The morning call., 1893-03-16
THE INTERNATIONAL SURVEY.

just about month hence, in the last
week In April, the International Boundary
Commissioners will start in steamer from
Victoria, b. c.. to the southern end of
Prince of Wales Island. The Canadian
Commissioner viii be Professor King of the
Interior Department at Ottawa, the Ameri-
can Commissioner will be Professor Men,
denhall of the United States Geodetic Sur
vey. Each will have forty men under him.
The first difficulty will occur at the very
outset Of the survey. The treaty specifies
that the southern line of Alaska starts from
the southern cape Of Prince of Wales Island
and follows the line of 81 deg 40 min. until
1t inte:sects with the Portland Canal. But
the southern cape OF Prince of Wales
Island is several miles south of 81 deg. 80
min, and line drawn through it due east
would not ntersect Portland Canal at ALI.
Here is discrepancy arising from the in.
accuracy of the old maps which the inter
national surveyors will have 20 adjust. On
its decision will depend the nationality of
several wel-WoOded islands and of the
mouth of one of the best salmon rivers in
Alaska. Pushing north from this point
toward Fort Wrangel the surveyors Nill
then have to grapple with the great ques-
tiOn Of the survey, the specification of the
boundary on the top of the coast range.
The treaty states that the boundary shall
follow the crest of the mountains, cine du
cap, except where the crest is more than
thirty miles from tidewaier, In which case
the line shall be run thirty miles from low
water mark. At that time no one had ex-
plored the coast range, and il was supposed
to be a simple, narrow chain. As a matter
of fact it is in some places broad noun
famous region extending q hundred or
more miles from west TO east; in others the
mountains come 10 the edge of the water.
1t Will be matter of no little difficulty to
find the true crest Of such a range
The practical Importance of this portion
Of the survey arises from the fact that what
ever minerals exist in Southern Alaska
are found in the mountains. Mines con-
tanning gold and silver in quartz veins have
been discovered in many places. Thus far
none of them have proved bonanzas, though
one or Two companies are at work in the
region and have shipped ore TO this city.
But it is possible that a great mine might
be discovered at any time. and then it
might be a matter of consequence to deter
mine on which side of the line IL lay. Be-
yond the mines the strip of Alaska coast
east of parallel III deg. has no value that
has been thus far ascertained.
Indeed, it may be question whether the
mainland Of Alaska and the adjacent Brit
iSh possessions as far east as the one hun
dred and twenty-ffth parallel Will ever pay
for exploration. We are taking some salmon
out of the Yukon and other rivers. and at
ChilcoOt and one or two other points can
Deries are in operation. On the British side
Of the line gold is being found in tie gravel
Of the conhuents OF the Yukon. the Pelly
and the PoTcupine. A few blue fox skins
and other turs are taken by hardy trappers
who adventure upon the wild wastes Of snow
which extend from the North Pacific TO the
Arctic Ocean; but no money worth NEIL
tloning has ever been made in any pursuit,
either in our portion Of the wilderness or in
that which belongs to Canada. Nor is it
| likely that this condition viii be altered by
future discovery. Agriculture is forbidden
by soil and climate; the mining promise is
not more attractive than 1t was in the days
OF the Fraser River excitement. il is diff
cult to think of an argument which could
be used to induce an adyenturer to cast his
! lot in so bleak and barren a region.
Still. it is well that the boundary line
! should be defined, if only because the sur
vey will serve Il preliminary observation
! Of the route which a Bering Straits rail
road would pursue. a number of points on
| the straight line from Muunt ST. Elias TO the
| Polar Ocean have been located and marked
with the usual surveyors monuments. That
| portion Of the work can be completed in a
season Professor Mendenhall calculates
that it will take the joint party two seasons
to survey the line from Prince of Wales
! Island TO the one hundred and forty-frst
parallel. The distance in a direct line is
not much over five hundred miles, but the
country is so broken that the progress of
surveyors carrying instruments will be slow.
The experience of the party will not be
| enviable; it is hoped that it will be able to
! accomplish its pnrpose without loss of Life