The Wrangell sentinel., 1945-08-24

means of acquiring title to satis- factory tracts that can be develop ed as permanent homes through their own efforts, with mini mum financial outlay. Groups Of homesite tracts are blocked out by the Forest Service in advance of applications along National For est roads leading out of the var ious communities. Homesite per mits are not ordinarily issued for areas remote from such settlements since experience indicates that oe- cupaney of isolated tracts is not likely to be permanent. Such tracts are usually abandoned be- cause of lack of public schools, roads, mail service and other con- munity facilities, dearth Of nearby jobs for wage earners, and the distance to market when vege- table growing is one of the means of livlihood. Remote residence areas, which are sometimes want ed by families with a desire for isolation, can be occupied under ordinary terminable special use permits without promise that the tract will be made available for | patenting.
 Approximately 300 homesite tracts have been laid out on the National Forests to date and all but few of these have been taken up by settlers. Additional groups are now being surveyed to meet an expected heavy demand at the close of the war.
 A regulatoion of the Secretary of Agriculture also provides for the elimination from the Alaska National Forests of tracts not to exceed 80 acres on which have been constructed permanent and substantial improvements designed for trade, manufacture, or other productive industry and which have reasonable prospects of per manency. This elimination affords an opportunity to patent such tracts under the Trade and Manu- featuring Site Act. Complete op erating plants and substantial in vestments are a prerequisite to el- animation and patent, and the size of the tract is limited by law to the area actually used. Tracts used for resorts cannot be elimiG- ated and patented under the Trade and Manufacturing Site Act. However, many small tourist re- sorts along the highways and on the outskirts of towns can meet the requirements of the Homesite Act for patenting. Small retail stores, garages, filling stations and other small business enterprises will not ordinarily be eliminated for trade and manufacturing site entry, but most of them can quail ify as homesites
 Special Use Permits
 Aside from the above described land uses, which carry the right of land patenting, all continued occupancy and use of National Forest lands are authorized by Special Use Permits" Temporary use, such as camping, hunting and fishing, does not require permits Special use permits, except for some uses by public ageneies, car ry a reasonable yearly fee or charge, and contain conditions that require orderly conduct in the use of the site, allow transfer of the permit to others with the approval of the issuing Forest Off, ficer, and provide for revocation of the permit (with the right of appeal by the permittee ito higher authority for gross and continued violation of the permit terms
 Recreational Use Of Land
 The National Forests of Alaska have many exceptionally fine out door recreational features. AS more and more people are attracted to this land of "Fiords and Forests" it can be expected that additional resorts will be developed to ac- commodate them. The Forest Serv- ice is making special efforts to further this development along the lines that have been laid down bp Congressional action for the guid- ance of Forest Service activities of this kind. The specific laws authorizing the use of National Forest lands for resort purposes are the Act of March 4, 1915, and the Act of February 28,1S99. The first mentioned is the so-called Term Permit Law" Under it the Secretary of Agriculture is auth orized ito permit the occupancy and use of Natlonal Forest lands for the construction of summer homes, hotels, stores, or other structures needed for recreation or public convenience, in tracts not in excess of five acres, and for periods not exceeding 30 years.