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Show IHomesfeading Opportunities In Alaska Interest Veterans Opportunities ptC"" iterest Veterans j Servicemen and women get pointers on Alaska land settlement lrom Commissioner Fred W. Johnson, general land office. Left to right: Pfc. Richard Bean, U. S. army, (Newport, N. II , Chief Warrant Officer Joseph I. Joiner, U. S. navy (Atlanta, Ga.l, and Yeoman l-c Mildred II. Dietrich of the WAVES (St. Nazianz, Wise), learn of chances for future on public lands administered by the interior department. Vast Frontier Land Has Much to Offer to Hardy Young People Beleaaed by Western Newapaper Union. Veterans of World War II dream as avidly of establish-- establish-- ing homes on the land as did i the soldiers of the Continental ! nrmy, Grant's blue-clad veterans, vet-erans, or Pershing's doughboys dough-boys in 1918, it is pointed out by the United States department depart-ment of the interior. Requests for information on available public lands. Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes points out, have literally inundated inun-dated the department's of- fices. The average number of requests for information on homesteads alone in the general gen-eral land office runs higher than 3,000 monthly and the number is increasing. Exservicemen who desire to settle set-tle on public land, either in the continental con-tinental United States or Alaska, i will avoid many heartbreaking dis-1 dis-1 appointments if they first fully ItV i form themselves concerning all of j 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 such subjects sub-jects as the building of a habitable dwelling, the cultivation of the land and other details, about which prospective pros-pective settlers would do well to Inform In-form themselves before filing an application. ap-plication. The principal advantage that veterans vet-erans have over other citizens It that service In the armed farces, up to a maximum of two years, Is credited toward the three-year residence resi-dence 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 dis-charged therefrom. Veterans also enjoy a 90-day priority In filing applications ap-plications for settlement on publio land classified far that purpose. Any veteran of World War II under 21 is entitled to the same rights under un-der the homestead law as those over 21 who may be veterans of this or other conflicts. Residence requirements require-ments of such minors will be sus- Alaska Is encouraged but not urged. Those who choose Alaska as their future homes should do so with caution. There is little doubt that ultimately Alaska Is destined to be-com. be-com. 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. de-velopment. It is hoped, for the j benefit of all concerned, that sudden rushes of hordes of people with get- 1 rich-quick ideas but with no sustained sus-tained interest in healthy growth, may be avoided. I than, that of Virginia, to that of the frozen wastes of the Arctic circle and the fogs and wiiliwaws of the Aleutian islands. Veterans have the same preference prefer-ence accorded to them by the homestead 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 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 claim, not exceeding 5 acres, of nonmin-eral nonmin-eral land at $2.50 an acre, but for not less than a minimum of $10. An applicant for such a tract is required re-quired 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, not exceeding ex-ceeding 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 reauired to pended 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, serv-ice, are protected against forfeiture for-feiture during the period of their service and for six months thereafter. there-after. Such veterans who are honorably hon-orably discharged and because of physical incapacity due to their service are unable to return to the land, may make proof without further fur-ther residence, improvements and cultivation. Go North, Young Man. By far the greatest opportunities for obtaining title to and establishing establish-ing homesteads on public lands lie In Alaska. This territory covers an area of 588,400 square miles, roughly rough-ly equal to one-fifth of that of the United States. More than 90 per cent of the territory is under the juris- 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 southeastern 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 admirably 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 licensed li-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 unexplored. Notable evidence evi-dence of this has been disclosed by diction of the department of the interior. in-terior. The major portion is still open to settlement under the homestead home-stead laws. But, while the chances in Alaska I 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 j with courage and tenacity may l reasonably count upon success in ! the long run, but without these essentials es-sentials veterans and others would be wise to Jpok twice before they ! leap. Much also depends upon the wise selection of land, as to quality i and accessibility. Many misconceptions about Alas-I Alas-I ka have been dissipated as a re-! re-! suit of the war. Many who have j seen service there have been fascinated fas-cinated by its picturesqueness, and impressed by its obvious possibilities. possibili-ties. The territory has largely lived down its old and undeserved reputation repu-tation as "Seward's icebox" a reputation that was pinned on it by the critics of Secretary of State Seward who negotiated the territory's terri-tory's 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 wet- extensive searches for war-needed metals and minerals by the geological geologi-cal survey and the bureau of mines. A large part of the territory's natural na-tural mineral wealth consists of gold, silver, mercury, antimony, tin, coal, copper, iron, lead and platinum. There also may be considerable con-siderable oil reserves in some parts of the country, but to what extent remains largely to be seen. Transportation is, of course, a problem. 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 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 con-templating the establishment of such businesses should do so with their eyes open. It must be remembered remem-bered that in many places in Alaska Alas-ka the tourist season is short, and that the permanent population of the territory is normally less than 100.000 persons, or about one-eighth of the number of persons living in Washington. D. C. As a general rule, it may be said that settlement on public land in |