Show Homesteading Opportunities In Alaska Interest Veterans Vast V st Frontier Land Has Much to Offer to Hardy Young People by Western western Newspaper Newspaper Union Veterans of World War II dream as avidly of establishing homes on the land as did the soldiers sol sol- soldiers soldiers diers of the Continental army Grants Grant's clad blue-clad veterans or Pershing's doughboys in 1918 it itis itis itis is pointed out by the United States department of the in in- in Requests for information on available public lands Secre Secre- Secretary Secretary Secretary tary of the Interior Harold L. L L Ickes points out have literally inundated the departments department's of of- The average number of requests for information inform a tion on homesteads alone in the general land office runs higher than monthly and the number is in- in cr creasing asing who desire to settle set set- settle settle tle on public land either in the con con- continental continental continental United States or Alaska will avoid many heartbreaking dis dis- disappointments disappointments appointments if they first fully in- in inform in in- inform inform form themselves concerning all of the possible pitfalls One of oC the prime requisites for instance in obtaining title to public land is three years' years actual residence beginning within six months after permission to enter has been granted There are arc numerous numero s other requirements concerning such subjects sub sub- subjects subJects as the building bunding of a habitable dwelling the cultivation of the land and other details detail about which pros pros- prospective prospective prospective settlers would do well to in inform in- in inform inform form themselves before filing an ap ap- The principal advantage that vet- vet veterans veterans erans rans have over other citizens is that hat service in the armed forces up to a maximum of two years is credited toward the year three-year resi resi- residence resi- resi residence dence denee requirement This applies generally to all aU citizens over 21 years ears of age who have served at least east 90 days in the armed forces and who have been honorably dis- dis discharged discharged charged Veterans also enjoy a day 90 priority in filing ap ap- applications applications for settlement on public land and classified for that purpose Any veteran of World War IVar II under 21 1 is entitled to the same rights under un un- under under der the homestead laws as those over 21 1 who may be veterans of this or other conflicts conflicts' Residence requirements require require- requirements requirements ments of such minors will be sus sus- suspended suspended suspended until six months after their discharge from the service Moreover homestead claims of veterans of World War II H initiated prior to their entrance into the service service ice ce are protected against forfeiture for for- forfeiture forfeiture during the period of their service and for six months there there- after Such veterans who are honorably hon hon- honorably honorably discharged and because of physical incapacity due to their service are unable to return to theland the theand theland land and may make proof without fur Cur further further ther residence improvements and cultivation Go North Young Man 1 By far the greatest opportunities for or obtaining title to and establish establish- establishing ing homesteads on public lands lie in Alaska This territory covers an anarea anarea anarea area of square miles rough rough- roughly ly equal to one-fifth one of that of the United States States- More than 90 per cent of the territory is under the juris juris- jurisdiction jurisdiction jurisdiction diction of the department of the in in- terror The major portion is still open to settlement under the home home- homestead homestead homestead stead 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 ona ona ona a stable basis but it is still no place for the fainthearted Those with sufficient financial backing and nd with courage and tenacity may reasonably count upon success in inthe inthe inthe the long run but without these es es- essentials essentials essentials veterans and others would be wise to look twice before they leap Much also depends upon the th e wise selection of land as to quality y I and accessibility Many misconceptions about Alas Alas- Alaska ka have been dissipated as a re re- result result re- re sult suit of the war Many who have hav e seen service there have been fas fas- fascinated fascinated fascinated by its and an d impressed by its obvious ties The territory has largely lived live d down its old and undeserved reputation reputation reputation tation as icebox a reputation that was pinned on it by b y the critics of Secretary of State Stat e Seward who negotiated the terri terni territory's torys tory's purchase from Russia in 1867 To speak of ai the climate of Alaska a is as misleading as to speak of th the e climate of Europe or of Asia The Tin e climate varies widely from that of o t southeastern Alaska where it is i s virtually as mild as but much wet wet- wetter wetter ter to than that of Virginia to that of o I 4 kz At I Servicemen and women get pointers on Alaska land settlement from Commissioner Fred W. W Johnson general land office Left to right tight Richard Bean U. U S. S army Newport N. N HO IL H. Chief Warrant Officer Joseph D. D Joiner U. U S. S S navy Atlanta Ga and Yeoman c 1 Mildred II H. Dietrich of the WAVES St. St Nazianz Wise learn of chances for future on public lands administered by the interior department the frozen wastes of the Arctic circle and the fogs and williwaws of the Aleutian islands Veterans have the same prefer prefer- preference preference preference ence accorded to them by the home home- homestead homestead homestead stead laws of the United States In addition where lands arc are newly opened or restored to homestead entry veterans will be granted a preference right of application for fora a period of 90 days before the lands become subject to application by bythe bythe bythe the general public In addition to homesteading in Alaska on sites limited to acres I any adult citizen of the United I States whose employer is engaged in in trade manufacturing or other productive industry in Alaska or or who is himself engaged in such business may purchase one claim not exceeding 5 acres of eral land at an acre but for not less Jess than a minimum of 10 An applicant for such a tract is re re- required reI required I to pay the cost of the survey Any citizen of the United States Stat s after occupying land in Alaska as asa asa as asa 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 ex- exceeding exceeding five acres if in character at an acre but for not less than a minimum of 10 Such an applicant is not required to pay the cost of the survey Fur Farming and Mining 1 Fur farming has been carried on in the territory for Cor 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 southeast- southeastern 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 ad- admirably admirably admirably adapted to the production of fur of good quality and there is plenty of room for expanding this industry There are hundreds hundreds' of li licensed U- U licensed censed fur farmers in Alaska the majority of whom are raising minks and blue foxes although some som silver foxes are raised in captivity Mineral resources are known tobe to tobe tobe be large and varied and there are are re undoubtedly large and rich mineral areas still unexplored Notable evi evi- evidence evidence evidence dence of this has been disclosed by extensive searches for war-needed war metals and minerals by the geological cal survey and the bureau of mines A large part of the territory's na na- natural natural na- na natural tural mineral wealth consists of gold silver mercury antimony tin coal copper iron lead and platinum There also may be con con- considerable considerable considerable oil reserves in some parts of the country but to what extent remains largely to be seen Transportation is of course a lem rem Since Alaska a natural scenic wonderland and sport fishermans fisherman's paradise is expected to grow in importance as a vacation land and andas andy andas as a goal for tourists there will undoubtedly be great opportunities for veterans and others who desire to go into businesses catering to ItO the tourist trade Tourist facilities are comparatively meager especially in many picturesque localities off of the beaten path However here again those con con- contemplating contemplating contemplating the establishment of such businesses should do so with their eyes open It must be remembered remembered remembered that in many places in Alaska Alas Alas- Alaska Alaska ka the tourist season is short and that the permanent population of o f the territory is normally less than persons or about one-eighth one of the number of persons living in Washington D. D C. C C As a general rule it may be said sal d that settlement on public land in I n 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 des ined to be be- become become be- be become come 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 de de- de- de It is hoped for the benefit of all concerned that sudden rushes of hordes of people with get- get rich-quick rich ideas but with no sus sus- sustained sustained sustained interest in healthy growth may be avoided |