reason that no legislation mas
! been had to remove some Of the anomalous con-
| ditions which exist I'm Alaska Is because tho
! Committee on Territories has had its time
| fully occupied with other matters. and the COM
! mittee on Public Lands has not thought II ex-
pedent to take action In regard to Land Iegis,
! lation there until after some further genera
| legislation respecting the government OF the
| Territory has been enacted. Our committee,
! however, did recommend the passage OF bhi
for the establishment OF land oihce at juneau;
/
| not act on It. Juneau ia a town Of several
| thousand inhabitants, some three thousand,
believe and | am informed that II Is thriving
| place, containing number or substantal brlcS
| buildings for business purposes, and 50 on ana
| that all the improvements stand on public lands
| Of the United States, the owners being simply
| squatters I am also Informed that there Is no
! legal authority to levy and collect taxes or Tor
officials to receive and dsburse such taxes II
collected Whenever money Is needed for any
public purpose the hat Is passed | have AZ
| WAYS been averse TO legislation providing full
fedged territorial government for Alaska with
a Delegate in Congress. and so on; hut cond-
tions there appear to have been changing rap
idlv during the last two or three years. and II
| Is possible the time has come when the SUD-
ject ought to be dealt with by Congress 49,
| Ii Is not improbable that Major Lacey VIII
| visit Alaska after the adjournment or Con.
| gress, and try TO ascertain by personal inVestl-
| cation and observation what legislation IN re-
| gard to the public lands In that Territory would
| be expedent and wise in order 10 meet exist
| ing conditions