The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-12-30

AS a mdLt9T OI IdcL LILLE WOAh oA providing educational and financial aid for prospecting is but the logical development of work already under taken. Inasmuch as the funds at present available are not sufficient to enable the Department to take up this work, congress should be asked to appropriate sum of not less than one hundred thousand dollars per annum for each of the four divisions of Alaska. This sum should be made available until expended under the direction and with the advice of the Secretary of the Interior for carrying out this important constructive work.
 It is recommended by your com mittee that:
 The Act appropriating this money should provide that all prospectors receiving financial aid from the gov elnment shall be required to sign a contract or agreement, on behalf of themselves. their heirs. administra- tors or assigns. to pay to the govern ment sum amounting to five per cent of the gross production from all placer ground located, prospected or worked under this agreement an nually, until the total sum advanced by the government shall have been repaid, and after that time a sum amounting to one-half of one per cent of the gross production an nually from such claims.
 This Act shall provide further that all placer locations made within a radius of five miles of any placer discovery made by prospector while receiving financial aid from the government should be subject to the payment of like percentage of one-half of one per cent d the gross annual production.
 The Act should provide further, that all prospectors receiving finan- cial aid should be required to agree for themselves, their heirs, admins trators or assigns. to pay sum equal to five per cent of the gross pro- duction from all quartz or lode claims located, prospected or worked under the agreement, annually, until the total sum originally advanced by the government shall have been repaid, and after that date to pay a sum to one-Quarter of one per cent of the gross production annually from such claims.
 The Act should provide further that all quartz or lode locations made within a radius of one mile of any lode location made by a prospector while receiving financial aid from the government, shall be subject to the payment of like percentage of one quarter of one per cent annually of the gross production.
 And the Act should provide finally that all moneys or receipts from such sources shall be credited and added to the moneys appropriated by con- gress for the district from which it is collected, and shall be available until expended for carrying out the purposes of the Act.
 Under this plan the Bureau of Mines could maintain residence in each of the different divisions of Alaska such competent technical men as might be required to assist the in his choice of locations; to determine the amount and charac. ter of assistance to be rendered to him; to supervise his employment of such assistance and see that it is Used to the best advantage; and oth. arwise to insure the carrying out of Ihe provisions of the Act in such a manner as to accomplish its purpose for the best interests of the mining of Alaska. Resl ectfully submitted,
 E. B. COLLINS
 SYLVESTER HOWELL.