Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-28
How the Trouble Arose.

The whole trouble has arisen from the
ambiguity and uncertainty IN the wording
of the treaties by the terms of which Rus
STA transferred this portion Of her posses
sion to the United States. According to
that treaty. the line of boundary Of the ter
ritory claimed by Russia and transferred to
the United States followed range of
mountains parallel with the seacoast and
about ten marine leagues inward. Where
ever the line of mountains was more than
ten marine leagues distant from the coast
the boundary line was to follow the ten
league limit. In point Of fact there does
not now seem to be any range Of noun
tains such as is described, SO that 1t Is
necessary to fall back on the old ten-leasue
provision. Here the trouble arises. because
the coast is lined with islands, small and
large. According to recent maps issued by
the Dominion of Canada, placing the bound
airy where they think 1t ought to be, the
Canadian topographers evidently measure
the ten-league limit from the outside edge
Of the outside islands. so that in some
cases they actually would have the bound
airy line some distance out at sea. The ex-
act location Of the seacoast is one matter
that will have to be settled. Another cause
of trouble comes from the clause in the
treaty which states that the south end Of
the line shall begin at the southern ex-
tremity Of Prince Of Wales Island through
the Portland canal to the north. The mouth
of the Portland canal Is almost due east Of
the southern extremity of Prince of Wales
Island and about fifty or sixty miles dis
tant. The contention of the United States
is that the line should run from the mouth
Of the canal due north, as the canal Is q
well-def1ned natural body Of water running
almost north and south. Great Britain, in
her usual way of reaching out for every
thing in sight. would have the line go due
north from the south end Of the island and
then strike across to the Portland canal at
its upper end. This would cut out a very
nice strip of country which this govern
are some of the questions at issue be-
tween the two governments.
Each government has had surveying par
ties in the field for a couple Of years past
but to a certain extent they have been
working in harmony. Last year there were
some Americans with each Canadian party
and some Canadians with each American
party. and this year something Of the
same scheme is being followed out. The
work Is by no means light one. and is at
tended with all sorts Of difficulties and
dangers that usually confront exploring ex-
petitions. This was shown in the recent
reports that three of the members of enc of
the parties had lost their lives. The news
of their safety has been received with
great satisfaction here. but the letters de-
scribirg their experiences tell the story Of
plenty Of hardships and Of a very narrow
escape.
Mr.. Dfclins' Story.
The letter received from Mr.. E. F. Dick
FMS was written at Loring. Alaska, May
q. He reports the completion of the Cnuk
river reconnaissance up as fa- as the ten
league limit. There were seven men in the
party and they were greatly helped in
their work by the backwardness Of the sea-
son, as they were able to go up the river
on the snow and ice in far less time than
they could do 1t last year. when they had
to go over the mountains around the can
ons instead of through them. They had
good luck as to weather and the results Of
their work, but Mr.. Dickins states that
they were very unfortunate in other re-
spects and extremely glad to get out of 1t
alive.
The party left Burroughs Bay early in
the morning of May Ii, and as soon as
they entered the river they found the
gravel banks and bars covered with snow
to the depth of six and eight feet The
water was low and there was little current
so that the party made quick progress.