New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-17
GER PACIFIC COAST,
The Recent Decision of the Emperor of
Germany-The island of san Juan,
rEirnra Tia NJ YarIr nr.- caada 1,a..an4a-,

Germany-The island of san Juan.
EFrora the New York Dry Goods Reporter1
Fhe future of our empire, as well as {
our commerce on the Pacific coast is rs
sured by the decision OF the Emperor O
Germany confirming to the United State
the possession OF San Juan. The America
Pacific coast is singularly deficient in goo,
harb0rs. There are only three on the Ell
tire coast between Alaska and Mexico, ant
now they are in possession of the United
States. The first of these on the south i
San Diego, nearly on the border line be
tween the United States and Mexico, and thu
destined eastern terminus of the Texa
(S0uthern) Pacific railroad, now in course o
construction, under the auspices of Col0ne
Thomas Scott. This harbor ia one OF the
finest in the world, and is undoubtedly des
tined to become the centre of the new and
growing commerce of the East, besides be
coming the chief distributing and receiving
port for Mexican States on the Pacific
coast San Francisco is six hundred miles
north Of San Diego, and is too well known
to require any extended notice. 1t is now
the chief centre of our commerce on the
| Pacific, and its enterprise and energy, no
less than its excellent geographical situa,
| tlOn, will always secure to it q position as
the New York of the Pacific.
Over thousand miles from San Fran
| Cl6SVy 1uLlH6E uuElnI anu near LLe border
| line between British America and the
| United States, lies the long disputed island
! OF San Juan. This is small and insignificant
| in size, being only about fifteen miles long
| and seven miles wide, and it would not be
worth while for two great nations to con
| tend for its possession, but from the fact
| that it contains the only large harbUr on
| the entire coast north of San Francisco, and
that the ship entrance to it is large and
eomm0dious.
The dispute about the sovereignty of San
Juan originated in this way The north
west boundary line between the United
States and British America was long IN
settled. The United States claimed the en-
tire country as lar north as the parallel of
$40 40, while Great Britain commended that
49o was the true line. The discussions were
very heated for some time, and came very
near involving the two countries in war.
Finally, in 1919, treaty was effected, and
the line of 49o was adopted. But this line
would cut off half of Vanc0uver's island,
which was never claimed by our govern
ment and go in Difference to British influence,
the line was permitted to defect from q
point in the coast outside the main land
through d channel which was intended to
secure Fancouver's island to Great Britain,
and nothing more. But it was subsequently,
discovered that there were two channels
One is known as the Rosario straits, and is
next VanCouver's island, and the one oh
Viously intended by the treaty as to be re
solved to Great Britain. The other is called
the Canal de HaIO, and involves the possess
sion of San Juan and a dozen or more
smaller adjacent islands. But there was still
more at issue The Rosario straits were
only few miles wide, through a long and
tortuous passage. in which the water was
onlv four or five metres deep, while
the Canal de Uaro was seven miles
wide and over TWENTY-FIVE 1uetras deem
constituting the entrance to the eommo-
dious barb0r of San Juan.
THE limited Sta+as o,,4bovr;+io, 1,oa m
lif4In donht of The sot,orai,rtt r,'U So 90
Juan that when the northern bart Of Ore
gon was terFitoriallY organized, in 1853, San
Juan and the adjoining islands were in
Guided az counties belonging to the embryo
State. But the agents Of the Hudson's Bav
Company soon learned the future CONNER
cial and strategic importance OF the prin- |
oipal trait, which secured us the control of |
San Juan, and on their representations the |
EngliEh government claimed it under the |
treaty. In 1857 General Harvey landed a |
force of United States soldiers on San Juan. |
and the same day an English nan-of-war !
arrived to take possession, but re- |
turned to FancouYars island in order
to obtain reinf0rcemenSs. There was immi-
nent danger OF d war, but it was finally !
ayerted by the judicious conduct of Gen
eral Scott, who agreed that both countries
should hold joint possession of the island
until the question Of its sovereignty could
be finally determined. Matters remained |
n allegiance until the formation of the
treaty Of Washington, when this vexed
question was referred to the arbitration of
she Emperor of Germany The latter in
urn referred the subject to the ''crown SYN
lies. consisting of the ablest iurists in the
umpire, and on their report the Emperor
confirmed all the original claims Of fbe
United States to the possession of the Canal
lie Haro, and all the islands of the gronp,