The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-10-02
Repeal Existing Placer Law.
Fairbanks News-M Miner)

Fairbanks NeWS-Mlner) careful consideration of the placer mining laws now in effect in Alaska has convinced the News
 Miner that justification for their enactment if any ever existed has long since ceased Up until August l. 1912, the law in force in Alaska relative to the acquiring of placer deposits was the Act of Con- gress of May 10, 1872, commonly known as the placer law" The object of this law as expressed in it's title was ito promote the development of the mining resources of the United States" Under this law the placer deposits of the public land States and Territories of the United States have been and are now being developed with the ex ception of Alaska
 This placer law" permits citizens of the United States and those who have declared their intention to become such to acquire individually in one oca- tion 20 acres and an association of two or more persons up to the limit of eight to acquire in one location 20 for each member of the associa- tion Thus an association of two persons can ac- qure 40 acres three persons 60 acres and so on up to the limit of eight persons who could acquire 160 acres in a single location. This law also re- quires one hundred dollars worth of assessment work" or annual labor" to be performed yearly upon each location whether the location be acre or 160 acres. This law does not limit the number of locations that may be made upon creek or else where. Under this law and the system established thereby the mineral resources of the United States have been very satisfactorily developed and the liberal policy of the Government to the expora- tion, development and purchase of its mineral lands by it's citizens has been attained. Not with out abuse, however, but all in all fairly well.
 In 1912 this placer law far Alaska was concerned repealed and the present law en- acted It only permits person to stake two claims for himself and two under power of attorney dur ing any one month in any one precinct It also limits the size of association claims to 40 acres and requires the performance of $1oo worth of annual labor on every 20 acres fractional part thereof embraced in an individual or association location
 The evils resulting from this limitation and added labor has been very ably pointed, out by John A. Clark in his communication to the News Miner published Saturday last
 It is to correct this evil, and to encourage prospecting that the News-Miner is commencing active campaign for a repeal of the present law and re-enactment of the general placer laws of the United States in force in Alaska prior to amendment.
 To successfully achieve this end the sentiment of the people of Interior Alaska upon this subject, especially of it's prospectors and miners, will have momentous influence. It must be borne in mind that the agitation for the repeal of the present law must primarily from the people of the Divisions that the greatest part of placer gold de- posits of Alaska located.
 To effectually obtain the sentiment of the peo- pie the News Miner will commence and continue to publish fof an indefinite time coupon ad dressed to the Congress of the United States in general and to Alaskas Delegate to Congress, Dan A. Sutherland, in particular, urging the repeal of the present placer law and the re-enactment of the general placer law of the United States under which her mining resources have been successfully explored and developed.
 The News-Miner urges prompt response to its request for support.