The Alaska daily empire., 1918-07-23
Welcome Change.
Fairbanks Citizen. )


 Py securing a change in the Alaska homestead laws Delegate Sulzer has done an inestimable serv- tee for the homesteaders and indirectly for the en- tire population. Many men can testify that It mas been almost impossible to prove up on their entries under the existing laws.
 At the present time the law states that man may file hundred and sixty acres and that he must live on it seven months out of each year Tor a period of three years Some slight deviatons allowed because of illness failure of crops or to al low children to go to school. He cannot under any circumstance be absent for period of than one year. Two homes cannot be maintained. Wood canot be and sold from the homestead. Along navigable streams ephty rods has been reserved be- tween entries and the water front limited hundred and sixty rods Regulations for filing on unsurveyed lands are practically the same as for surveyed lands but when it comes to proving up the settler has to the expense of having it surveyed Tn, 1916 the amount of land allowed in each entry cut from three hundred and twenty acres to one hundred and sixty It is impossible to commute under existing laws
 States with which the law makers have been familiar but they not applicable here. A man should be allowed to cut wood and sell it provided that he 'ollows with cultivation. This provision would nee assary have be carefully guarded for there would homestead for the wood on it and with no idea Of settling. Our working season is approximately nve months consequently instead of being compelled to i've it for months, the ruling should allow he settler to spend the seven months off of 1t if ne feels it necessary. For the most part the eighty rOd reservation is useless here our small streams To who knows the habits of the Alaska streams with their many channels and crooked courses the hundred and sixty rod shore limit is ridiculous t becomes than that when lives homestead for twelve years and cannot get patent simply because he is unfortunate enough to be To- ,ated on a bend in the stream. He has offered to rut of the point of the peninsula, but then the ,ndess chain of red tape makes of waiting Cases where 1t is one two miles around by river and only three four rods the loop numerous. It is just about impossible for to file such land, matter how desirable it may be otherwise With the worlds supply of grain running short and bound to continue that way in the future
 will be very desirable for Alaskans to raise grain Winter wheat rye must be planted before any of crops be harvested and a result two years are necessary for the raising of crop Also the fertility of land cannot be maintained forever and green manure crops necessary here where the stock is not yet feasible likely to be for years To remedy these conditions a much larger acreage should be allowed in Interior Alaska. The surveying of homesteads in the unsurveyed is very expensive and should be done by men regularly employed by the Government If more power given to the local land office officials much of the present day red tape might be done away with.
 Congress is reasonable perhaps too much They doing what appears be reasonable to them they view it out there. The opinion of Delegate without numerous documents to back him is not going to change them. It is up to us to help him show them. Delegate Sulzer's genuine interest has been shown by his untring efforts in be- half, and he is more than ready cooperate in which will aid the settler Home production will mean cheaper food and consequently more .mn ing operations. Everyone should help the Delegate regardless of politics