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Show Homesteading Opportunities In Alaska Interest Veterans Ay- v Reconversion No Great i Obstacle to Industry Vast Frontier Land Has Much to Offer to Hardy Y oung People Mdny Factories Making Consumers Goods for Services; Numerous Others to Require Only Minor Changes. Released by Western Newspaper Union. Veterans of World War II of as dream avidly establishing homes on the land as did the soldiers of the Continental army, veterans, or Grants blue-cla- d Pershings doughboys in 1918, it is pointed out by the United States department of the interior. Requests for information on available public lands, Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes points out, have literally inundated the departments offices. The average number of requests for information on homesteads alone in the general land office runs higher than 3,000 Servicemen and women get pointers on Alaska land settlement from monthly and the number is in- Commissioner Fred W. Johnson, general land office. Left to right: Pfc. Richard Bean, U. S. army, (Newport, N. H.), Chief Warrant Officer creasing. D. U. S. Exservicemen who desire to settle on public land, either in the continental United States or Alaska, will avoid many heartbreaking disappointments if they first fully inform themselves concerning all of the possible pitfalls One of the prime requisites, for instance, in obtaining title to public land is three years actual residence beginning within six months after permission to enter has been granted. There are numerous other requirements concerning puch subjects as the building of a habitable dwelling, the cultivation of the land and other details, about which prospective settlers would do well to inform themselves before filing an application. The principal advantage that veterans have over other citizens is that service in the armed forces, up to a maximum of two years, is credited toward the three-yea- r residence requirement. This applies generally to all citizens over 21 years of age who have served at least 90 days in the armed forces and who have been honorably discharged therefrom. Veterans also enjoy a. priority in filing applications for settlement on public land classified for that purpose. Any veteran of World War II under 21 is entitled to the same rights under the homestead laws as those over 21 who may be veterans of this or other conflicts. Residence requirements of such minors will be suspended until six months after their discharge from the service. Moreover, homestead claims of veterans of World War II, initiated prior to their entrance into the service, are protected against forfeiture during the period of their service and for six months thereafter. Such veterans who are honorably discharged and because of physical incapacity due to their service are unable to return to the land, may make proof without further residence,' improvements and cultivation. Go North, Young Man. By far the greatest opportunities for obtaining title to and establishing homesteads on public lands lie in Alaska. This territory covers an area of 586,400 square miles, roughh ly equal to of that of the United States. More than 90 per cent of the territory is under the jurisdiction of the department of the interior. The major portion is still open to settlement under the homestead laws. ' But, while the chances in Alaska are undoubtedly vast, there are many difficulties to be overcome. Considerable progress has been made in developing the territory on a stable basis, but it is still no place for the fainthearted. Those with sufficient financial backing and with courage and tenacity may reasonably count upon success in the long run, but without these essentials veterans and others would be wise to look twice before they leap. Much also depends upon the wise selection of land, as to quality and accessibility. Many misconceptions about Alaska have been dissipated as 'a result of the war. Many who have seen service there have been fascinated by its picturesqueness, and impressed by its obvious possibilities. The territory has largely lived down its old and undeserved reputation as Sew'ards icebox a reputation that was pinned on it by the critics of Secretary of State Seward who negotiated the territorys purchase from Russia in 1867. To speak of the climate of Alaska is as misleading as to speak of the climate of Europe, or of Asia. The climate varies widely, from that of southeastern Alaska, where it is virtually as mild as, but much wetter than, that of Virginia, to that of 90-d- ay - one-fift- Joseph Joiner, navy (Atlanta, Ga.), and Yeoman 1c Mildred H. Dietrich of the WAVES (St. Nazianz, Wise.), learn of chances for future on public lands administered by the interior department. , I , the frozen wastes of the Arctic circle and the fogs and williwaws of the Aleutian islands. Veterans have the same preference accorded to them by the homestead 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 90 days before the lands become subject to application by the general public. In addition to homesteading in Alaska, on sites limited to 160 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 Aclaim, not exceeding 5 acres, of nonmineral land at $2.50 an acre, but for not less than a minimum of $10. An applicant for such a tract is required to pay the cost of the survey. Any citizen of the United States after occupying land in Alaska as a homestead or headquarters in a habitable house not less than five months each year for three years may purchase such tract, r.ot exceeding five acres, if nonmineral in character, at $2.50 an acre, but for not less than a minimum of $10. Such an applicant is not required to pay the cost of the survey.1-FuFarming 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 southeastern Alaska and along the general coast line where fish, a basic fur animal food, may be procured cheaply. Certain areas of Alaska are admirably adapted to the production of fur of good quality, and there is plenty of room for expanding this industry. There are hundreds of licensed fur farmers in Alaska, the majority of whom arc 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 unexplored. Notable evidence of this has been disclosed by extensive searches for metals and minerals by the geological survey and the bureau of mines. A large part of the territory's natural mineral wealth consists of gold, silver, mercury, antimony, tin, coal, copper, iron, lead and platinum. There also may be considerable oil reserves in some parts of the country, but to what seen. extent remains largely Transportation is, of course, a problem. Since Alaska, a natural scenic wonderland and sport ' fishermans paradise, is expected to grow in importance as a vacation land and as a goal for tourists, there will undoubtedly be great opportunities for veterans and others who desire to go 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 contemplating the establishment of such businesses should do so with their eyes open. It must be remembered that in many places in Alaska the tourist season is short, and that the permanent population of the territory is normally less than 100,000 persons, or about of the number of persons living in Washington, D. C. As a general role, it may be said that settlement on public land in Alaska is encouraged but not urged. war-need- ed to-b- e one-eigh- th Those who choose Alaska as their future homes should do so with caution. There is little doubt that ultimately Alaska is destined to become an important crossroads at the top of the world. It is a natural way station on air lines to Asia and eastern Europe. , But Alaska itself, as well as those who settle there, will be better off if it has an orderly and stable development. It is hoped, for the benefit of all concerned, that sudden rushes of hordes of people with ideas but with no sustained interest in healthy growth, may be avoided. ck Dam Projects Could Create A Million Jobs Material Makers as Well As Actual Construction Workers Would Benefit Jobs for thousands of skilled and unskilled workmen will be created in every part of the country when congress approves plans and provides funds for building more than 400 irrigation and powe projects proposed by the bureau of reclamation in its $5,000,000,000 postwar inventory. Although these proposed irrigation and power projects will be located in the 17 western states, where the bureau of reclamation since 1902 has been responsible for the conservation and wise use of water resources, their construction will create job opportunities from Maine to California. Behind every man on the construction job there will be one or more helpers who may be thousands of miles away. An employment analysis of the bureaus postwar inventory reveals that of the man-houof labor required to construct all the projects about will be re1,650,000,000 man-houquired at construction sites. Materials from 31 States. The materials needed for reclamation work, of which such basic products as iron and steel, cement, electrical equipment and supplies, products, foundry and machine-sho- p and lumber are of primary importance, must be obtained from widely separated sources. Much of this material and equipment will come from the 31 states outside the arid and semiarid regions of the west. If funds are made available for construction of all the projects, bureau officials estimate that- more than 450,000 men could be put to Work the first year, less than half of these at construction sites. At peak employment in the second or third year almost 1,000,000 men could receive pay envelopes in different parts of the country as a result of this mighty effort. Agricultural and industrial enterprises in the West will help to support and give homes to servicemen and others who have expressed their desire to settle on irrigated farms. Of the 2,000,000 westerners in the armed forces, it is estimated that 265,000 will want to return to the land. Veteran legislation, authorized and pending, gives servicemen priority of settlement on bureau of reclamation projects. On some projects public lands will be open to homestead entry. 4,250,-000,0- rs rs - 00 By BAUKHAGE News Analyst and Commentator. Service, Union Trust Building, Washington, D. C. Reconversion has begun and it looks as if one prediction, made back when conversion had been accomplished with many an ache and groan, would come true. Then the experts predicted that reconversion would be easier than conversion. Eighty per cent of the factories, we are now told by officials of the department of commerce, will not have to do a fhajor reconversion job. This is largely because many industries now furnishing supplies to the military will continue to manufacture the same supplies for civilians clothing, food, printing, electrical appliances you can think of a whole lot of others yourself. It will be no great problem for the makers of such products to shift from one market to another from Uncle Sam to John Q. Consumer. Some industries whose present final product differs considerably from the civilian goods they make wont have such major difficulties either. It will please the ladies to learn that even the folks who have been making parachutes will have little or no trouble changing back to stockings. The nylon people simply have to change spools. There are a number of other predictions concerning the future of businesses, big and little, and one of them is that 40 per cent of the industries, although they wont do the business they are doing today with Uncle Sam as a customer, will have a bigger demand to meet than they had in the boom year of 1929. And this condition will continue, say the prophets of profits, for two or three years on the impetus of the present pent-u- p buying power of the nation. If we keep our heads meanwhile, there is no reason why the period of prosperity cannot be extended. But what about the other types of business which were expanded by war demands for products which wont have any civilian market? Well, our American business ingenuity and our native mechanical inventive genius, they tell us, are going to step into the picture again. Then there will be the natural evolution which will eliminate the business man and establish a survival of the fittest. VVNU Yankee Ingenuity To the Fore What started me off on this topic was a typical example of how this inventive genius, stimulated by war demands, has laid the foundation for turning what started as a little factory into a big, smalltown business. The man with the inventive genius is a frequent Washington visitor these days. His name is Burl E. Sherrill. The name of the town is Peru, Ind., population 13,000. Sherrill is a modest Hoosier genius in his forties who managed to make a living from tinkering and selling the patents on the gadgets he invented. Then one day he made something he liked so well he didnt want to part with the idea behind it, so he decided to manufacture it himself. It was a popular-price-d magnetic compass for use in steelbodied automobiles and trucks. Sherrill rented three offices right on the public square of Peru, turned them into his factory and started out. Soon he began to expand, pushing lawyers, doctors, real estate men out of the way. But I am getting ahead of my story. Sherrill was a born inventor, although he didnt realize it and started off tb study law. After two years at the University of Chicago he found that his hunger for the law was appeased, his hunger for three meals a day was not. He went to work managing a little neighborhood shoe store in Chicago. This gave him a chance to tinker in the in his flat. Then he got a chance at a job back in Indiana repairing radios in Peru. This gave him lots of opportunity to tinker and he patented inventions and sold them, which bolstered his income considerably. Finally he evolved the compass which he wouldnt part with. He was able to hire a small staff of workers then came the war and no more civilian autos. But there were lots of military vehicles and after our blind tanks had lost themselves in the African des two-roo- m kitchen-labo- ratory i erts, Washington found out about Sherrill and gave him the challenge of making a compass for use in motorized equipment of various kinds. Sherrill went to work and produced his models. The Carnegie Institute, the army engineers and the war college looked them over and put their okeh on them. The inventor moved downstairs and took the whole first floor of the building on Perus public square. The 20 men who had assembled the auto compasses were increased to 125 working at a regular assembly line. Next came a call from the Maritime commission. A compass for steel lifeboats was needed. Like the tanks, too many had been left to wander on the high seas blind. Further inventive genius was required for this job for a steel lifeboat passes much of its life on the steel deck of a ship. A few months ago the new compass was approved and production is now under way. Some day, of course, the last war order will arrive at the factory in Peru, but because of the ingenuity of one man, a product has been created, ' the demand for which will continue for such war machines as are still needed plus a demand for civilian use Which will return the moment restrictions on motor travel and transportation are over. In addition, I understand from is in the Sherrill, a new hearing-ai- d making. , war-stimulat- ed . War a Spur to Many Entrepreneur To reconvert to the manufacture of civilian products, no change of machinery or assembly line nor any retooling will be necessary at the Sherrill factory. Nor will the number of employees have to be ed. Of course, not many inventors are endowed with enough business sense to run plants of their own. Sherrill appears to be an exception. When he got his first afmy order, he was asked when he could deliver how many compasses. He named the figure and the day and what is more he lived up to his promise, which was more than many manufacturers with less foresight and more unforeseen hurdles have been able to do. There are other inventors and other business men who, like Sherrill, have received from war demands the stimulation which will push them ahead and carry them through the breakers of reconversion. Sherrill himself has no technical education. He calls himself a graduate from a junkpile. But he can talk with the scientists and the experts and, what is more, he makes the pictures he draws on his drawing board, sometimes in the small hours in pajamas and slippers, work. He has the typical American ingenuity shared by thousands of others who helped win the war for us and who will keep us from losing the peace. Recently a listener wrote in with a suggestion that a fitting memorial for the late President Roosevelt could be provided in a manner which would aid the bond drive. She suggested that if bonds were contributed for a memorial commensurate with our sorrow and regret, by the time these bonds matured we would be able to buy the most magnificent memorial in the world in honor of our greatest President. Then she concludes: I am one of the many little people who would gladly contribute a small bond now, but may not be able to give anything later. The psychology of that suggestion is interesting. Regardless of what the purpose of a fund might be, what a splendid way of raising it and thus achieving exactly what the government wishes to achieve by the sale of bonds: the double purpose of securing cash to defray war expenses and also reducing the amount of inflationary pocket-moneIt struck me as such a good idea that I sent it along to Ted Gamble who is in charge of such matters in connection with the Seventh War loan. Next to making suggestions for selling bonds I suppose one of the best things one can do is buy them. Of course if everybody followed that horse-sens- e plan and bought, simply for the security of heir own future, the treasury wouldnt need any suggestions. , y. , - , , it |