The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-15
LAWS FOR alaska.
Measures Proposed to Meet Changed
Conditions in the Gold Country.

WASHINGTON, Jan. A-The Lacey bill,
extending the homestead laws to Alaska
and granting the right of way to railroads,
was favorably reported to the House to-day
from the public lands committee. The bill
has been changed in committee so as to ex-
tend the amount of right of way along lines
giving land for functions as well as ter
minals, reserving mineral deposits in rights
of way to the United States and so as to
require railroads to file preliminary plats
based on actual survey, giving rights for
one year, and to file within one year after
ward a profile, either for the whole route
or covering twenty miles at a time. The
committees report continues: 1.-THE great
mineral discoveries in this region and the
present almost insuperable difficulties in the
transportation of freight and passengers
have caused an active interest in the crea-
ton and construction of railroads Numer-
Gus schemes have been proposed, hut the
committee has declined to consider any
specific proposition of any individual or cor
poration, but thinks that any legislation on
the subject should be general to all persons
alike. The proposed legislation is based on
the right of way act of 1875 made applicable
to Alaska. AS to further extension of the
public lands law, the committee has deemed
it desirable at this time to extend the home
stead laws only. The town site and mineral
laws already are in force.
Senator Perkins, of California, to-day In
troduced a bill amendatory of the act pro-
Viding a civil government for Alaska, pro-
Viding that all public lands not reserved IN
Alaska containing coal Ignite or mineral
oil may be claimed and entered under the
land laws: that locations not exceeding GAO
acres may be located by any qualihed mill
eral claimant; but entry can be made only
on discovery of coal Ignite or mineral oil
on the location, and that the purchase
price of land claimed under this act shali
be $3.50 per acre. -
Senator Perkins also introduced a bill
amendatory of an act to repeal timber cul-
ture laws providing that all locations and
surveys made within the purposes OF the
act may be for 100 acres or less, to be taken
be at least one-fOurth of the horizontal line
of frontage, except when reservations or or
binary high-water line limits the width or
the tract in which case such frontage may
be extended to include such aggregate area,
provided such frontage does not exceed one
mile in length; that possession by substan-
tial improvements thereon shall be occupa-
ton of the whole tract claimed, ana that
all improvements at any time IN any way
used for trade, manufa ctureS or fisheries
shall be considered as within the provisions
of the act. The measure further PROVIDES
that any claimant under the act shall nave
the right of way through any public lands
and reservations for ditch or pipe line con-
veying fresh water from any source OF sup,
ply to any cannery or other building used
for trade, manufactures or fishery purposes.
This bill is intended to apply to Alaska.
Senator Perkins also introduced Dill pro-
viding that the Governor Of Alaska may APP
point notaries public for the district, TO con-
iinue i'm Office at the will of the Governor.
The apportees shall give a bond in the
sum of 500. l.