Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 26, 2024

Title 43 - Public Lands: Interior last revised: Nov 22, 2024
§ 2566.0-3 - Authority.

It is hereby ordered that the administration of that portion of the Act of March 12, 1914 (38 Stat. 305; 43 U.S.C. 975,975a,location.

(a) Orders revoked. All Executive orders heretofore issued for the disposition of townsites along the Government railroads in Alaska are hereby revoked so far as they conflict with §§ 2566.1 and 2566.2. This order is intended to take the place of all other orders making provisions for the sale and disposal of lots in said townsites along Government railroads in Alaska under the provisions of said Act.

(b) Amendments—(1) Executive Orders 3529 and 5136. Sections 2566.1 and 2566.2 are amended by E.O. 3529, Aug. 9, 1921 and E.O. 5136, June 12, 1929.

(2) The designation of the Alaskan Engineering Commission has been changed to The Alaska Railroad. All matters which formerly were under the control of the chairman of said commission now are under the supervision of the general manager of the said railroad. The functions formerly exercised by the Commissioner of the General Land Office have been transferred to the Director, Bureau of Land Management.

(3) Due to the change in organization, plats of Alaska Railroad townsites are not approved by an official of the Alaska Railroad.

(4) The State Director in Alaska has been designated as Superintendent of Sales of Alaska Railroad townsites.

(c) Executive Order 5136. (1) It is ordered that Executive Order 3489, issued June 10, 1921, containing the Alaska Railroad Townsite Regulations, is hereby amended to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to reappraise and sell the unimproved lots in Nenana Townsite, Alaska, belonging to the United States, and to readjust the assessments levied against them for the improvement of streets, sidewalks, and alleys, and for the promotion of sanitation and fire protection by the Alaska Railroad prior to August 31, 1921.

(2) As to the lots within said townsite which have been forfeited for failure to pay such assessments, upon which valuable improvements have been placed, the provisions of said order regarding the collection of the unpaid assessments remain effective.

(3) This order shall continue in full force and effect unless and until revoked by the President or by Act of Congress.

(Sec. 24, 26 Stat. 1103; as amended, sec. 1, 36 Stat. 347; sec. 1, 38 Stat. 305; sec. 11, 39 Stat. 865; 16 U.S.C. 471,43.S.C. 141, 43 U.S.C. 975f,43.S.C. 301)
§ 2566.0-7 - Cross references.

(a) Sales of railroad townsites in Alaska, provided for by Executive Order 3489 of June 10, 1921, §§ 2566.1(a) to (f) and 2566.0-3(a), will be made by the authorized officer in Alaska, as superintendent of sales of railroad townsites in accordance with townsite regulations contained in §§ 2760.0-3 to 2761.2(e) so far as those regulations are applicable.

(b) For surveys, Alaska, see part 9180 of this chapter. For townsites, Alaska, see § 2565.0-7.

§ 2566.1 - General procedures.

(a) Reservations. The Alaska Railroad will file with the Secretary of the Interior, when deemed necessary, its recommendations for the reservation of such areas as in its opinion may be needed for townsite purposes. The Secretary of the Interior will thereupon transmit such recommendations to the President with his objections thereto or concurrence therewith. If approved by the President, the reservation will be made by Executive order.

(b) Survey. When in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior the public interests require a survey of any such reservation, he shall cause to be set aside such portions thereof for railroad purposes as may be selected by the Alaska Railroad, and cause the remainder, or any part thereof, to be surveyed into urban or suburban blocks and lots of suitable size, and into reservations for parks, schools, and other public purposes and for Government use. Highways should be laid out, where practicable, along all shore lines, and sufficient land for docks and wharf purposes along such shore lines should be reserved in such places as there is any apparent necessity therefor. The survey will be made under the supervision of the Bureau of Land Management.

(c) Preference right. Any person residing in a reserved townsite at the time of the subdivisional survey thereof in the field and owning and having valuable and permanent improvements thereon, may, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, be granted a preference right of entry, of not exceeding two lots on which he may have such improvements by paying the appraised price fixed by the superintendent of sale, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. Preference right proof and entry, when granted, must be made prior to the date of the public sale.

§ 2566.2 - Public sale.

(a) Generally. The unreserved and unsold lots will be offered at public sale to the highest bidder at such time and place, and after such publication of notice, if any, as the Secretary of the Interior may direct.

(b) Superintendent's authority. Under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior the superintendent of the sale will be, and he is hereby, authorized to make all appraisements of lots and at any time to reappraise any lot which in his judgment is not appraised at the proper amount, or to fix a minimum price for any lot below which it may not be sold, and he may adjourn, or postpone the sale of any lots to such time and place as he may deem proper.

(c) Manner and terms of public sale. (1) The Secretary of the Interior shall by regulations prescribe the manner of conducting the public sale, the terms thereof and forms therefor and he may prescribe what failures in payment will subject the bidder or purchaser to a forfeiture of his bid or right to the lot claimed and money paid thereon. The superintendent of sale will at the completion of the public sale deposit with the receiver of the proper local land office the money received and file with its officers the papers deposited with him by said bidder, together with his certificate as to successful bidder.

(2) If it be deemed advisable, the Director, Bureau of Land Management may direct the receiver of public moneys of the proper district to attend sales herein provided for in which event the cash payment required shall be paid to the said receiver.

authority: 43 U.S.C. 1629g(e)
cite as: 43 CFR 2566.1