The Alaska daily empire., 1914-01-22
GEN. DAVIDSON URGES
 LAND LAW CHANCES
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 the reduction mills is a very serious handicap The ore to be milled must be brought to the shores of deep wa ter, and 1t is necessary that every ia clllty for minimizing freight charges in doing so be provided, and that enormous plants be established for treating the ore, and without sufficient water fronts no company could oper, ate at all
 "A millslte claim on which it is necessary to establish these plants is limited to five acres. and if re- serve space of fourth mile in extent is required between them, the compan. les reducing these low.grade ores, (and they are the prevailing kinO would have to abandon their enterprises; for adequate plants could not be provided upon such limited area,
 Along nearly all the coast line of Alaska the mountains come down al most to the waters. leaving only mar row strips available for installing plants of the sort required.
 Furthermore, it is not infreQuent- ly the case that gold and other min eral.bearing lodes are approximately parallel to and near the shore of the line of navigable water, and the inter- pretation of the law above mentioned results in cutting the lode into parts at intervals of every half mile of me- ander measurement. This presents an almost intolerable condition to claim ants of such lodes. Generally the de- velopment of these lodes requires a very large outlay of capital to place them on a paying basis, and in most cases funds must be borrowed to do so. Capitali is timid and, unless a clear title to the claim for a great length can be shown, it will not be U
 forthcoming, nor under such condi- tions can such claims be sold only at nominal price to those who could develop them. Now it will be seen that the conditions above recited have very detrimental bearing upon the development of the mineral resources of this country and should not be al- lowed to exist.
 Tn view of the conditions as set forth in this communication, most respectfully and earnestly urge that a more liberal policy be adopted for the disposal of the public lands in Al aska.
 Tt has been shown that the reserve spaces along the shores of nayigable water have largely failed to fulfill the purpose for which they were de- signed, and in several ways initiate against the proper development of the country. I therefore most re- spectfully advocate that the land laws of Alaska be so amended as to relieve this Territory of such servitude.
 "As substitute for the reserve spaces along shore fronts. it is rec commended that easements be provid- ed for over all classes of claims in Alaska, both along the waterfront and as far back therefrom as conditions may require.
 Tt is true that the Act of Congress provided for a public roadway 50 feet wide along and parallel to the shore line of nayigable water. The act no doubt intended that the roadway should be continuous and unbroken, but it was so worded that the courts hold that the road reservation refers only to the re- served strips between claims along the shore. The decisions render this feature of the Act not only usless, but absurd. Such a roadway would be of no advantage, whatever, to the public; and it is recommended that the clause defining this easement either be so amended as to apply to all lands along navigable waters, or annulled alto gether.
 The easements provided for should include wagon roads, railroads, both steam and electric, telegraph, tele- phone and electric power lines, fumes, pipe lines, tunnels, ditches, etc. These easements should also provide for the crossing over or under other previous rights of way, for any purpose, but in such manner as not to obstruct or in- terfere with the proper operation of such intercepted rights of way.
 "TEis, it is considered, would give the general public free access to the shores of navigable waters, would not interfere with the operation of any enterprise, would prevent many law suits over disputed right of way, and would be more beneficial both to the Government and the public, than is possible under existing conditions.
 50 far as wharfage rates are con- cerned, these would be kept within reason by competition, or the regula- tlon of them could be placed directly under the supervision of the Secretary of Commerce"
 DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.