New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
LAND LAWS FOR ALASKA.
MISUNDERSTANDING SET AT REST BY
COMMISSIONER HERMANN.
AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT OF THE STAT
UTEs WHICH APPLY IN THE TERRITORY
MADE FOR THE TENEFIT OF GOLD
sEEKERs-GENERAL DUFFIELD's

sEEKERs-GENERAL DUFFIELDs
OPINION OF THE REGION.
Washington, July 31.-The misunderstanding
and contentious regarding the laws that are
applicable to Alaska. far as lands and claims
are concerned were set at rest to-day by
statement made by Commissioner Hermann Of
the General Land Office Many inquiries on
this question have come to the Interior Depart
ment, and numerous applications have been
made for copies OF the public land laws. which,
however. do not apply to Alaska. All this is
due to the gold boom. Officials of the General
Land Office have taken much interest In the re-
ports that come from the gold belt. and have
investigated the laws that govern there. Com
missioner Hermann says there Is no longer any
question about the laws which extend over
Alaska. and that these are applicable:
First--The mineral land laws Of the United
States.
SecOnd-Town site laws which provide for the
Incorporation Of town-stes and requirement of
by the town-site trustees
Third-The laws providing for trade and manu-
factures, giving each qualified person 100 acres
Of land In n square and compact form.
The coal land regulations are distinct from
the mineral regulations or laws and the juris-
diction OF neither coal laws nor public land laws
extends TO Alaska. the Territory being expressly
excluded by the laws themselves from their
operation The act approved May H. 1884 pro-
viding civil government for Alaska, has this
language as to mines and mining privileges:
The laws Of the United States relating to
mining claims and rights incidental thereto SHALL
on and after the passage of this act, be in full
force and effect in said district Of Alaska sub
Ject to such regulations may be made by the
secretary or the Interior and approved by the
President and parties who have located mines
or mining privileges therein, under the United
States laws -I."cable to the public domain, or
nave occur'H' or improved or exercised acts Of
ownership o, such claims. shall not be dis
turbed the ri, but shall be allowed to perfect
title by pay Mt so provided for"
There Is still lo-e general authority. without
the special authority, the act OF July f. 1866
says: "Al valuable mineral deposits in lands be-
longing to the United States. both surveyed and
unsurveyed. are hereby declared to be free and
open to exploration and purchase, and lands in
which these are found to occupation and pur-
chase by citizens Of the United States and by
those who have declared an intention 10 become
such. under the rules prescribed by law and ac-
cording TO local customs or rules Of miners in the
several mining districts far as the same are
dppucdDle ana not inconsistent with the laws of
the United States"
The patentng OF mineral lands in Alaska is
not a new thing. for that work has been going
on. as the cases have come in from time to time
since 1884
Nothing can be done more than already has
been done toward marking the boundary lines
between Alaska and the British possessions along
the Hist meridian until the Senate passes upon
the boundary treaty now before 1t. There is how
ever. no doubt Of the location of the line along
this meridian, and most people in the locality
know where II Is. The demarcation work was
superintended by General Duffied. Superintend-
ent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. on behalf
Of the United States. General Duffield has spent
considerable time in Alaska. He expresses the
opinion that railroad easily can be constructed
from Taku Inlet to the Clondyke gold fields and
believes that the enterprise will be worth under
taking because of the richness Of the mines.
THE gold" said General Duffield in discussing
the question to-day, has been ground out of the
quartz by the pressure Of the glaciers. which lie
and move along the courses Of the streams. X
erting tremendous pressure. This force is pres
elsewhere. and / believe that as a consequence
more placer gold will be found In that region
than in any other part Of the world"
General Dufield thinks the gold hunters on the
American side Of the line have made the mis-
take of prospecting on the large streams instead
Of the small ones. When gold is precptated"
he said, 1T sinks. II does not float far down
stream. 1t Is therefore to be looked for along
the small creeks and about the headWaters of
the larger tributaries Of the Yukon. There is
he added. mo reason why as rich finds may not
be made on the American side of the line in
the Clondyke district"