The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-28
SAN JUAN BOUNDARY.
The Emperor williams Decision-Brit-
ish Residents ON San Juan Island
Congress Provides for AscertntninS
Their Rights.


Titled, IAN act TO ascertain the possessory rights
\ OF the Hudson Bay Company ana other British
subjects within the mlts which we're subject TO
the award under the Treaty OF Washington, May
4 s, ls7l.n 1t provides for the appointment by the
/ President OF Commissioner to make and report TO
the Secretary OF the Interior list OF British SUBJ
jceJs who. June I5 1886 (the date OF the oregon
Boundary Treaty., were IN occupation Of land
lawfully acquired within the limit covered
by the award OF the Emperor OF Germany,
together with a description OF the property
actually occupied that time. The Commissioner
is to proceed to Puget sound and there receive
proof Of occupancy and the mode by which such
occupancy was acquired. After first giving reason
able notice all British subjects whose claims shall
be approved by the Secretary shall be permitted
TO purchase from the United States the land SO
designated any time within one year after such ap-
prevail at the ordinary minimum price, when the
lands are within the railroad limits. These entries
are to be according TO legal subdivisions so as 10
include improvements OF sucn occupants provided
that entry and payment not made
within one year then all rights named In the
treaty OF June Is, ls46, shall be considered for
ieited and the land thereafter be deemed and
treated a part OF the public domain to be dis
posed OF as otner lands.
END OF A PkoraAcTED DISPUTE.
THIS act finally winds up all legislation necessary
line between the United States and the British
Possessions the Pacific and the decision OF
the Emperor William on the San Juan Island ques-
ton. 1t proviaed in the treaty OF 1916 that,
''in the future appropriation OF the territory
south OF the iorty-ninth parallel the possessory
rights OF the Hudson BAY Company and OF all
British subjects may be already in the occupa-
ton OF lard or other property lawfully acquired
within oregon Territory shall be respected Prior
to the date mentioned the English government
claimed possession OF the country as lar south as
the Columbia River, which now divides oregon
and Washington Territory. Fort Vancouver was
the headquarters or grand depot OF the hudson
Bay Company, west OF the Rocky Mountains 1t was
founded IN 1924 The locality was most convenient
Tor trade, mad large ana rich tract OF land Tor
cultivation, and Afforded convenient landing
place cargoes. Ihither all tile Iurs and other
articles OF trade were Drought from other stations
and from thence shipped 10 Europe. 1hltner also
all the gooos brought from Europe were landed
and from thence distributed to the various points
in the interior. II was TACT the grand emf Forum
oil the company's trade from California To the
Russian Possessions on botn sides OF the Nortnern
Pacific ocean. The Hudson Bay Company mad es-
tabllshed numerous trading posts wtaln the units
OF the territory between the lorty -nntn parallel
and the Columbia River now all under tue Amerl-
can hagI and even several establishments on the
frontiers OF California. In short II may be said
that they had taken possession OF every district
within the region, which throughout was dotted
with their forts ana Establishments, ana
claimed tina: they held 1t under the British
Nesqually on Puget Sound, wala Waa, Fort
Mckay at the mouth OF the umpgua River, and a
large settlement on the willamette. In diition,
rtey owned numerous factories, with machinery,
CATTLE wagons. uoats, Gc used tor trading pur-
poses. The settlement Of their servants san
Juan and adjacent islands was of later date. me
land was fertile aud the dshng excellent. and, be-
sides, the Importance OF the spot III a military
point OF view was never overlooked.
THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY.
The difficulty In setting The oregon boundary
dispute was greatly increased by the enormous
wealth, abe policy and numerous retalners OF this
company. The iur trade aaving nearly ceased, 1t
turned It's attention TO other OBJECTS. II LAID
out iarms on the most extensive sale. erected |
mills, established manufactures. entered into the
fisheries employed vessels Tor the purpose OF
commerce, and in short. about the year
lsAS the company presented d. the aspeci.
branches OF INDUSTRY. Inc British government.
when compelled to jleld to the United states on
secure 70 subjects la the disputed terri DRY per-
petua title to ali their lands ana stations OF W llch
they were then in actual POSSESSION, liable. how
ever IN all aspects 70 the jurisdiction and SOW
reisnty OF the United states. The hudson Bay
Company was prohibited b. Its charter rom
quirn9 titles 10 land. and the occupants that were
t. be affected b. the reservation were made either
by the squatters or he company Tor the purpose or
evadng the prohibition oil It's charter. The pro-
lection OF those interests which had grown up was
regarded by England as an Indispensable obliga-
ton on the score OF honor ana as impossible 70 DC
neglected. Hence the third article in the treaty
toe Uhlted States. When General harney,
sixteen years ago, occupied San Juan
OF all The territory north OF the orty-nntn paral
1 le Governor douglas, o Vancouver Island
Its factor, and he showed bold 'front.' against what
4 he considered an aggression on the rights OF his
| principals. But soon alter the company ana It's
/ factor ceased TO exercise authority. Inc island
adjacent country were organized as the
colony OF British Columbia, and is now one u the
son Bay Company was Incorporated IN ierpetulty
/ in 1870. by Charles III. Ii was granted 10
Der of that monarch's avorltes, ana gave them The
sole commerce and trade OF all waters within the
entrance To Hudson's straits. Tue Governor and
company were to be lords proprie ors forever en-
powerec to make laws Tor the government oil the
territory and the advancement OF trace, and to
| uni ose penalties anu ounIshments. They enjoyed
| an absolute monopoly OF trade and were eX-
tremey jealous o. all new settlers who came under
otner auspices than their own.
RIGHTS OF BRITISH oCCUPIgRs.
II is said that secretary Fish was very DESTROYS
that the measure TO ascertain the possessory rights
| OF British subjects on san Juan Island should pass
before Congress adjourned. there were urgent
reasons ior an cary settlement OF the rights IN
De the sbac the %
covered by the article in the Treaty oil 1896 At
the latter date the HUDSON Bay Company occupied
large tracts oil land and owned factories and
rIous other establishments In the territory in ais
pnte between the two countries, which was
knoweGged BY the treaty TO belong to the United
states san JUAN between the straits II Rosario
ana Canal de Haro, was tor the most part in
patton OF the Company's servants for many years
prior 20 1858, when General barney took military
possession OF it-an act that created a state OF
affairs that brought the armed forces OF the two
countries to tie brink OF collision. The difficulty
/ was settled by General scott, sent out the
/ purpose, Dy COHseHlIHH 10 d]OluL occupation. Inc
! Britisl subjects living and oullivating lands on
san Juan and other Islands, which by the decision
or the German Emperor are now American terri
tory, could take no title from the Hudson Bay
com pan and they have never sought or obtained
any from the United states some Of these people
have been probably thirty years In possession,
and it Will be seen that the earliest practicable
moment has been ayailed OF to give them TIE bene-
mt OF the treaty OF 1916 All the rights OF the Hud
son Bay Company between Puget Sound ana the
Columbia RIVER lave been respected, vita the ex-
ceptiOn OF those now in question. what remains
cannot be OF very great value, put tney are most
important to the Occupiers, who nave remained
British subjects. with the hope That tie san Juan
boundary line would he decided IN accordance
with the views OF their government. The matter
IS OF interest as it nnaly closes dispute concern
ing winch the late Mr. Buchanan, when secretary
OF state, wrote 10 Nj. McLane. American Minis er
ut L3noon, AS follows -"You Will enforce our
proposition on the British Ministry. Afterwards,
4 NJ he liuiculty only resolved by the sword,