The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-11
HER EYE On ALASKA.
Englan's Scheme TO Capture
a Rich Trade.
THE BUNDaRy SHE CLAIMS.
willing tsYieId Anything 90 Secure the
onlgites for Ports-vitai TO
seartfe's Interest

The survys Of the boundary between
Alaska anSBriash Columbia having been
completed By the international commits
sion appoirsi for that purpose. the mat
ter IL nov oe fer diplomatic negotiation.
and the clans Of the two parties to the
controversy are so radically ~ variance
that there i2 Prospect that another out
break Of sxGtensnt viii ensne similar TO
the famous ncieent during which the cry
of the people of the United States was:
"FIfty.four brty or fight" England sp-
pears to be the old game of trying 10
secure the ssatefic points for command or
the sea aadd re means Of ingress and
egress TO ASK whose only means OF
communication ylth the outside world Is
the water. The nerit of the controversy
and its vital importance to the United
States and ere,isly TO the Puget sound
country were Clearly stated in an inter
view which Post reporter
had yesterday With V. Wilson, who has
Just returnedirou tour OF Alaska, anu
who has thonugHy familiarized himself
with the subject. Mr.. Wilson said:
THE British anne 10 to grab Whatever
territory IL taxes fancy 20. They did not
care for Alaska or the boundary very
much until II ws known that the banks
and bars of the hndrtds OF tributaries TO
the Yukon river obtained gold. Just as
soon as this waSnown, however, treat
Britain started a lspute about the ooun-
Diary with the United States and is now
trying 20 claim great deal OF territory
which she is not atitled TO.
THE old graf from Russia TO the
United States sal the east boundary las
ten marine leagus from the coast where
ever there is no dfnite mountain range.
The United State CLAIM the coast means
the shores of al bays and in!ets- The
British claim i: that the ten marine
leagues only run rom the ocean shore and
that ii does not follow the meanderings OF
the bays and inles. III this view Is estao-
hshed IL will gye them access 10 and
egress from the rich Yukon region and
then they would ,ontrol most of the trade
which now come principally TO Seattle.
William Ogifie. the surveyor for the
Canadian government, last summer
crossed Lynn cnal at Buser's bay. Ii
this survey prevails 1t viii give England a
splendid harbor st the head OF the bay
which would be n excellent distributing
point for big SETON of the rich YUKON
region. The resat of this would be 10
bring Victoria ito competition with Se-
attic for the trae of that section The
reason given by sgilvie for switching his
survey at this poht is that there Is no den-
mite range of mountains in that vicinity
and that the poin where he runs his line
across the canal ten marine leagues from
the main shore.
s,Ssveral years ago ogilvie made the
statement thai TIN Canadian government
would give the hited States all OF the
Northwest Tertiary west of the Yukon
aud down to vince the forty-brst NERD
ian crosses that stream, provided the
United States void give Canada the coast
country from Portland canal to the Lynn
canal. a distance 4 400 or 500 miles. This
was before the graf richness of the Yukon
basin was fully known. He must have
been authorized 60 say this. Since then
the British havechanged their views and
have set up thsf absurd claim to the head
of the channel order to secure the trade
of the mining ountry and 10 get in and
out of their ba& country.
II think tina there should be no back
down in this natter. The country is ours
because We bought 10 Of Russia, paid for II,
and we should not allow the British OF
any other country to come in and take il
away from u.s. Millions of dollars will be
taken out of he Yukon placers in tbs
future. and IL would be idiotic Of Us TO LEI
the shore lini be taken away from us.
This Is q mater OF vital importance to Sc
attic, and the Chamber OF Commerce and
other civic b.dies should take Ii up and
draft strong memorials to congress against
any concessien Of Alaskan territory TO the
British.
England , at Ter old game of trying 70
secure the pdts through which the com
merce of theworld must be done. so that
all persons who do business with or in
Alaska mustpay toll to British merchants
British ships and British custom houses.