The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-15
4 STRONG WITNESS.
Missionary Duncan's Testimony
on Alaska Border.
AMERICAN CLAIM WAS ADMITTED
Valuable Contribution to the case
Against Canada Given 10 tue
Chamber Of Commerce.

A. meeting OF the Chamber OF
Commerce yesterday J. b Metealie'
chairman OF the committee appoint
ed 10 gather information on ma
ters pertaining TO TOE AlaSAA
boundary controversy between this conn-
Try and British Columbia. submitted some
interesting correspondence which ne had
had with Rev. ". Duncan, the otd Has
sioraarv Of New MecakalIa- Mr.. Duncan
formerly was stationed az Port simpson
but not liking the restrictions placed upon
him 5y the English. he moved % Atni.tts
island Ala ska, which The Brf,ish thfh
Acknowledged 10 be out CT their DORIAN:
But nov. according 10 the contention OF
the British Columbia papers, Annette Isl
and is a portion % the territory OF Aaas-
ka claimed by the British.
Mr.. Duncan's letter 10 Mr.. MetcaIfe on
this matter reads as follows
ION B5ard City Of Topeka, Alaskan
Waters, May 3. 1895.
Before leaving home for trip 10 Sitka
I received a letter from Mr.. Miner Bruce
the explorer asking me 10 write you any
particulars | might happen 70 know re-
garding the question Of the BOUNDARY De
tween Alaska and British Columbia Most
likely the little information l have on the
subject Is already known 70 YOU. 1ht Il
can do no harm 20 write what | know
"First-In 1851 I was located at Fort
Simpson. and was in constant daily inter
course with the affairs OF the HUDSON
Bay Fur Company. who had a monopoly
Of the country at that time. FROM TINS
intercourse | learned that all the country
north OF Portland canal belonged 20 Rus
STA, and for the privilege of trading with
the Indians from nat point, and as Tar
as Chiicat. the Indians paid a rental 70
the Russian government or one thousand
q 600 otter skins each year. II is not at
all likely that company OF such proper
IRax 4 .FFarY
consent TO pay rent for territory 81 wnich
there was uncertainty as TO ownership.
That company would most assuredly ne
well acquainted with the maps which as
signed the territory 10 Russia. or IL would
have never made the agreement with
Russia which IL did. Nor ala those oHi-
GERS during all the years | was IN daily
intercourse with them ever hint a
doubt as to the boundary from which
Russian claims started.
'.Second-I have known law-brea kers 10
escape 10 Tongass from justice. being.
while there out OF the jurisdiction or
British Columbia.
..Thirt-When the United States pur-
chased Alaska a corps of soldiers was
stationed at Tongass and continued there
for years in undisputed control.
''Fourth-On my migrating with over
S00 Indians from British Columbia. in 1887,
we had TO call at Fort Tongass and give
customs officers over $1,000 to bring my
goods into Alaska. The customs authori-
ties resided at Tongass, Just over the in
let called Portland canal"
Mr.. Metcalfe reported that he replied
TO Mr.. Duncan as follows. under date of
May II:
Il am in receipt Of your favor of May
g. for which please accept my sincere
thanks The informa ton contained there
in / regard as valuable whenever the
question comes up for adjustment OF the
claims between the United States and
Great Britain. In your favor 10 Mr.
Bruce YOU speak Of having the natives
write to me relative TO this matter
through their secretary. May / ask you
10 have this done at your earliest con-
venence, and o5lige."
Mr.. Meucalfe reported that all the data
he was gathering on the subject were be
ing kept in a sCtapbook. and portions of
it. regarded as more important. had been
forwarded 10 Secretary Gresham. at
Washington city.
The meeting Of the trustees was un-
usually large and enthusiastic. and it was
clearly evinced that the organization has
taken new lease of life. The labors OF
The committee on reorganization and of
Individual members have met with very
fatterng results, and the chamber can
boast Of over $50 new members. The fol-
,
ing:
Charles f. Reeves, O. &. Ferris. Isaac
Cooper, John NJ. Lane, Charles a. Mitch,
ell George NJ. Horton. NJ. d. 9. r. Villas,
Charles II. Frye, J. ". Allen.
In view Of the greatly increasing mem
borship 1t was decided to call a general
meeting of the chamber az large on next
Monday evening for the purpose OF
amending the bylaws and adapting them
10 the new organization. T. ". Prosch
gave notice that at that NEE ting he would
present a rev set Of by-laws and requested
that other members do likewise. IT is de-
sired that there be a fun attendance at the
meeting. and the new members are especi-
ally invited TO he present
Mr. O'Keefe. representing the Court
wright updulatlng pump and motor. ad-
dressed he meeting and invited the mem
bers % make an examination Of the plant
which he has in operation In the canal
leading from Lake Union 20 salmon hay.
near Fremont lie stated that arrange
ments had already been made for the
manufacture Of the machinery at Seattle.
AMI thai this city would he made the dis
trlhuting point. Mr.. OKeefe submitted
photographs Of the machine both az rest
ana IN operation. and thev NAV b. seen a
tha rooms Of me chamber. The pump Is
particularly adapted 20 irrigation 81 arid
lands
Attention was called IN certain freight
rates which have worked 80 The disad-
vantage - Seattle houses and The matter
Vas referred 20 the committee on trans
portati1u Tor speedy action,
The a.iviSfhility or Il Fourth Of July cele-
hrs icn was discussed and tho movement
was Endorsed u was ordered that the
rooms = tha chamber ne placed at the dis
uoSal 81 citizens for me purpose Of organ
ization and entertainment Of guests.
rooms have been FaH0N.Fr aFt and 4