The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-07
WANTS THE EARTH.
England Lays Claim to the
Choicest Parts of Alaska.
GLACIER BAY WOULD Be HERS.
She Seeks TO Control the Interior
Throeigh the Harbors and the
Finest Tourist Resorts.

Miner ". Bruce, WHO as private indi-
viduai as well as a representative of the
United States government has made him
self Thoroughly familiar with Alaska, and
who Is now stopping at the Occidental
hotel in this city, said yesterday that he
was very much pleased TO see the cham
Der OF commerce had taken action on the
boundary question. THE people or the
Northwest and particularly those of the
state of Washington" said Mr.. Bruce,
SHOULD take Alaska under their wing
and see that she Is fairly dealt with, not
countries. Alaska Is the coming country
beyond a. question of doubt and there
Is every reason TO believe that this state
will get the greater portion of her trade.
The people up there have no particular
reason for dealing with San Francisco.
On the other hand they desire 10 estab-
iish the friendliest OF relations with the
people OF this state and especially with
those of Puget sound
But SO far as the Alaskan boundary Is
concerned every state In the Union should
take an interest In IL and endeavor to
see that the United States government Is
not robbed out of that which belongs 10
It."
MIR. Bruce will father book soon to
be put on the market which will cover
the general history OF Alaska, Its re-
sources and beauties, and one chapter OF
1t will be devoted to the disputed bound
airy question, in which in the language OF
Mr. Bruce ian effort is being made on
the part of the English government TO
take from us hundreds of miles OF valu-
able territory" Mr. Bruce will deal ex-
tensively with the absurdity of the En-
glish claim.
The country claimed by the English
government" said Mr.. Bruce, takes In
one OF the wealthiest regions in Southeast
Alaska It includes Glacier bay and most
of the Lynn canal. II the latter Is Sc
cured, IL will give the English an oppor-
tGnity to control the vast and wealthy
interior OF Alaska. AT present Jack
Daulton, the man who figured In an al
legged murder in upper Alaska more than
a year ago. has a trail or route leading
from Lynn canal into the wealthy In
terror. 1t is an easy route. The ascents
and descents are gradual mountains are
pretty well avoided and Il Is really the
only practical trail yet discovered which
enables the miners and others TO get into
the Yukon country.
IF the English secure that which they
want, the United States will be cut off
from this trail and you can readily see
what that would mean 10 the hundreds of
miners who travel up and down the trail
every year. We viii also lose Glacier
bay. which is to Alaska what the Alps
are 10 Switzerland; in fact the bay is the
greatest attraction 10 tourists In Alaska.
Once the English secure 1t, our friend the
Canadian Pacific Company Will advertise
IL far and wide. and as result its steam
ers will capture the greater portion of
the tourist traffic, which Is growing year
by year, and the steamers of this country
will have to be contented with what
trade naturally comes to them through
local people.
Another person who will suffer will he
Rev. Mr.. Duncan. the British missionary,
who has spent over quarter of CEN
fury among the Indians OF the coast and
who has brought them to wonderful
state of civilization. Duncan was. <5rced
to flee from the British possessions seven
years ago in order TO escape persecution.
and took his whole Metlakahtia Indian
colony with him. Anette island through
Duncan's efforts was set aside by
special act OF congress for the exclusive
use of Duncan and his little band. which
now numbers more than zoo The English
| include Anette island IN the territory
which they claim.
"As | have said before. England's claim
| Is an absurd one. In iS25 the treaty be-
tween England and Russia determined
| the boundary question. In a nutshell IL
| designated the boundary line as beginning
| at the lowest point In Southeast Alaska
| ascending 10 the north along the Portland
channel as far as the point on the con-
/ tienr where II strikes the s6,h degree
! nit of the mountains situated parallel to
| the coast as far as Mount 81. Elias and
| where the summit is proved 10 he more
/ than ten marine leagues from the ocean,
/ the limit between the British possessions
| and the coast shall he formed according
| 10 the treaty by line parallel TO the
| windings of the coast. distant not to ex-
coed ten marine leagues
The vital point raised by the English
| is that. as the treaty says the line shall
run directly north IL must necessarily go
| through Benin canal instead OF through
| the Portland canal. which is a little east
ward. There Is no doubt. however that
/ 10 was the intention that the line was to
| run through the Portland canal. other
| wise IL would not have been So specified
/ In the treaty. The maps al the time the
treaty was made were probably a little
/ vague. for in order 20 pass through the
/ Portland canal the tine must FIRST run
/ east little distance and then north
/ ward"
| Great Rush for Cut steamer Rates.
The rush 10 the Office Of the Pacific