Valdez daily prospector., 1916-03-23
BOOZE PEDOLERS
 WILL LOSE LOTS
WILL ENFORCE REGULATIONS
Turtles Convicted of Selling Liquor in New Railroad Town Will Forfeit
 Their Lots for Violation of Condi-
 tiOns of Purchase.

A considerable controversy has
 lr1sen over the question as to wheth CT or not the government may enforce
 the penalty of forfeiture which the provisions of the sale of town lots
 in Anchorage provide in the event of the violation of the conditions of sale by the purchaser The government has announced that the lands in the new railroad town purchased by par ties who have since been convicted of selling liquor, contrary to the terms and conditions of the sale, would be compelled to forfeit the property.
 Well-known lawyers have maintain ed that the restrictions imposed are void and the lots may not be forfeited under them. The land office at Ju
 neau maintains to the contrary and that the government will enforce the penalty is evident from the following letter from A. Christensen, Chief of the Field Division of the land office.
 "I enclose herewith a copy of the Alaskan Railroad Townsite Regula
 tions, approved by the President on June 19, 1915, governing the disposal of townsites along the Government Railroad in Alska, and under which the lots at Anchorage were sold dur
 ing the past summer. You will note that under the heading, Conditions and Forfeitures, the lots sold under these regulations must not be used for the purpose of manufacturing, selling or otherwise disposing of in toxicating liquors as beverage, or for gambling, prostitution or any un- lawful purpose before final payment on the lot is made, and during a peri cd of five years from the date of the certificate of sale, under penalty of forfeiture of the lot and money paid up to the time of forfeiture.
 Under these regulations, on Janu- ary 29, 1916, the Secretary of the In- terior forfeited six Anchorage town site lots because the purchasers had been duly convicted or entered plea of guilty to the charge of violation of Sec. 25S1, Compiled Laws of Alaska, which prohibits the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors without a license.
 Ten other cases are under consid- eratioh wherein the lessee was con victed of the same offense. Under the regulations, ignorance by the pur- chaser of the acts of his lessee or others on lots purchased by him is no defense. However. an opportunity will be given the purchaser in these cases ONLY to show that he had no knowledge of the violations.
 On February 16. 1916. regulations were promulgated by the Department of the Interior. governing the proce- dure for the forfeiture of lots under the Alaskan Railroad Townsite regu- lations, Circular No. 45S, and 1 beg that you will purchase them, or ex- tracts therefrom. as the Commission CT of the General Land Office has in- dicated that they be made generally known throughout Alaska. You will note that Par. IA of these regulations provide that where any lot purchaser, or joint purchaser. or successor ill interest as transferee. assignee, les see, etc.. shall be convicted of an of- fense which constitutes violation of the Alaskan Railroad Townsite Regu- lations, the Secretary of the Interior may in his discretion, declarea for feiture of the lot involved. These regulations will govern the procedure in all cases arising after the date of their promulgation--February 16. 1916. Copies may he obtained from the Chief. of Field Division, General Land Office Juneau, Alaska, upon re- quest"