of Alaska seems to run a trail of
strangulation.
First the Alaska Railroad was
mismanaged. It cost millions of
dollars and failed by far ade
quately to serve the people of
the Territory.
It is the most important artery
of the Territory, through the
the richest regions of that vast
ly rich empire. It was discredit
ed.
Development Blocked
Every effort to obtain develop
ment of the huge coal fields was
blocked.
Development of the timber in
dustry is being retarded by offi
cial action.
Evidence shows departments
are honeycombed with agents of
particular interests that might
be interested in Alaska
Is the gigantic plot to prevent
development of Alaska based on
the hope that Congress will cre
ate an Alaska board—with abso
lute power to sell the Territory?
U. S. Dept, of Interior Circular No. 1085-Survey and Disposition of
Indian Lands-Limited Deeds—Secretary Is Trustee
-x
United States Department of the
Interior
Washington, D. C., July 20, 1926
Register and Division Inspector,
Anchorage, Alaska.
Registers and Receivers,
Fairbanks and Nome, Alaska.
Gentlemen:
The Act of May 25, Public No.
280, 69th Congress, provides:
“That where, upon the survey
of a town site pursuant to sec
tion 11 of the Act of March 3,
1891, (twenty-sixth Statutes,
page 1095), and the regulations
of the Department of the Interi
or under said Act, a tract claim
ed and occupied by an Indian or
Eskimo of full or mixed blood,
native of Alaska, has been or
may be set apart to such Indian
or Eskimo, the town site trustee
shall provide that the title con
veyed is inalienable except upon
approval of the Secretary of the
Interior: Provided, That noth
ing herein contained shall sub
ject such tract to taxation, to
levy and sale in satisfaction of
debts, contracts, or labilities of
the patentee, or to any claims of
adverse occupancy or law of pre
scription: Provided Further,
That the approval by the Secre
tary of the Interior of the sale
fcy an Indian or Eskimo of a
tract deeded to him under this
Act shall vest in the purchaser
a complete and unrestricted title
irom the date of such approval.
Section 2 deals with extension
of roads or streets across Indian
lands in a town site.
Section (4) Before directing
the survey and disposal of such
Indian or Eskimo possessions
under authority of thr: Act of
May 25, 1926, the Secretary tf
the Interior will determine
whether or not the patent issued
for the town site trace includes
the tract designated as “Indian
possessions.” If it does not, a
supplemental patent will be is
sued, to accompany the depart
mental order for survey and d'.«
posal.
5. If the parties to a proposed
sale involving land for which a
restricted deed has been issued
under authority of the act of
May 25, 1926, wish to have the
sale approved by the Secretary
of the Interior, the facts should
first be submitted to the Division
Inspector. Upon receiving in
formation regarding any pro
posed sale, the Division Inspect
or, in his capacity as trustee,
will make such investigation as
he deems proper, and he will
submit a report to the Commis
sioner of the General Land Of
fice as to teh ivdsebaa -. n ;i8e
fice as to the adviseability of
approving the proposed sale.
The report will be examined by
the Commissioner and he will
transmit it to the Secretary of
the Interior with appropriate
recommendation.
(6) The Division Inspector for
Alaska is also hereby designated
as trustee for any and all native
towns in Alaska which may be
established and surveyed under
authority of Sec. 3 of the said
Act of May 25, 1926, and as such
trustee he will take such action
as may be necessary to accomp
lish the objects sought to be ac
complished by that section. In
any case in which he thinks it
would be of advantage to the In
dian or Eskimo occupants to
have the lands occupied and
claimed by them surveyed as
town or village, he should bring
the matter to the attention of
the Commissioner of the General
Land Office with appropriate re
commendation.
(7) The town site trustee will
note a proper reference to the
Act of May 25, 1926, on each
deed which is issued under au
thority of that Act and each
such deed should provide that
the title conveyed is INALIEN
ABLE except upon approval of
the Secretary of the Interior
and that the issuance of the re
stricted deed does not subject
the tract to taxation, to levy and
sale in satisfaction of debts,
contracts, or liabilities of the
transferee, or to any claims of
adverse occupancy or law of
prescription; also, if the estab