The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1918-09-19

for his stand, that it power to enac,
laws for Alaska is vested in the
local legislature, that body might
ultimately destroy itself.
Mr.. Sulzer spoke of the Fisheries
bill which he admitted is not per-
feet, as it is a difficult problem to
get bill that is satisfactory. He
denied most emphatically that he is
in the employ of the fish trust or
any other trust. He spoke OF the
General Leasing Bill, now in con-
ference, by which over a million
acres OF land containing valuable
oil fields might be leased from the
Government.
What is more important to the
fishermen than an oil supply?' said
Mr.. Sulzer. AT present our oil
comes from California, from the
Standard OIL trust. We are using
quantities OF oil and tonnage, when
we should have large amount here
for export. These fields should he
opened and worked under a leasing
system.
The delegate spoke of the Seward
Bonding Bill which he has succeed
ed in getting through the House
and Senate. Seward was damaged
by a glacial stream to the extent of
$50, 900 and as no municipality can
levy more than a per cent tax,
| Seward had to come to Congress
for relief. Another bill which he
has succeeded in getting passed is
that which provides for a free sur.
vey of homesteads by applying to
the Surveyor General. Formerly,
the homesteader had to get a sur.
veyor at a great expense owing to
distance and difficult travelling.
In connection with the law which
stated that no homestead could be
located within 80 rods of another
location, Mr.. Sui zer related several
instances where great hardship had
come to settlers because of this re-
striction. One man, near Juneau,
located on an island containing
about 40 acres. He spent about
S 5000 on the place and when it was
surveyed, it was found that one
corner stake was within 80 rods OF
another corner stake. In other
words, he was within SO rods of his.
own location, and the law forbids
that. His wife worried so over the
matter that she finally committed
suicide. Later he lost leg and is
struggling along some way. He
cannot sell or borrow. Then the
law is liable 10 another interpreter
ton and il connection with this,
lMr. Sulzer cited a suppositional
case as follows:
"A man locates near the water
tor instance, on a water front OF 100
rods. Another man locates within
so rods OF the first man in order to
have a near neighbor. The first
man spends time and money on his
location and when he wants his pat.
tent from the land office, he cannot
get il because he has more than 100
rods according to measurement
along the waterfront which is wind
| ing and tortuous. Also, rivers
change and the law fails to take
this into consideration. About
80, 900 miles of land are reserved
from entry because OF this law and
it has caused much trouble
The bill abolishing this strip has
been introduced three times. The
Secretary OF the Interior and the
Secretary of Commerce, in joint
| meeting, have considered it favor
ably and it will soon become law.
Mr.. Sulzer stated that he felt it this
we're the Gully law he had succeeded
in getting passed. his time had been
we'll spent.
The delegate took up other bills:
Bill for Extension OF Federal Farm
Loans; Bill for Extension OF Voca-
tional Education for Alaska, same