The morning call., 1894-12-16

tained that the English Government will
make an energetic effort to make ava y
with slice of rich Alaskan territory,
which will give 1t almost absolute control
of the Alaskan trade.
A gentleman who is interested and well
posted on matters pertaining to Alaska
spoke rather forcibly upon the subject
yesterday.
II do not believe" he said. "the people
on this coast understand the matter at ali,
and of what vital impor tance it is that
they should watch all proceedings very
closely. 1t would be a terrible blow to the
coast should England gain control of the
territory which she claims under the old
treaty between England and Russia. 1t
was made many years ago when the Eng
lish traders and voyagers were extending
Great Britain's territory westward. She
clashed with the Russian Government in
her progression, and then the treaty was
finally made. 1t was based upon the old
maps which were made when Alaska was
an UNEMPLOYED region. These maps were
made by men who guessed generally at the
topography of Alaska. and it is here that
an interesting point is involved.
According TO those old maps the coast
range of mountains extend in a continu-
Gus chain up the coast as far as Mount
Elias. The chain is broken at about lati-
tude SO deg. South of that point the
mountains run up to the east OF what s
known as Lynn canal. which has two
arms extending northward. known as
Chilcoot and Chilcat inlets. Then the
chain is portrayed again to the south west
of these, nearer the coast beginning at
about Mount Fairweather. and it runs up
in heavy chain along the line Of the coast
to Mount st. Elias.
Now mark. The treaty between Eng
land and Russia stipulates that the Eng
lish boundary line shall be ten marine
leagues from the shore, beginning at about
the head Of Portland Inlet, and shall run
north on that line, unless the coast range
mountains come close TO the shore. Then
the line shall run along the coast line of
the range.
There is the point in this affair. Re-
cent explorations show that this heavy
chain Of mountains which the old map
makers made does not exist. There are
only few scattered peaks, not a range.
Yet upon this old treaty based upon old
lines and maps which were incorrect, Eng
land now wants to draw line across Lynn
canal at about latitude SO deg. westerly
to Mount Fairweather, about 100 mi les,
and then north to Mount st. Elias, about
l75 miles. This would throw ChIlcat and
Chilcoot inlets into British territory, and
as result the trade which now belongs 10
the people of the Puget Sound istrict
would come nnder English control.
The contention of England is wrong on
the face of 1T. All the rich trade from the
interior of Alaska, or nearly all of il,
| comes to the heads of Lynn canal and the
two inlets now, and it is this which Eng
| land is striving for by having this terri
tory thrown within her boundaries.
''This matter. in my opinion, should not
| be arbitrated on by other nations. They
will. in the light of past experiences. 90
| against this Government. The America n
Commissioner, with the full support of
| this Government. should insist that the
coast line should be regarded as folloyinp
the shores Of the principal bays. inle 5
and estuaries and harbors. By dong this
and winning the point the United States
will control the coast and the trade. as !,
properly should. On the other hand. sboul1
England gain control of the territory
which l have described this country
can do but little with the mario W
strip OF territory which it will posses
| along the coast. The wealth OF