The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-04
CANADA AND THE LAKES.
The Alaskan Boundary in a Fair
Way to Settlement.

The Commissioners appointed to marx the inter-
national boundary in Passamaquoddy Bay, accord
ing to the description Of the treaty Of Ghent have
not fully agreed The completion of the pre-
liminary survey of that Alaskan boundary which
follows the contour of the from the southern
most point Of Prince of Wales Island until ii strikes
the one hundred and forty-frst meridian, or
near the summit OF Mount st. Elias, awaits fur
Their necessary appropriations, which are urgently
recommended. This survey was undertaken under
the provisions OF the convention entered into by
this country and Great Britain July 81, 1892, and
the supplementary convention of February 3, 1894.
AS to the remaining section of the Alaskan
boundary, which follows the hundred and
for y-first meridian northwardly from Mount st.
Elias 10 the frozen ocean, the settlement of which
involves the physical location OF the meridian
mentioned, no conventional agreement has yet
been made. The ascertalnment OF n given meridian
and careful observations and surveys. Such OBJ
servations and surveys were undertaken by the
United -tates Coast and Goedetic Survey in 1890
and 1891, while similar Work in the same quarters
under British auspices are believed to give nearly
coincident results; but these surveys have been
independently conducted and no international
agreement to mark these or any other parts of the
one hundred and forty first meridian by permanent
monuments has yet been made
In the meantime the valley Of the Yukon is be-
coming highway through the hitherto UNEMPLOYED
wilds Of Alaska, and abundant mineral wealth has
been discovered in that region, especially
the junction of the boundary meridian with the
Yukon and its tributaries. In these circum-
stances it is expedieDt indeed imperative that the
iurisdctonal limits Of the respective Governments
in this new region be speedily determined Her
Britannia Maiesty's Government has proposed a
Joint delimtation OF the l41st meridian by an in
ternational commission of experts which, if Con-
gress will authorize it and make due provisions
therefor, can be ccomplshed with no unr .asou-
able delay. 1t is impossible to overlook the vital
Importance of continuing the work already en-
tered upon and supplementing it by further effect
I've measures looking to the exact location of this
entire boundary line.
call attention 10 unsatisfactory delimitaton OF
the respective jurisdictions of the United states
and the Dominion of Canada in the Great Lakes at
the approaches 10 the narrow waters that connect
them. The waters in question frequented by
fishermen OF both nationalities and their nets
there used. Owing TO the uncertainty and ignor
ance as to the true boundary vexatious disputes
aud injurious seizures of boats and nets by Cana
dian cruisers often occur While any positive set
tlement thereof by accepted standard is
easily to be reached, a joint commission to deter
mine the line in these quarters on practical
basis, by measured courses following range marks
on shore, is a necessity for which immediate pro-
vision should be made.