The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-11-05

that there were two laws on the subject under which patent could be issued to land used and occupied for fur farming to the extent of eighty acres in any one claim and another law under which lands could be leased for fur farming by the Secretary of the Interior
 The right to secure patent to lands of this character arose originally from law passed on March g. 1891. Under this law tracts of one hundred and sixty acres or less could be patented by persons using and occupying them for the purpose of Trade, Manufacture or Productive Industry. On May A. l898 this law was amended to reduce the area that could be patented to eighty acres.
 About thirty years ago fur farmer named w. Mason Putnam applied for patent of lands used by him for fur farming on tract of land near Seldovia After consideration, the Sec retary of the Interior held that fur farming was a productive industry and patent was issued Following this decision number of patents were issued to fur farmers under thlS law and it was not until recent years that ob- lection was made and patents refused but the Secretarys decision recently given held that the law was still in effect and that patent could be issued for such tracts.
 Tine other law which was passed on July 3. 1926 permits the Secretary of the Interior to lease land for fur farming and the General Land Office had held that this leasing law in effect repealed the law which permitted patent but the Secretary of the Interior holds otherwise and holds that both laws are in et- feet and do not conflict.
 The decision gives the holder of small tracts of land an opportunity to secure title to it but does not relieve the holders of tracts of more than eighty acres of the nec- essity for leasing the same. As most or the land in southern Alaska is within the National he issued by the Forest Service Land in western Alaska outside of the National Forests can be leased There are many small eliminatlons from the national forests in southern Alaska such as the Mendenhall Glacier elimination and the elimination of three to six miles around the various towns in southern Alaska. Patent could be secured for tracts in these eliminations where the land is used for fur farming.
 Where small tracts of lands are located within the Forest Service and are used for fur farming it would be possible for the De- partment of Agriculture to eliminate these tracts and it is believed that to carry into eff feet the spirit of the law they would do this but it would be necessary for the fur farmer to deal directly with the officers of the na- tional forests in this respect.
 The Secretary's decision which was secured after the filing of a statement on July 26, 1937 by MT. Dimond will be of great benefit to the owners of small fur farms in the Ter ritory It has been difficulty for such farmers to secure loans on their places or to even nego- aiate satisfactory sales because they had no title upon which mortgage could be given or a deed issued The greatest handicap has been in the borrowing of money which IS always needed in an enterprise of this kind since businesses and banks particularly do not care to loan money unless they have some security.
 The decision above mentiosed followed the refusal of the General Land Office to allow Earl N Dinner of Petersburg Alaska patent for lands used and occupied by him for fur farming. He appealed to the Secretary of the Interior and on his behalf MT. Dimond fur nished the Secretary with the statement show ing the history of the laws in question with the result that the Secretary decided as here inbefore mentioned.