Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-11-15
ENGlAND'S HANDS
Stretched in Longing Grasp After a
Slice Of Alaskan Territory.
Judge Delaney OF the Territory. Explains Her
Questionable Methods.

| Washington, Nov. 1i.-Arthur X. De
| laney of Alaska, who, last Saturday, wa
appointed United States circuit cour
Judge OF the territory, and was collector o
the port of Sitka during President Cleve
ldnd first administration. has been il
Washington for several Gays, in consulta
tion with Attorney General Harmon ant
Assistant Secretary Hamln, regarding tn,
Alaskan boundary question.
Judge Delaney points out new reason
for Great Britain 5 effort to secure Alas kar
| territory. He says the Canadian Pacific
Railroad is back Of the scheme. by which
England hopes to get at Pyramid Harbo,
and control the Yukon river
The Canadian surveyors contend, he saws,
that the Portland canal stipulated as one
of the southern most boundaries in the
Anglo Russian treaty Of ls25. is really
that charted and known as Benin canal,
some distance TO the westward.
By diverting the northerly line of artin
cial boundary to commence at this canal.
the English acquire very large area of
territory. including Mary's Island, on
which the United States custom house
stands, as we'll as Annette Island, which,
by an act of Congress approved in 1891,
was set apart as n reservation for the
Metlahkatlah Indians, who moved from
British territory to this island under the
leadership of the Rev. Mr.. Duncan.
In addition to these two islands, said
Judge Delaney, there is large area of
islands, having several hundred square
miles of land, and all valuable in one way
or another. Then the British line trans
fers long arm Of the sea, which is essen
tial to US, from American to British terri
tory
This arm leads north, and is portion
of the celebrated island passage which is
taken by the excursion boats to Alaska,
and also by the freight carriers. At the
end of this arm is Pyramid Harbor, in
latitude 54.li north, and here deep sea
navigation ends, and it is from here that
the only trail leading into the Yukon val
ley starts.
"This trail crosses the Chilcat noun.
tains,a spur of the Fsirweather range and
is about 33 miles in length After cross.
ing the divide by this trail, the upper
waters of the Yukon valley are reached,
and these lead to the gold fields now at
tracing such great attention from all ma
tions.
uc ueN DElllsn DOuUuhTy line SWerNeS
when it reaches Mount Windbam on the
west. The reason Of this change in the
line is obvious, for, rs 1t runs, England
acquires the end of the inland passage
BY cutting off this nice slice of territory
England would get the terminal of deep
sea navigation, Pyramid harbor, Chilcat.
and the beginning Of the Yukon trail,
which would give her vast hold over the
Yukon valley, which, for some reason
probably modesty-she does not try to get
from us.
IF successful in her claims, it is
obvious that the English will control the
key to large proportion of the most
valuable territory Of the United States
In acquiring the entrance 30 Chilcat pass
and trail, England would get the only
known way of reaching the gold fields,
except by Behring sea, and of entering
the Yukon river at its mouth and ascend
ing it, as it is distance of $500 miles to
Forty Mile Creek and Circle City, now the
principal camps in the Yukon basin
Aside from this, England would cstab-
lish custom house ut Pyramid barbor
for the Yukon trade. She would also sup
plant with English vessels the vast com
merce now being carried on by us As
the United States would lose
the extensive trade 1t now has with that
section as well as the transportation bust
ness carried on in American bottoms" "