The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1951-01-18
QUESTION ARISES
ON CERTAIN PHASE
ALASKA Mine LAWS

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 18-
R-Is gravel a valuable minerals
Does It's presence on school section
lands permit the stalking of min
ing claims?
On those questions may hinge 9
court decision that could affect AL
aska's financial structure and de-
prive its schools Of large antici-
pated funds.
The issue came to light yester-
day when Lowell Pickett, regional
administrator for the Bureau Of
Land Management, disclosed that
four well known Alaska families
had staked placer claims on SAC
acres of valuable school land east
of Anchorage.
The reaction was violent. Anch-
orage school district officials con-
ferred with attorneys on ways to
avoid the claims The city planning
commission began a study Of the
situation. City Manager Robert
Sharp said he would join any
legal action to halt the claims.
Pickett reported the Interior De-
partment in Washington. d. c., had
taken the matter under advise
ment
The land on the outskirts of this
rapidly growing Alaska city, has
been estimated as worth more than
s2.0OOO00 if divided into 5000 lots.
Similar lots are bringing S700
apiece.
The families contend they dis
covered gravel in the area, and
mining laws allow filing of claims
on school sections if they contain
valuable minerals.
Mining authorities here say pre-
yious court decisions have held
that gravel is mineral.
The claims were staked in the
names of Mr.. and Mrs. Warren
Cuddy, Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel Cuddy'
and Mr.. and Mrs. Dolan G. wilcox
all of Anchorage, and Mr. and Mrs
Howard Wilcox, of Fairbanks.
Warren Cuddy is an Anchorage
banker and attorney; his son, Dan
iel. also is an attorney here. How
ard Wilcox for many years headed
the school of mines at the UnlVer-
sitv of Alaska. Fairbanks; Don Will
cox is his son.
What would be the outcome II
their Interpretation of basic MN
ing laws is held valid?
All Alaska school sections would
be open to such claims. Claim
ants would obtain patent to the
lands. gain full title, and be IN
position to sell gravel or use the
property in any way they choose
MANY school lands have been leased
for private or municipal use.
Pickett said the claim notices
we're staked by the four couples
last Nov. %, and the mineral
discovery date was posted as Nov
81.
The land in question is east OF
Merrill Field, the municipal air
port which also is on school land
leased through Governor Gruening' s
office. The city dump, too, is on
leased school land.
The 640-acre tract already has
yielded revenue from gravel sales.
The Bureau of Land Management
awarded a Swear contract last
year to the Anchorage Sand and
Gravel Company to remove gravel
ION l7l2 acres, paying a royalty
to the Territory on each yard taken
out.
After granting the contract, the
Bureau instructed the Territorial
Forestry division to survey the re-
naming acreage to determine its
value. Gravel it contained was esti-
mated at 100000 yards, worth
$4,000.
The Anchorage Times said Don
aid Wilcox was one of the men
assigned to the surveying project
as a mineral expert. Howard Wilcox
recently has worked for the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation IL
the Territory.
The Congressional act which set
aside the tract as school section
16 provides that all revenues derived
from its use revert to the Alaska
school fund.
Pickett said the issue has many
highly technical angles, which prob
ably will have to be decided by
the courts.