The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-03-31
H0kE5ITE5 STILL OPEN
 IN ALASKA
Settlers May Patent Public Domain = Factor in
 Development
By WILLIAM N. PARkE IT. s. Forest Service

49" in the West, were Ioreruiiiieio to the ultimate settlement of Alaska. After the mad scramble had SUD- sided many of the gold seekers turn ed to the soil or sought other sources of livelihood. Filing of homesteads followed. and many choice potential agricultural areas were settled, put in most cases the settler didn't m- tend to go into extensive farming he was merely interested in getting A niece of land that would provide a site for home and garden, and to which he could finally get title. His work was that of miner, fish, erman or other type of wage earn CT. but not of farmer.
 In 1927 the Homesite Law was passed by Congress to meet the needs of such settlers as the above. It provided that any resident of Alaska, after occupying land as 8 homesite to the exclusion of a home elsewhere for a period of three years, might purchase the tract, not ex- ceeding five acres, upon a payment of $250 per acre. No cultivation IS required.
 Not On Forest Land
 This law does not pertain to Ma tienal Forest land and most of the publicly owned lands in Southeast Alaska are included in such forests. The Forest Service, however, has provided by regulation for the elim- ination from the National Forests of tracts used as homesiteS, throwing them back into public domain so they may be patented by the settler
 The Homesite Law has been of outstanding importance in promot- ing the settlement of the coast sec tion of Alaska, where true agricul- tural land is deficient but where industrial enterprises and commer- cial fishing brought and are still bringing numbers of wage earners and piece workers into the coun- try. This law gives them chance for homes and gardens of their own at extremely low cost if they are able largely to do the work of clear ing and building with their own hands in their spare time. In some cases residents use their tracts as a means for securing their entire livelihood as, for example, for fur farming.
 Tracts Grouped
 Homesite tracts in the National Forests (not to be confused with summer home tracts which cannot be patented) are laid out in advance % as to form groups around pros pective community centers and ex- isting towns. Settlers are thereby afforded the many social and econ- omic benefits that accrue to com- munity living and are saved from the many social disadvantages which necessarily accompany remote and isolated settlement. Roads are de- signed to tap all areas so schools, churches, mail facilities and sup plies may readily be obtained. Group ing of tracts also simplifies the development of community water, electric power and other modern utilities that ordinarily would not be economically possible If tracts were isolated.
 One hundred and seventy-eight homesites have been patented from the National Forests of Alaska since 1927. At present, 2O6 homesite per- mits are in effect, which will be eliminated to allow patenting as soon as the three years residence requirement has been met by the settlers. Over 300 other tracts have been surveyed in advance and ap- proved for homesite purposes.
 At Communities
 Groups of homesites laid out in small and prospective community centers on the Tongass National Forest include those at Hood Bay, Killisnoo, Port Alexander, Tenakee Pole Anchorage and Wrangell. Oth- CTS located adjacent to Native vil- lages are found at Klawock, Hoonah and Angoon.
 At Ketchikan the homesites have been punched at suitable locations along the Tongass Highway within easy reach of the city. The large Mountain Point group includes 79 homesite tracts. Forty-four resi- dents of this group organized a CO., operative water supply association and about 8 year ago completed the installation of an excellent water system. This same group has suc- ceeded in having electric lights brought into their homes. The Mountain Point tracts furnish @ concrete example of the benefits of grouping homesites.
 A block of 58 additional homesite areas was recently laid out along Mitkof Highway at Petersburg.
 Along Highway
 Along the Glacier Highway out of Juneau 141 homesite tracts have been surveyed on National Forest land. Forty-four of them have been eliminated by patenting, 67 are un- der Forest Service permit awaiting the necessary three years residence before patenting, and 30 are un- >~~~ss~&o<a ouA ox~oya t< onnlicofi0y1