The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-26

MAP SHOWING DISPUTED TERRITORY.
the American Interpretation hence all
the talk. Briefly, the provisions of the
treaty, so far as the present contention
goes, are as follows:
From the f1fty-sixth parallel of lati-
tude (north) 1.-THE line of demarcation
shall follow the summit of the noun
tains situated parallel to the coast as far
as the point of intersection of the one
hundred and forty first degree Of west
longitude" but whenever the summit
of the mountains shall prove to be at
distance of more than ten marine leagues
from the ocean, y the boundary line now
in dispute ''shau be formed by line
parallel to the winding of the coast, and
which shall never exceed the distance Of
ten marine leagues therefrom.
This seems simple enough, but in this
case, as in SO many others, appearances
are deceptive. In the first place, there is
no mountain range parallel with the
coast, and SO the three league line
must be laid out. The question then
hinges on what is "the coast ~ There
are two English and Canadian interpre-
tations. One is that the boundary line
should be construed to extend parallel
Will JIG OuOSI G41O1O Ol t41O 454cAOS
strung along the mainland, and the 9TH
er that the line shall be run parallel
with "the general coast line Of the
capes and points of land at the main
land" The American contention is that
the line shall be uniformly 80 miles back
from the main coast line. If the first Of
the English contentious shall be adopt
ed, there are places where the Alaska
boundary line will not touch the main
land at all IF either be accepted, much
territory that has heretofore been con-
sidered belonging to the United States
will be Canadian territory, but the ac-
ceptance of the American contention
will leave the line about as it now fig
ures on the school maps.
From an agricultural point Of view
the territory in question does not amount
to much, but gold mines, diversely de-
scribed as not of much account and of
surprising richness, have BEEN found
there within tho past few years hence
the claims put forth by some Canadians
and some Americans that the ''other fell
lows" are trying to ''hog on" to what
they ought not to be allowed to have.
Some there are who expect trouble be-
tween the two governments over this
matter, while others hold that it will be
settled peacefully in due time. Some
there ara on both sides who consider the
territory in dispute to be we'll worth
fighting for, if need be, while others say
the more territory either government
possesses in that part of the world the
worse off it is. At all events there is
little likelihood of a war about it until
after both American and Canadian en-
cheering corps have reported Oh the
whole business and the state depart
ments of the two governments have had
a chance at it.
Those Alaskans and others who most
strongly resent the present claims of the
| Canadians say these claims never would
have been put forward had not the gold
deposits mentioned been found. Cana
dams, on the other hand, declare the
present claims to have been put forward
long before the go1dfelds were discov-
cred. It is worthy of note that it the
dispute be settled in favor of the Cana
dams they will have the seaport of
Juneau, the largest town in Alaska,
which commands the entrance to the
goldfields. Juneau is located on the
mainland, $50 miles to the northwest of
Sitka, the capital of the territory, and
is the starting point of all mining and
prospecting parties bound for the inte-
rior. Miners go over the divide from
juneau as early in the spring as posi-
BILE, usually in April or March. This en-
ables them to materially reduce the dis
lance over which they must pack their
plunder, there being plenty Of snow for
Sladdina at that time,