The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-12
THE INDIANS TESTIFY.
They Disproye England's Alas
ka Boundary Claim.
LETTER FROM METtaKAHTlANS.
Chamber of Commerce Moves to Help
Home Industries Promotion OF
Oriental Trade.

Since the Seattle Chamber OF Commerce
took hold Of the Alaska boundary guss-
slon there nave been many documents re-
seIye4 AID many arguments deducsd e.
Sabilsning Overwhelmingly the claims o.
the United States. These were strength
ene5. * possible. a. tue meeting % the
trustees yesterday afternoon Dy letter
received from the Mstiakahtla Indians.
Tne letter was sent 70 the chamber BY
J Il. 3iescalfe, chairman OF the commit
tee on the % Indary dispute, and II as
follows.
"Me;lakahtla. Alaska. day 81. 1896
-. r.. 3IeEca3fe. E.sq.. Seattle. wash
Dear Sir: Since the report reached Us o.
tie controversy whicg4 is going en- be-
tween Cana ia and the Cnlted States con-
corning the boundary line between Eriilsh
Columbia ard Alaska, we have met 10
disc-Iss the matter.
'"rha infornga ton which we have 20 Of
fer on the SUBJ .ct IS.
ssFsrst-1hen We left our Old home IN
British Columbia we were regarded as
foreigners ~ fhe CANADIAN authorities.
''seeond--Iu the summer o. fss1. when
we migrated 10 Alaska, Post Topgass,
Just over Portland inlet. was a port Of
entry. We mad 20 pay duty 20 a custom
house officer residing there or All dutiable
articles We brought over 70 this country.
.'Third-we EMPLOYED three small steam
>,
waich the custom house officer al Port
Simpson tried 10 detain a. coming from
a foreign country. We had 70 receive our
clearance papers at Port Simpson before
coming OYER 10 Alaska.
''F'onrth-daving got over 20 Annette
island the Canadian Indian agent at
aietlAkshTlf. n. C.. ceased 70 have any
control ever us.wihen would not have been
the case isueh vas The anignis o. the
riang n Fhe boundary line had been coubt-
ful Wa remain truly yours.
THE PEOPLE or METIsAkAHT TIA,
ALASKA.
~ BEAsI. Secretary"
The unaniuity Of sentiment regarding
the efforts OF the local Y. T. :. {. f.. Union
90 secure the international Christian En-
s.eavor convention for this city in 1851
found voice in the following resolution,
which was adopted by n heart vote.
Resolved ny the trustees Of the Seattle
Chamber OF Commerce, that The effort now
TN progress to secure the International
convention Of the Young Peoples Society
OF Christian Endeavor for 1897 has the
hearty endorsement Of this chamber, and
that the president and secretary of this
chamber extend 10 the united societies o.
the Boston convention In July. 1895, cor
dial invitation 70 Seattle for said conven-
ton in 1851"
The subject Of the people patronizing
home industries received an enthusiastic
discussion aud resulted in the passage OF
u motion for the appointment of stand
Ing committee 10 he known as the home In
dustry committee. The duty of this com
mittee will be 10 secure the names OF all
local factories producing commodities
from home material and employing home
labor. The committee is also instructed
10 use its best efforts TO induce Seattle
dealers TO handle such products and TO
arouse citizens to purchasing only such
goods as far as IL Is possible.
communication was received from l.
+. Smith. of Des Moines la, inclosing a
; ewspaper clipping giving a list OF MEM
bers Of the Iowa Press Association who
propose to view Seattle and giving their
itinerary special reception committee
was appointed
The subject of trade with Japan was
brought 10 notice. aud referred To Secre-
tary Robertson with instructions To get
all possible statistics concerning Japanese
and Chinese goods. well as local mer-
chandise to be shipped and the rates of
freight transportation. The idea is on the
iine as suggested by James J. Ilill on his
recent visit In this city.
The board authorized the secretary to
purchase "A commercial and mercantile di-
rectory OF China and japan which is re-
ported TO be "A most complete work and
Valuable Tor the rtAtiAtbtH anu litt1A tttft
OF the ASiatic coast.
A letter was read from II. :. Pague.
weather forecaster at Portland. in which
he takes occasion TO highly compliment
aud commend the work Of Signal officer
J. A Hatfield. Of this city. who will leave
soon for Europe TO remain several months,
The committee rrevio lsly appointed 10
confer with County Assessor Abraham
reported that the experience and data
Of previous years had resulted in a much
!. ore equitable sesgm nj 'haH ctcr tc-
fore. The topoS' n ~ az the iard rad
been carefully conN iered in all cases.
and allowances had 0Acn maize f,r side
hills and gulles and ar accurate Valua-
ton OF each individual lot reached.
The matter Of the proposed glass works
waS presented and also the proposed
pottery F'atsh was referred.
James u. iloEe. 1r., Charles Reichea-
bach and Thomas T.. Eyanson wero
sisscted members.
Tho trustees elected officers for the en-
suing term as follows President r. o.
Graves. reelected. first vice president
] Il, Metcalfe. second vice president. q
". Hummer; secretary. Tracy IL Rob