The Seward gateway., 1916-08-22
RUSSIA DECLARES WILL GIVE JEWS EQUAL RIGHTS
Directions Given
 To HOmesteaders
Several Have Expressed Desire to
 Sell Part of Holdings.

The Gateway has just received a copy of a letter which is being sent out to homesteaders by the land de- partment through Andrew Christen- sen, manager of the land and indus trial department of the engineering commission. It shows amongst other things that several homesteaders are applying under the new regulations for a chance to sell part of their lands. 1t is impossible to give the form which is enclosed but the follow ing is the letter which is addressed to homesteaders and which is published here by request of the land depart ment for the benefit of homesteaders: Dear Sir:
 "The records show that you have located or entered about 32O acres of land as homestead The homestead law requires that one-sixteenth Q-16) of this area, or 20 acres, must be cul- tivated withtin two years from the date of location or entry; and one eighth (l-S) of the total area, or 40 acres must be cultivated within three years from the date of location or entry If the law is not complied with in this respect there is danger oT many of the homesteaders either los ing their homesteads entirely or be- ing required to reduce the amount of land claimed or entered by them to such an amount as will enable them to meet the requirements of the law.
 "The Commissioner of the General Land Office in decision dated May l6, 1916, addressed to the Alaskan Engineering Commission, advised that it would be permissible for a home steader to relinquish to the United States a part of his homestead and receive pay therefor from the pur- chaser. The subsequent purchaser may then file upon the part reinQuished, provided he is qualified to take a homestead in Alaska, and the original ! homesteader may continue his settle ment and cultivation of the part re- tained by him.
 Since that decision was rendered many homesteaders have expressed a desire to sell a portion of their land to someone who is qualified and desirOus of taking up a homestead, and have asked me to put them in touch with such prospective settlers. By selling portion of their homesteads the homesteaders will not only be relieved of cultivating a large area, but will also have money from such sale with which to tide them over until their homesteads become productive and self supporting. By selling a portion of their homesteads it will also per init more homesteads being located, and this means that their locality will nave better roads and school facilities, as well as an earlier development of the agricultural lands.
 "This office receives many inquiries from prospective settlers and people who desire to secure homesteads, and if you should desire to sell any DOT tion of your homestead, it may be possible through such inquiries to put you in communication with a pros pective purchaser.
 q would, therefore, be pleased if you will answer, on the attached form, the questions which l have set forth, in case you desire to relinquish a portion of your homestead, and re- turn the form at your earliest cOnven- fence to me in the enclosed official self-addressed envelope, which re- quires no postage.
 every respectfully,
 "A CHRISTENSEN,
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