ee MERake eda 6 Ae oli! aroa
each municipali-
the soil, making it deficient in all thy land commissions and the determina-
ple used the land
basic nutrients—nitrogen, phosphateg gon and registration of title to land.
his nobles. The
The soil usually is made up of decon lished, persons were encouraged to
posed volcanic or coral rocks and smaj have jand transfer documents and
quantities of humus. On the steepe other evidence of ownership or title
le practice, even
German governon people actual
land they had
day, individual
mredominates on
a certain extent
:, however, some
‘terprise directed
if all concerned
mapeans live on
rather than in
habitants of the
these farmsteads
taro, breadfruit,
; are grown for
ocal markets.
sunt importance
‘ople; their agri-
based on copra
1 of their food
their land The
members of the
each of whom
at birth. The
exhibit an atti-
yubtedly due in
d tenure system
of society—the
imen, and the
foreign powers
2ir islands, they
f most of their
inclination to
the future. In
or sale in the
slopes of the high islands the soil laye? recorded with their respective district
has often been removed through erg. clerks of courts. At present, territorial
sion; the valleys and alluvial plain’
toward the coast contain soil
moderate fertility. Most volcani
islands have swamp areas where taro
grown as a staple food. Some of the
alluvial plains and gentle slopes nea
the coast now are being used for crop
production—coconut palms, bread
lewislation to control the transfer of
ind among Micronesiansis tacking.
For many years, the policy of the
Administering Authority, as specified
in Section 900 of the Territory Code,
has been that only Micronesian citi-
zens may hold fee title to land in the
fruit, bananas, cacao, yams, dry lane Territory. The Nathan Report’s recomtaro, sweet potatoes, and vegetables” mendation to consider the possibility
Mangrove forests on the tidal flats an¢ of non-Micronesians’ holding title to
rain forests in the interior provid
timber for building homes and othe
structures. The surfaces of coral atol I
and single coral islands which build ug
on submerged mountain peaks art
normally only a few feet above seg
level. The soils are quite porous
consisting of sand, shells, and cora®
fragments with very little organic?
matter. They are well suited to the
growth of the coconut palm, but are
not conducive to ordinary forms o
cultivated agriculture. Many coral
islands and atolls have manmadetaro
pits of varying sizes where grasss
leaves, and debris have been placed te!
produce organic matter for taro culti:
vation. The balance of the atoll land isg
generally used to produce coconut
ee
warki. To some
Before land commissions were estab-
a
2 season always
potassium, and the minor elementg
ee a SNESOS rains
th the consent of
palms, breadfruit, pandanus, arrow
root, cucurbits and bananas.
land was not accepted by the Admuinistration. The alternative for non-
Micronesian
investors
is to acquire
long-term leasehold. Acquisition by
non-Micronesians of interest in land,
other than fee title, is controlled by
administrative regulations. These regulutions require the approvel of the
High Commissioner for any transfer of
an interest in land, public or private,
{0
a
non-Micronesian. Some
7,534
acres of public land are under longterm lease to non-Micronesian businesses, Nearly all—7,500 acres—ofthat
Public Law No.
evidence on the validity of the claims.
resident of Guam,
industry.
for a livestock
however, before they are settled to the
satisfaction of all concerned.
Chapter 20 of the Trust Territory
Code prescribes the procedure to be
During the review year, no major
land claims have been settled. Some
pending land claims are expected to be
settled before the end of fiscal year
1969,
American entrepreneur, a long-time
but suitable for crops or livestock; land policy recently released by the
Acquisition and Transfer of Title
A war claims review team which
conducted a fact-finding tour of the
Territory in the fall of 1966 collected
some 1,067 post-secure war claims
amounting to $16,081,813.51 against
the United States and the Trust Territory Government. Close to one-third
of that amount pertains to claims for
use and occupancy, and damageto real
property. These post-secure war claims
are now being processed by the
Attorney General’s staff, which has
one man assigned full-time to collect
public land is in Tinian, Mariana
Islunds District, and is leased to an
production exists. The exact acreage isf Administration established procedures
in the islands is
yn of the fertilrainfall leaches
Settlement of Land Claims
Several district land management
offices are providing staff assistance to
the Attorney General in processing
In some districts extensive land not!
followed by the Government in exeryet under cultivation or developmentE cising its right of eminent domain. A
unknown.
ment projects should be situated on
public land. If no such landis available
or suitable for the contemplated construction project, however, appropriate interests in private land may be
acquired by the Government, but only
if in the public interest and necessity.
It further provides that an interest in
private land may be acquired by negotiation or by exercise of the power of
eminent domain. Use of eminent
domain, however,is restricted to those
few situations where land cannot be
acquired by negotiation and the land is
absolutely required for public use.
. for allocating public land or acquiring
} Private land for capital improvement
Programs by the Government. Its basic
2-1, enacted ing policy considerations stipulate that,
1966, provides for establishment of} whenever possible, capital improve-
these claims. It will take several years,
Homestead Program
A February 1965 administrative directive stated that new proposals for
homesteading
areas
must
be
57
Part VI—Economic Advancement } Fiscal Year 1968
A neSo TR ser oe Spee ge a aener
ee ed
nt
ae