The Nome nugget., 1921-03-05


 representa- the settlers and prospect l or's side d the question.
 T advoated the reclamation of 60.- 900 acres of land in Alaska by the { gOvernhnent clearing the land and giv- ing 1t to :he settler. The system of conServaton now in force whereby our ] timber. oil and pulp lands are tied up will never populate the country. They had that system in Canada and six million Canadians came to thss United States To take up q. homestead now we mirs clear ten acres of land This requires that a man with d family must have at least $3.5o0 in order to get s.ared. Most men with that much saved will use it in some other way Broke men are the ones who settle d county. l knuw something of the de- ve1opmsnt of new countries for have been nArizona and Washington when they were just beginning to grow. [ came N Washington in 1sS: and have seen tho changes that took place there. Talking all the resources of Alasl<a to- gethet, the poor man has no chance at all. F. is for this reason that urged the rclalnation of at least 10000 acres.
 l Along with this the government leu yf,is1d. 1 even at loss. in order to assist in the popdation of :he territory. People are leaving the territory now and unless somsthing is done by the government to assist the settlers therc will be no one but the big interests ief- Mir. Payne told me that the trouble with Alaska is the lack of population. When I ,sked him if he knew the reason he couldn't answer me. Then I told him i it VAS because of the laws which .ied eveything up.
 There are thousands of little coves Where whole families could live and catch herring. cod. salmon and other i fish at various times of the year. Thdr farms would be the sea. Bu. these families will not come when l they are unable to ge: title to the land on which they would have to build their homes. The only thing left is for the people of Alaska to get tn- 1 gether and do something for them selves"
 i Among other things MT Noon ury- | ei tha: the government railroad be cnmpieted by contract under bonds so that the work would not drag out longer than necessary. During his "trip, which embraced Chicago, Detroit, Washington. Philadelphia. New York. Baltimore and many other smaller ci- ties. he spoke before commercial clubs. lodges and various other public gath erings and from the wide publicity ac- corded him by the press everywhere in regard to Alaska's needs. it is be- lieved that much benefit for Alaska will result. His trip was financed through the Seward Chamber of Com merce.
 Included in the program urged by MT. Noon were the following: Coal Leasing Regulations. Let these. he modified .o make them operative In fact and make the mining of coal by private operators q primary feature of governmental policy: and. while about it. give stn equal break to the man of moderate means. the man who must be depended upon to discover and prospect
 Oil Leasing Bill and Regulations. This matter should be relieved of am biguity in order that privileges, re. strictions and methods of procedure. and ultimate rights. would not be differently construed by every man in- tercsted in the subject
 Pores. reserves should at once be thrown open to settlement. and such
 
 should be deemed as of secondary im- portance to the comfort happiness and well being of men now living.
 Regulations affecting homesteads should be revised fundamentally in the interes. of settlers and home builders. and Il new law be drafted to fit the land laws to existing conditions.
 Fisheries. Regulations of the de- parument of commerce should be i'm mediately revised with the main object the develolmen: of fishing communi ties along the waters. and with fur ther view to the ultimate transfer of exclusive jurisdiction over Alaska fish cries to the people of Alaska
 Improved transportation, colonis. rates, standard mail service and other pressing needs should receive immed . fate and equal consideration.
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