The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-28
New York Tribune.

There is no occasion for excitement over
the report that British mail service is
being established between Juneau and
Forty-AIile creek. 1t was just what was
to be expected. and is a natural sequence
of what has for some time been going on
in that region. A few weeks ago. IL will
be remembered, there was an announce
ment that the British had taken military
possession of Forty-Mile creek. 1t was not
quite true. They had merely sent up a
company OF mounted police, TO keep order
in the mining camps along the boundary
line and on both sides Of IT and they had
done so at the earnest request of the
American settlers as well as of the Cana
dams The United States government APP
parently could not or would not afford pro-
lection TO life and property. AT any rate,
II did not do so. So the British undertook
the job and performed fl well. but without
any notion of territorial conquest. We are
not sure. indeed, that they even expected
to be paid for their services by the United
States government, whose work they were
doing, though unques tionably they should
be paid.
Now ii appears that our government has
failed TO give the Forty Mile creek region
a proper mail service, and the British are
about 10 supply the deficiency. We 10 not
know why our government has failed. The
second assistant postmaster general says
II has been trying to establish a mail route
there. and has the money to do 50: but
that the season is so short. Yes That is
very inconsiderate Of the season. II ought
to initiate the presidents message. and
stretch itself. The British. of course, are
used to short seasons. They live further
north than most OF us. So that difficulty
does not battle them. Besides. they have
a geographical advantage. The shortest
and readiest route from Juneau to Forty
Mile creek lies through British territory
h- x~oIf 1F ~, T$0lr ~,
headwaters Of the Lewis river ana thence
down the latter stream TO the Yukon. II Is
Just as though the Canadians should or
ganiZe a service 10 carry United States
mails from Buffalo to Port Huron by way
OF the north shore Of Lake Erie. instead az
our carrying them ourselves by way OF the
south shore.
There can be no question Of territorial
sovereignty. Juneau Is on Alaskan soil
many miles from the Canadian boundary
II Is not conceivable that even the most
aggressive Canadian should think Of ac-
curing H. or the most puslTaninYous
American cuckoo should think OF slrren-
dering It. AS for Forty-Mile creek. Il e
partly on one side Of the boundary rne
and partly on the other Concerning that
fact there Is no dispute: only as the list
meridian has not vet been exactly marked
there is little uncertainty as to how
much Of the place is in Alaska and how
raised. therefore. is whether United States
mails ought 70 Re carried from one United
States postOfiice 70 another ny United
States agents or by British or other for
e'gu agents. For our part We think they
should he carried hv United States agents
We think the United States government
should 10 all the work-nol,ce. postal and
what n0t-wh'ch properly devoives upon
Il No doubt the british mail carriers VIII
do the work well, as the British police at
Forty-Nfue creek are doing theirs We
have no doubt that British syndicate
would he glad 70 undertake TIE fob 81 ad-
m'n;stering our whole government for rs.
including The writing q messages and the
inspecting q lighthouses But that IS net
the way in which an independent. self
respecting nation should have SIS work
done Let us pay on the British police.
and the British mail carriers. and all the
rest OF them. and have American business
transacted by American officers. under
the American flag