The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
He Thinks Prospectors Are Making q
Mistake in Not Working the Alas
kan Tributaries eS the Yukon.
LAWS IN REGARD TO CLAIMS
STATEMENT FROM COMMISSIONER
HERMANN, OF THE LAND OFFICE.
Departure of Another steamer Load
the KIOndikc DigGings.

WASHINGTON, July 31.--Nothing can be
done more than already has been done to-
wards marking the boundary line between
Alaska and the British possessions along
the 14th meridian until the Sem
ate passes on 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 it is. The de-
marcation work was superintended by Gen.
Duffield. superintendent of the coast and
geodetic survey, on behalf of the United
States. General Duffield has spent consid-
erable time in Alaska. He expresses the
opinion that railroad can be easily con-
structed from Taku inlet to the Klondike
gold fields, and believes that the enterprise
will be worth undertaking because of the
richness of the mines. THE gold" said
General Duffield in discussing the question.
has been ground out of the quartz by the
pressure of the glaciers. which lie and move
along the courses of the streams exerting
a tremendous pressure This force is pres
ent to a more appreciable extent in Alaska
than elsewhere and l believe that as a con-
sequence more placer gold will be found
in that region than in any other part Of
the world" General Duffield thinks the gold
hunters On the American side of the line
have made the mistake of prospecting the
large streams instead of the small ones.
when gold is precipitated," he said, 1T
sinks. 1t does not float far down stream.
1t is therefore to be looked for along the
small creeks and about the headwaters or
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 as in the Klondike district"
The misunderstanding and contentious re-
garding the laws that are applicable to
Alaska so far as lands and claims are con-
cerned were set at rest to-day by a state
ment made by Commissioner Hermann, of
the General Land Office. Many inquiries on
this question have come to the Interior De-
partment 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.
The General Land ONCE officials
have taken much interest in the
reports that come from the gold
belt and have investigated the laws
that govern there. Commissioner Hermann
says there is no longer any question about
the laws which extend over Alaska and
that these laws are applicable: First, the
mineral land laws of the United States;
second, town site laws, which provide for
the incorporation of town sites and ac-
quirements of title thereto from the United
States government to the town site tus-
tees; third, the law providing for trade ana
manufactures, giving each quallned person
160 acres of land in square and compact
form. The coal land regulations are QlStlnct
from the mineral regulations or laws ana
the Jurisdiction of neither coal laws nor
public land laws extend to Alaska, the Ter
ritory being expressly excluded by the laws
themselves from their operation.
The act approved May Il, 1888; providing
for the civil government of Alaska has
ileges: THE lands of the United States re-
lating to mining claims and rights incl
dental thereto shall, on and arter the pas
sage of this act be in full force ana erect
in said district of Alaska, supJect TO sueh
regulations as may be made by the secre-
tary of the interior and approved by the
President" j" and parties who have located
mines or mining privileges therein under
the United States laws, applicable TO the
public domain, or have occupied or I'M
proved or exercised acts of ownership over
such claims shall not be disturbed therein,
but shall be allowed to perfect title Dy pay
ments so provided.
There is still more general authoTltys
Without the special authority the act OK
Julv 4 1856 says: "All valuable mineral de-
posits in lands belonging to the United
States, both surveyed and unsurVeyed, are
hereby declared to be free and open to ex-
nloration and purchase, and lands in which
these are found, to occupation and puf-
chase by citizens of the United states ana
hv those who have declared an intention
to become such, under the rules prescribed
nv law and according to the local customs
or rules Of miners in the several mining dis-
tricts so far as the same are applicable ana
not inconsistent with the laws OF the
United States" The patenting of mineral
lands in Alaska is not a new thing, for that
work has been going on, as the cases nave
come in from time to time since 1854.