The Cordova daily times., 1919-09-15
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1919
THE OIL LEASING BILL

According to information received at this office the oil land leasing bill, as recently passed by the senate, pro- vides that any person, association or corporation, may go upon the public domain not otherwise appropriated and stake 2,560 acres of oil land. The party Or corporation must then apply for permit to prospect said ground for oil. He has six months from the date of stalking to acquire the permit. After permit is granted he has one year to mark the corners of the ground. The ground must be taken in rectangular or square form, and if the country has been surveyed, conform as nearly as possible with the official survey.
 He must drill a we'll not less than 500 feet deep within three years from date of receiving permit, unless he discover oil in paying quantity be- fore, and a we'll not less than 2,000 feet deep within four years, under like conditions. After a discovery of oil in paying quantities has been made the permitter may apply for and acquire lease to one-fourth of the 2,560 acres and pay a royalty of 5 per cent of the value of the oil ex- tracted, together with $1 per acre, the $1 to be credited up against the roy alty. Within six months after notice he may acquire a lease on the re- mainder of said permit, if he so de- sires, and pay a royalty of 1213 per cent, together with $1 per acre
 In case the land was located for oil under the placer law and prior to the withdrawal act of 1909, and provided not less than $25O has been expended on each claim in development and provided the said claimants relin- qUish their rights to the United States government within six months from the passage of this law, the said claimants will be entitled to take five leases of 1,260 acres each, f they have been holding that much, and pay a royalty therefor of , per cent.
 It will thus be seen that where claims were staked under the old law and the assessment work prop erly kept up, the parties that have held them will be entitled to the first chance to lease if they so desire, and will have six months in which to de- eide.
 The bill as passed by the senate seems to also provide that a person or corporation may acquire three 2,56O-acre prospecting permits, pro- vided each of these permits is upon separate and distinct geological for nations that may mean
 A different law, the provisions ot which are not known here, has been intruduced in the house, and uT to date has not been reported. And unless the house adopts the senate bill as a whole, which is not likely the matter will have to go to con ference. This will no doubt take some time.
 As matters now stand, it does nc enc any good to stake ground, bo cause up to the present there is nc law. It is, however, not a bad idea for interested persons to look the ground over and see what they might care to stake in event the law does pass.
 There seems to be disposition on the part of congress to pass some sort of a leasing law for oil, coal and phosphates, and it is hoped that it will go through in such form that it can be operated under after it's pas sage It means much to Alaska.
 The provisions given above apply to Alaska. They are not so liberal for leases in the States.
 THE 0RNOXIOljS SCHOOL TAX