The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-02

Al the regular monthly meeting Of the
Chamber OF Commerce last evening the
ali-importaut ALASKA boundary PROPOSE
tlon WAS almost the sole topta o. dis. as
sion. Tbe speakers 81 the evening were
Gen. J. r. Aetealfe. vino. chairman Of
the committee appointed - month aEo 10
gather data regarding the attitude Of Can
ada on this matter. read a report which
.As concise, timely and interesting.
Miner ". Bruce. the Alaskan explorer {.
Capt James Carroll. the weii-known
steamship man. Hon. z. Is. Johnson. OF
Juneau. hate 1 Hited States district attor-
ney Tor Alaska aud others made telling
addresses.
T.. .. Graves. president Of the chamber.
called the meeting % order and announced
that Gen. Metcalfe would read the com
nittee's report. Maps of Alaska made by
both the United States and Canada. be
fore and since the boundary dispute. were
hung up. that All present could see
them. All the English maps prior 10 49,
s. showed the boundary as claimed by the
United States but since that time the
foreign maps show a disputed line.
wherein the Canadians claim much OF the
southwestern strip Of the territory. The
report which the general read Is as fol-
lows:
The Committees Report.
The report Of the special committee ap-
pointed 10 investigate the boundary ques-
lion vas read as follows:
Seattle. April I. 1885.
To the Honorable Board OF Trustees. Sc
attIe Chamber OF Commerce, city: Gen
flemen--We. the undersigned. your inyes-
si2aS,ng committee. appointed at the
meeting Of March :. iss6. 20 examine into
str.r.
az American interests in Alaska, partie-
ular reference being made 10 the ques-
ton az the permanent boundary between
Alaska and British Columbia. and TO de-
fernIne upon the necessity for prompt
and vigorous action on the part OF this
organization an relation thereto, respect
fully beg leave to submit herewith the re-
suit OF our careful investigation and TO
recommend 20 your honorable body such
a course of procedure as seems 20 us most
necessary under the circumstances.
The main point now al Issue II the es-
tabilAhment OF a permanent boundary line
between the territory of Alaska and Brit
ssh Columbia from Cape Chacon. the
sonthernmost point of Prince of Wales
island, on the southeastern coast OF
Alaska in latitude "a degrees 40 minutes
north TO certain point on the Hist meri-
fdan west. and ia respect thereto We
have toubu the tioNihS AdSAs W SAiSt'
via:
q, That under the treaty OF 1se5 be
tween Russia and Great Britain this
boundary was expressly defined as fol
lows.
section ,. The line Of demarkation be
fNeen the possessions OF the high con
tracing parties upon the coast ot the
continent and the Islands OF America 10
the northwest shall be drawn In the FOL
loving manner: Commencing from the
seuthernmoSt point OF the island called
Prince OF Wales island. which point lies
tn the parallel OF "a degrees 81 minutes
north latitude and between the l3ist degree
and the f2Sd degree of west longitude. the
ranc line shall ascend TO the north along
the channel called Portland channel as
FAR AZ the point OF the continent where
II strikes the 5sth degree Of north latitude
from this last mentioned point the line
Of demarkation shall follow the summit
of the mountains situated parallel TO the
eoas, "a far as the point Of intersection
,f the fgist degree az west longitude tof the
Same merldianl. and finally. from the
said uotnt Of intersection. the said merid-
ian line Of the f4isf degree. In It's prolonga-
flon as far as the frozen ocean. shall form
the limit between the Russian and Brit
ish possessions on the continent OF Amer
lea 10 the Northwest.
Of the mountains which extend In direc-
flon parallel 10 the coast. from the 56th
degree OF north latitude Ca the point Of
fnterzec ton of tho tiist degree OF west
longitude shall prove To De at the dis
lance OF more than ten marine leagues
from the ocean. the limit between the
british possessions and the line OF the
coast which Is 20 belong 10 Russia. as
above mentioned. shall be formed by n
line parallel % the windings of the coast.
and which shah never exceed the dis
lance ar ten marine leagues therefrom.
"a That. contrary 70 the original sup
position. so ascertain no defined mount
atm RANGE parallels this coast. but that
there exists. instead. merely "A vast 5um-
tle OF PEAKS ana spurs.
"a That consequently. the line of de-
narration. as set forth above. was. In
the absence of this parallel range. inter
prUted 10 mean that particular line speci-
fe1 ~ the treaty or tSsA as heing drawn
from the ssth degree Of north latitude 20
the point az intersection q the Hist degree
81 west longitude parallel 60 the wind
iuss of the coast which. IN other words
may mean parallel 10 tide water as
nearly as may be-"
90 THAT this line, ~ drawn. has been
recognized bv The cisiirst world from
Is % about tS>t and 5hNt 81 appears to
have been 40 recognised ~ the Canadian
government. Oh the ottcial maps OF that
government. as late as the date last men
toned
&, that this line WAS recognized al M
time Alaska was purchased from Russia
hv the United states. In ISsT and that ths
above given definition. As determined hy
the treaty ~ fNS was Incorporated YER.
h tifa. in the contract for said purc hase
Q0 That United states troops Were sta
TONED AZ Fort TonNAss at the mouth al
"portlaud raual" seen after the purchase
a. Alaska ga ts67 10 about 80. and Gus
toms ofiicvrs we've maintained ~ said
point AS late as i,S. meeting With no
pratcst Whatsoever gram the CAnadIer
government. or any other powers az ths
world
"a THAT beta 3ho Portland channel and
the Rrhm canal wtEe well known ava
were noted auH recognized on the marine
charts ~ This coast. ar the tinlt az shs
treaS Of ma an1 have beea since said
dates
t>t THAT some ttrls af.er NiSsloaa p,
Durtan 60 avoid the Interference. - not
the resolutions OF nis rsitEiaue s,tfvr.
rfors. together With eontroFersv over trs
ttlvs - land Witch haa been xr-f1esf f.t.sr
as el1 Netiakatla. where hiz mission ass
located Withdrew tror Ms station al
Port Simpson. r <. = hrre ~ ha4 gath
cred large native falleWtrs. eu+ 1sretr.
uoon Annette island lytae AZ tae rscat,
81 rehu canal Immediately east ~ I'rsrc,
~ wales islant
$50 That ssshSea uert'y the n~e - 'Ss.
ss}au& at ihe discretion eg tNe iusrria'
department ~ ere ttultsi states Wa,
granted 20 ghe Rev NJ Duncan sx-ln
slsely ey 3 formal sct % TIE tal,gl
States ssonEre~s
ylA Thst shortly before thfs tf-ne ~
CAaahaa government ap@ea~s - h8N,
awakened frsta sfx Ssaan % etxtv wears