The Nome nugget., 1902-03-19
IT IS TIME TO ACT
Looking Toward the Procuring of Patent for This Townsite-Ap- pIications Being Made for Patents for Mineral Locations.

subject is treated in a clear and com prehensive manner, and it will be seen that there seems to be DO real or ap- parent reason why 6 patent should not be secured for the townsite of Nome during next summer:
 What are the laws of Alaska whereby one can obtain title to a town lot
 "Congsess passed unique law rela- tive to the obtaining of title to town sites in Alaska. The law proper is not new, but congress added feature whereby an incorporated town, like Nome, can even enter mineral land for townsite purposes.
 "The townsite law applicable to Alaska is that which passed congress in 1862, and is known as section 23S7 of the revised statutes of the United States, and whichls in substance that the incorporated town will be allowed to enter by three trustees, appointed by the secretary of the interior (when- ever the incorporated town makes the reguest), not to exceed GAO acres Of land actually occupied by the town for trade or business; that is, it must be purchased from the government at the rate of Sl. p per acre, and when entered by the trustees it will be hek, bv them in trust for the use and benefit of the occupants. and will be conveyed to the occupants according to their respective interests. The deeds obtained from the trustees will be the government title. Each occupant will be assessed his pre- portionate share of the expense of the purchase of the land from the govern ment, expense of survey, and proof of occupancy, and the expense of the salaries of the three trustees, which amounts to $l0 per day for each trust ee.
 "If there is a conflict or more than one man claiming the same lot, the trustees will order hearing, and each claimant will be allowed a hearing be- fore the trustees, and after the hearing che trustees awill decide who is entitled to the contested dot If the other claimant feels aggrieved he is allowed to appeal to the commissioner of the general land office, and an appeal may be taken from the commissioners de- cision to the secretary of the interior, whose decision is final and conclusive. This is almost important fact to town lot claimant in Nome today. Suppesing that A and B claim the same lot. B is in possession; A brings suit in the dis trict court in ejectment for the lot and obtains verdict and judgment against B for possession, and a writ of restitu- tion is issued by the court to A, and B is dispossessed. It would be supposed B had lost his lot, would it not? He would if the verdict and judgment were right; but suppose the verdict and judgment were contrary to the decision of the scretary of>the interior and the secretary would ultimately hold that E was entitled to the lot, instead of A and that B was the prior settler to A notwithstanding the judgment of the district court, notwithstanding the conclusiveness of the district cour judgment, the secretary's decision i: supreme, flor his decision is the decision of the executive department of tho government, which department primar fly disposes of the public land.
 "Under the townsite law'of Alaska ; man or woman or ;alien can hold ant obtain title direct from the govern ment for town lot and this is the onl. law of, congress whereby all alien cal obtain title to government land. f person can hold as many lots as h. occupies and uses. even if it is one-hal the townsite. The old townsite law now repealed, provided that only tw' lots could be held, one for residence and one for business.
 IA person can hold, a town lot or lot
 in Alaska without being an occupan of the townsite; that is. if. by purchase
 possession or occupying of town lot o
 lots, you subsequently, use or occpp
 them for townsite purposes, that is fo
 residence or business, you can acquir
 the title though you reside in Ne'
 York City or South America.
 Possession of a town lot may b
 held by agent or tenant and you ca hold a town iOt by agent and locate b power of attorney, providing it is occu pied and used by yourself, agent c
 tenant for t0wnsite purposes.
 Space prevents me from going int the question of the rights of townsit settler in Nome with reference to tn
 mining claim 6end who is and has bee