Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-07-06

the frozen wastes of the Arctic
circle and the fogs and williwaws
Of the Aleutian islands.
Veterans have the same prefer
ence accorded to them by the home
stead laws of the United States. In
addition, where lands are newly
opened or restored to homestead
entry veterans will be granted a
preference right of application for
a period of 80 days before the lands
become subject to application by
the general public.
In addition to demonstrating in
Alaska, on sites limited to 100 acres,
any adult citizen of the United
States, whose employer is engaged
in trade, manufacturing, or other
productive industry in Alaska, or
who is himself engaged in such
business, may purchase one claim,
not exceeding S acres, of nonmin-
eral land at $3.50 an acre, but for
not less than a minimum of $40.
An applicant for such a tract is re-
quired to pay the cost of the survey.
Any citizen of the United States
after occupying land in Alaska as
homestead or headquarters in a
habitable house not less than five
months each year for three years
may purchase such tract, not ex-
ceeding five acres, if nonmineral in
character, at $3.50 an acre, but for
not less than a minimum of $40.
Such an applicant is not required to
pay the cost of the survey.
Fur Farming and Mining.
Fur farming has been carried on
in the territory for a sufficiently
long period to demonstrate that the
raising of such fur animals as
minks and blue foxes is profitable.
This is especially true in southeast
ern Alaska and along the general
coast line where fish, a basic fur
animal food, may be procured
cheaply.
Certain areas of Alaska are ad-
mirably adapted to the production
of fur of good quality, and there
is plenty of room for expanding this
industry. There are hundreds of IL
censed fur farmers in Alaska, the
majority of whom are raising minks
and blue foxes, although some silver
foxes are raised in captivity.
Mineral resources are known to
be large and varied, and there are
undoubtedly large and rich mineral
areas still UNEMPLOYED. Notable evil
dence of this has been disclosed by
extensive searches for war-needed
metals and minerals by the geologi-
cal survey and the bureau of mines.
A large part of the territory's ma
tural mineral wealth consists of
gold, silver, mercury, antimony,
tin, coal, copper, iron, lead and
platinum. There also may be con-
siderable oil reserves in some
parts of the country, but to what
extent remains largely to be seen.
Transportation is, of course, a prob
lem.
Since Alaska, a natural scenic
wonderland and sport fisherman's
paradise, is expected to grow in
Importance as a vacation land and
as goal for tourists, there will
undoubtedly be great opportunities
for veterans and others who desire
to 60 into businesses catering to the
tourist trade. Tourist facilities are
comparatively meager, especially
in many picturesque localities off of
the beaten path.
However, here again, those con-
templating the establishment of
such businesses should do so with
their eyes open. 1t must be remem-
bered that in many places in Alas
ka the tourist season is short, and
that the permanent population of
the territory is normally less than
100000 persons, or about one-eighth
of the number of persons living in
Washington, D. c.
As a general rule, 1t may be said
that settlement on public land in
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