The Alaska daily empire., 1916-01-27

slrablo that Land Office Surveys pre- cede the completion of the govern ment railroad In parts of the Susitna and Panama valleys. The railroad will open an immense area to agri- cultural and mineral development. Several hundred settlers have already gone upon the surveyed lands in the Cook Inlet district, where soil and climatic conditions are especially fa- yorable to agriculture and cattle-rais- ing industries. It is reliably reported that similar climatic conditions and soil conditions obtain in many parts of the valley of the Susitna and its tributaries. One of the principal factors. if not the chief factor, in the development of a new and practically little known country is the public land survey It's very existence is an in- vitation and what 1t stands for an inspiration to the home seeker. the prospector, and others Of the advance guard of development. The advant- ages to the government and to the set. tier of the establishment of surveys on the ground prior to settlement are obvious. Existing surveys with those to be completed this fall embrace all desirable agricultural lands in the Im- mediate Cook Inlet district. They should, however, be extended next season westward to tho susitna and up It's valley along the line of loca. tion of the railroad.
 While tho Panama valley, on ac count of It's remoteness at present from markets and the consequent greater cost of development, is not being settled upon to any large ex- tent, 1t is unquestionably destined to become, with the advent of cheaper transportation facilities, one of the great grainproducing valleys of the country. and 1t would be highly de- lirable to extend newt summer public land surveys northerly from the Ne mana coal fields along the line of loca. ton of the railroad to the Panama river and thence along the river, ex. banding the surveys each subsequent season as settlement may warrant. It also seems probable that the General Land Office will be called upon next ieason to survey other townsites and reservations along the line of the gov. ernment railroad. and in addition the examination of isolated homestead urveys, and the execution of frag nentary surveys will be continued as he necessities dictate. In order to meet the requirements of survey along he lines herein indicated, provision hould be made for the employment If nine field parties. The usual year y allotment to Alaska from the ap. )ropriation for surveying the public and is s25.OOO. On account of de. mands on this appropriation in the ther surveying districts, it would ap- )ear probable that this allotment hould be consistently increased next eason It is therefore recommended hat Congress be asked for Q special appropriation Of S5O.OOO for the sur 'oy of public lands in Alaska, to be made continuously available until ex- pended. After the exhaustion of the pecial appropriation, it is believed hat the usual yearly allotment from he general appropriation will be sui lcient to meet the requirements of urvey in the future.
 Coal Leasing Law
 A new method for the control and disposition of the ccal deposits in the public lands of the Territory of Alas ,a was provided by the act of October 20. 1914 (supra). whereby lands con. aiming coal may be leased for min. ng purposes. under hte direction and supervision of the Secretary of the interior.
 The President of the United States ls required to reserve not exceeding 5.12O acres of coal-bearing lands in the Boring River fields, and 76SO ac- res within the Matanuska field before opening said fields under the leasing lct. The unreserved coal lands are thereafter to be divided by the Sec -etary of the Interior into leasing blocks or tracts of 40 acres each or multIples therof, in such form as will permit the most economical mining of coal. but in no case exceeding 2,- 560 acres in one leasing block. The ands having thus been divided into easing blocks. the Secretary, under he act. is then authorized and not before, to offer such blocks or tracts or leasing. and award leases thereof through such plan as he may adopt ,ither by advertisement. competitive bidding. or otherwise.
 The survey Of the coal areas is therefore a necessary preliminary to he determination of the leasing tracts )r blocks, and the act makes due pro- rision therefor. The execution of the tatuatory direction in this particular Is treated separately herein under the title "Coal-land Surveys" (supra)
 When the survey now in hand is completed and the coal areas have been divided into leasing blocks or racts, which 1t is intended shall not Se later than the opening of next 'eason, timely notice will be given by he Secretary of the Interior, with due opportunity to all who may desire to ubmit applications for a coal mining lease.
 Free Permits For Coal Mining