New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-18
A NEW BOUNDARY DISPUTE WITH
GREAT BRITAIN.
From Our Oy,c Correspondent.

From Our OSSt Correspondent
San Francisco, March II, 1859.
We ore liz danger of having another bitter, bale
full boundary dispute with Great Britain, and the
interests of the public, we'll as of private per-
sons, demand that the question should be settled
at the earliest possible moment. The dispute Is,
.xhether the boundary line between the United
States and Great Britain, as defined by the Oregon
treaty of 1916 was intended to run through the
etraits of Rosario or the Canal de Haro. The
br,t article Of tie treaty says:
From the point 4e parallel Of north latitude where
boundary laid down in exs treate: and conventions be-
summit OF the Rocky mountains the line Of boundary she
continued westward sops me .Sd h is o. 1e
Vsnssuyes leland and thence soutnery thIo the middle Of
II 10 singular that two such dplOmatists, as
Jameo Buchanan and Sir Richard Pakenhsm the
negotiators of the treaty should ever have left
boundary line with description so indefinite.
The line in running from latitude 40 down TO the
Straits of Fucs, is TO follow "tbe channel which
separates tie Continent from Vaucouvers Is
"land." -" The channel as though there we're but
one, while in fact there are msny-almOst as
maIy as there are islands in the Archipelago dc
Haro, which lies between VsncOuyers Island aud
days, upon which the trainers of the treaty could
zee that there are numerous channels, no one Of
them deserving the title Of Il" the channel" The
English claim that the intention Of the treaty was
that the boundary should through the Straits Of
Rosario eastward of Orcss and Lopez Islands
while the Americans assert that the proper hne as
described BY the treaty is through the Canal de
Haro, between San Juan and VancOuyeT's Islands
Both chanre els kave abundant water for the largest
vessels not less that % fathoms in any place, and
both are wide and deep enough for convenient nsyi
CATION. The Canal de HaIo averages about four
miles and is about two miles aud 3 half in width at
the nearest place; the Strait Of Rosario is less than
two miles vide at its nearest part and averages
about three miles 10 regard to directoess neither
channel aas much advantage over the other, and in
depth they are alike rar gDg from 20 900 fathoms
Vessels going from Victoria to Frazer River gene
rally 60 through the Strait Of Rosario, but they
sometimes 20 through the Canal de Hsro snd might
70 between San Juan and Orcss Islands, or esst
wand of Cypress Island. 1t is then impossible
from the mere words Of the treaty to discern what
channel 10 meant
These disputed islands contain some good land
but not much; their entire surface is rot more
than l20, GOO s,res, rot half of which would fod
purchasers now If offered at 80 cents an acre. The
islands have no peculiar value for commercial or
agricultural purposes, but perhaps may in time
become valuable for fishing. l.te English msss
zine says:
"ysnoouvsrs IsAnd In the Moth Pacific become
sa of noble sfsh colony and Of Havs arsenal complete IN
every detail England she bud sDons the
ISLANDS IN the Nsnceuyer Island AID tne mainland
Copssct Of ihe Pscihc and fasen with mshy FAiock
such security be ncededhtr the wetteu coast
sf North America, regarded " pestuabe yslae'
The writer Of this paragraph is in error; there
Go show for a second Cronstadt in the AreAioe-
sgo de Haro; strong fOrtresses msy be badt but
hey cannot command the passage between tae
Strait of Tuca and The upper part Of the Gulf
al Georgia. There are too many passages,
md they are too wide to be commanded
BY fOrtresses. In truth, the disputed islands
are worth little for military purposes, less
than for agricultural There are few settlers on
the islands: none, believe, on any Of them, save
SAD Juan Island, where some Euslishme1 of VIZ
toria have been keeping sheep. Tie Victoria
Gezttie, of the 10th ult, says:
awe updesspd nun Der Of Ameri residing Victoria
ard other places the Sound have sent surveyor 70 saG
Isnein o,pote between the United State. aud Bsh Gov
snfr The purpose p:eempsnf Lad according 70 the
Its JoE esi ss VHi;;s ss ssAsSps as II ise esd