The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-22
DAVIDSON upon ALASKA.
He Gives an Interesting IN
tervieW on the Boundary
Question.
Canada's Demands Characterized
AS Nothing but an Audaoious
Steal of Harbors.

A representative of THE. CALL called on
Professor Davidson at his residence last
evening for the purpose of obtaining an
interview from him relative to the Alaska
boundary line trouble now in discussion
between Canada and the United States.
Professor Davidson made the following
statement:
have refused to be interviewed upon the
subject of the Alaska boundary, because some
two years since Superintendent Mendenhall
(who was crowded out OF the survey one year
ago. had enjoined the officers on the Pacific
Coast not to make known what the coast sur
vey had done on the boundary survey, and par
ticularly to express opinion upon the sub
ject matter in dispute, and although am, as
every one knows, no longer in the public SER
vice, yeti do not feel ct liberty. even as citi-
gen, to touch upon certain points of the matter.
l acknowledge, however, that l have been
gathering some important historical and
geographical material which think will have
great bearing in the final discussion when it
comes Lefore the American and British or
Canadian Commissioners for settlement.
Nevertheless as all of the Coast Survey
officers who had served on the boundary work
during the last three years have read papers
before the National Geographic Society of
Washington, and two papers are before the
some criticisms upon the paper by Lindenkohl
of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, who had
presented 1t to Petermann's Mitteilungen, and
in its bulletin of last April.
This paper describes the typographical labors
OF the American parties on the different rivers
which traverse the ten marine leagues wide
strip extending along the southeast seaboard
from Portland Inlet in 81 deg. 40 min. lat
itude, along the continental shore to the meri-
dian of 141 deg. west, near the position of
Mount st. Elias.
This strip covers the territory claimed by the
United States as defined in the Anglo-Russian
treaty of the year 1925. Our right tosthis strip
had never been disputed by Canada until
within the last few years, when they put for
ward the preposterous claim that the thirty
mile strip should be reckoned from the outer
coast of the great chain OF Islands forming the
Archipelago Alexander.
The claim was advocated by DR.. Dawson of
the Dominion Geological Survey, but was so
evidently absurd that he had to back water.
Then the Canadian Government claimed that
the chain of mountains along the shore was not
ten miles of the thirty inshore, and on this
ground surveys were ordered and executed by
both governments.
Twas appealed to by superintendent Thorne
for the best method of procedure, and these
recent surveys have been executed in the man.
ner recommended.
Iindenkohl recapitulates the principal
streams north of Portland Inlet and gives
some interesting descriptions of the dangerous
work done by the Coast Survey. officers. The
indications are that the mountainous country
rises gradually for more than thirty miles
from salt water, and even attains 5000 feet at
that distance. The streams are torrenual in
down thousands of feet, through narrow and
dangerous gorges, with walls of 1000 feet over
head.
In spring, when the ice begins to break
away, the navigation by canoes is very dan
gerous, and several mishaps to the surveying
parties have occurred, with loss of instru-
ments, clothing and provisions. Fortunately,
SO far. no lives have been lost.
The Stikine River is large torrential
stream, running seven miles an hour, with
several glaciers coming into it. The Taku is
Ill No.
the valley. The Chilcoot and Ghilcat rivers
drain largo areas and have their sources in
great glaciers that also send their northern
waters down to the Yukon.
The Taku, Chilcoat and Chilcot open into the
northern reaches of the Chatham and other
straits. They have anchorages and harbors at
their mouths; They are also gateways into the
can be reached at Fort Selkirk in less than
twenty days, according to E. J. Glaye's report
tome.
It is understood that the Canadians are now
straining point to bring the thirty-mile line
across the northern part of the Archipelago
Alexander, SO as to give the entrances to the
foregoing three rivers to Canadal In other
words they will try to take the only ways by
water which the United States possesses OF en-
tering Alaska south of the peninsula, or in
fact south and east of the meridian OF 141 deg.
at Mount st. Elias.
This is the old grab game, and it behooves
our people to keep sharp lookout and prevent
this audacious steal.
Duiihk iaob oCuoOA tue TIVeTS anu 1nleIS Oh
Chllcoot and Chilcat were surveyed by two
of the Pacific Coast officers of the survey but
the results have not been made public, and
decline to describe them at present for various
reasons.
Professor Davidson stated that he would
continue his astronomical observations so
far as his instruments would permit.
The ship-owners, masters and UNDER
writer's of the Pacific Coast will send set
Of resolutions adopted by them to President
Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle protest.
ing against the removal of Professor Dav-
idson from the Geodetic Survey, and re-
questing that he be reinstated.