Seward daily gateway., 1925-12-12

UOIuODll0 lO hSudl Adhc duu Uy UOdL and trail to the region tributary to the Kenai River Ultimately the trail that has been made from Kenai Lake to Cook. Inlet will be improved as a road and easy excess to the AL aska Railroad provided.
 The rectangular system of surveys has been extended over the more accessible areas which seem to be 1 the most suitable for agricultural de- velopment These surveys are con- ], trolled by the Seward Base and Me-
 ridian and the initial point is situ- ated a few miles north of Seward
 The plats of the surveyed areas are
 on file in the United States Land of
 flee at Anchorage where complete
 records are kept and where all mat
 ters pertaining to public lands in that district are referred. These rec
 ords are easily accessible to anyone
 seeking information about public mat l ters. The surveys extend from the l head of Kachemak Bay and along
 the eastern shore of Cook Inlet to
 Point Possession and embrace about
 3OO,000 acres.
 The area lying north of Kachemak
 Bay probably offers the best oppor-
 tunity for prospective settlers who
 are interested in acquiring a home-
 stead. It may be we'll to state that
 under the homestead laws applicable
 to Alaska, homestead location in any of the public land states is not bar to acquiring homestead in this
 Territory and one who has used his right elsewhere may take a home stead in Alaska. The area mention ed above generally supports a fair stand of small timber and the sur face usually is covered with moss and dense undergrowth. This makes clearing and cultivating rather diffi- cult, however, when the land is clear ed and cultivated it is excellent for farming. At the present time the ten dency seems to be to locate in the vicinity of Homer although there are number of homesteads between there and East ForeIand. A road building program has been adopted which will provide route for trans portation between Homer and tie ad- jacent regions Seldovia is the ne..r- set port of call for steamers a: this time but in former years some of the larger boats called at Homer and no doubt when the region develops suf- flciently and the proper facilities are provided this service will be resumed During the past two or three years prospecting has been stimulated and new strikes have been made at sev- eral points along the railroad. Prom ising prospects are being developed in Nuka Bay and near Hope and Sun rise on Turnagain Arm. The we'll known Chromite deposits near Seldo- via may be made an important source of supply of Chromiu. There are several localities where placer gold is known and further prospecting is warranted.
 The Ignite beds north of Kache- mak Bay are known to be very ex- tensive and offer possibilities for de- velopment at least for local consump tion. Under the law the title to the surface of these coal lands may be acquired for homesteads.
 The propagation of fur-bearing anil malls has developed into one of the most important industries in Alaska and some of the best fur is obtained from the Kenai Peninsula and adja- 1 cent islands. It is hoped that a law will be passed which will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease lands that are valuable for the prop agation of fur-bearing animals in | which event it will be possible for the fur farmers to obtain an exclu sive right to their lands during the | life of their lease, and thus enable them to obtain financial assistance.
 The large lakes on the Kenai Pen- insula offer attractive opportunities for summer camps and no doubt pros- poets of this kind will invite invest ments by those who are interested in providing facilities for tourists and hunters.
 Considering the extent of the Terri tory, the known natural resources and the fact that a very small per- centage of the available public lands have been settled up, the future de- velopment of the region seems as- sured. Every effort should be made to bring knowledge of the oppor- tunities to those who are seeking a place for a home.