People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-12-05
ALASKAN BOUNDARY

ALAohAN BOUNDARY
The commission appointed to mark
the international boundaries in Pasam-
quoddy bay according to the descrip-
ton of the territory Of JGseht d the co
w ~ 1 5H Surrey of iyenAlaskalt
boundary which follows the contour of
the coast from the southern most point
Of Prince of Wales island, until it
strikes the one hundred and forty-first
| meridian at or near the summit of
Mount ST. Elias awaits further neces-
/ sary appropriation which is urgently
| recommended. This survey was un-
/ dertaken under provisions Of the con-
vention entered into by this country
and Great Britain July %, 1892, and the
supplementary convention of Feb. 3.
1894. As to the remaining section of
| the Alaskan boundary which follows
the one hundred and forty-first merid-
ian nOrthwardly from Mount st. Elias
to the frozen ocean the settlement of
which involves the physical location of
the meridian mentioned, no convention
agreement has yet been made.
WANTS TO ARBITRATE IT.
The ascertainment of a given merid-
/ ian at particular point is a work re-
| quiring much time and careful obser-
walton and surveys. Such observa-
| tons and surveys were undertaken by
| the United States coast and geodetic
survey in 1890 and 1891, while similar
work in the same quarters under Brit
/ ish auspices are believed TO give nearly
coincident results. but these surveys
have been Independently conducted and
| no international agreement to mark
those or any other parts Of the one hun
dred and forty-first meridian by perma-
! nent monuments has yet been made.
In the meantime the valley of the Yu-
kon is becoming a highway through the
hitherto UNEMPLOYED wilds of Alaska.
Abundant mineral wealth has been
discovered in that region especially at
or near the junction Of the boundary
meridian with the Yukon and its tribu-
taries. In these circumstances it is
expedient and indeed imperative that
the jurisdictional limits Of the respec-
tive governments in this new region be
speedily determined. Her Britanic gov
renment has proposed a joint dellmita-
ton Of the one hundred and forty-first
meridian by an international commits
sion of experts. which. if congress will
authorize ii, and make due provision
therefore, can be accomplished with no
unreasonable delay. 1t is impossible
to overlook the vital Importance Of con-
tinuing the work already entered upon
and experimenting it by further efiec-
tive measures looking to the exact loca-
ton Of this entire boundary line.
FISHERMAN'S ROW.
I call attention to the unsatisfactory
illumination of respective jurisdictions
Of the United States and the Dominion
Of Canada in the great lakes at the APP
pr0aches 10 the narrow waters that con-
meet them. The waters in question are
frequented by fishermen of both nation
alities and their nets are there used
Owing TO the uncertainty and ignorance
as to the true boundary. vexatious dis
putes and injurious seizures of boats
and nets by Canadian cruisers often
occur while any positive settlement
thereof by an accepted standard is not
easy TO be reached.
A joint commission TO determine the
line in those quarters on a practical
basis by measured courses following
range marks on shore is a necessity for
which immediate provisions should be
made.
VENEZUELA CRISIS.
II being apparent that the boundary
dispute between Great Britain and the
republic Of Venezuela concerning the
limits Of British Guiana was approach
ing an acute stage, a definite state.
ment Of the interest and policy Of the
United States, as regards the contro-
versy, seemed to be required both on
. its own account and In view OF its rela.