Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13

sssdE&ES early In May. The
AU91 coast surveys en-
gineers will continue their measurements
on the disputed boundary between our
northwest possession and British America.
The geological survey will send three geol-
osists who are to commence the first Of
fetal examination undertaken by the gov
eminent of the gold and coal resources of
Alaska.
The boundary expedition will be under
the direction of Mr.. E. F. Dickens of the
coast survey, who will be accompanied by
Messrs. L. Putnam, c. Yeates, F. A. Young,
Fremont Morse and o. B. French, the latter
of whom went to the polar regions with
Wellman last year. The party will use the
coast surveys steamship Patterson.
Superintendent Duffield of the coast sur
vey, who was interviewed by the writer
says that 1t will be the duty of the en-
gineers to connect the lines along the coast
made last year, with those of previous sur
veys besides verifying a greater part of
previous computations. All of this will be
done with view of presenting our data in
the most accurate shape possible when the
time shall have arrived for the final de-
ciSon of the boundary commission.
According to the treaty with Russia
whereby Alaska was purchased, the bound
airy line separating its long southern strip
from British America Is determined by the
submits of such connected mountain
ranges as lie on the-coast. Wherever there
are no ranges directly on the coast but in
land more than thirty-five statute miles,
the line is situated thirty-five miles back
England will claim that the many noun
tain peaks scattered along the shore,
through most of this strip. should be in
cluded within the category of connected
ranges whereas We will define them only
as separate points. 1t will therefore be our
claim that the boundary should continue
about thirty-fve miles wide almost in its
entirety.
The Treaty and the boundary.
The Russian treaty also states that the
lower extremity of the boundary COM
mences at the southernmost point of Prince
Of Wales Island, proceeding north along
Portland channel. as far as the fifty-sixth
latitude. According to our present maps,
which show the boundary almost exactly
as we will Claim. the line goes directly east
from the point of the island for about
seventy-five miles, before taking this turn
north through Portland channel. 1t ap-
pears now as though there was an error
made by the parties who wrote the treaty,
since 1t is impossible for this channel to
be reached without first taking the cut
east. If Portland channel was really
meant the boundary's limit, the treaty
should have read. From Prince of Wales
Island east to Portland channel and then
NORTH or if due north was put there to
stay, 1t should have read, north through
Clarence strait" which is to the west of
the channel. If Great Britain gains this
point, merely on account of this slight err
ror. 1t will cause loss of about 6000
square miles of what we now claim as cur
territory.
Last October the former Alaskan boun-
dairy expedition of the coast survey
turned to Washington with the news that
Mt. ST Elias, the highest peak the
western continent. was found to be within
Superintendent Dufield says that the final
computations for the location of this
mountain have not as yet, been definitely
made, but he is of the opinion that ST.
Elias will be found directly on the boun-
dairy line, constituting, as he remarked,
landmark that could not be easily erased
by the hand of time. ST. Elias is 5000
feet in height
The objective point of this years expedi-
ton will, therefore, be at the end of Port
land channel. whence the party will work
up as far as the fifty-sixth meridian. They
will remain all summer and late in the
fall. until forced to return by the cold
weather It is their hope that they will
not find such cold weather as greeted the
boundary expedition of last year. which
reached Alaska as late as the middle of
May. At this time snow was found in
some parts fifty feet deep, causing a gen.
eral famine during their stay. The steam
since the trading companies cannot he de-
pended upon for>regular deliveries of food
in the unfrequented regions.
The Geological Party.
Not many days after reaching their desti-
nation the coast survey party will begin to
watch for the arrival of the three biologists
who are going to make the reconnaissance
| for the geological survey. These specialists
| are DR.. VIM: H. Dali, Dr.. Geo; F: Becker
and Mr. burlington, the assistant of the lat
ter. For the purpose of this examination
will be expended the 5000 recently appro-
priated for the geological survey in the
The localities which will be examined this
year are in the vicinity of Sitka, Cook
Inlet, Kadiak Island and the extreme west
ern portion of the Alaskan peninsula, the
sharp finger of land which forms part of
the lower boundary of Boring sea. The
party will proceed to the Pacific coast by
| rail- and thence to Sitka by mail steamer.
| 1t will be necessary before completing the
whole of the proposed trip to coast about
| 1000 miles more. Since the appropria-
| ton given will not admit of the expense of
| hiring a vessel. the fish commissions
| steamer Albatross. which will be coasting
| in that region during the summer, will
| probably be used for part of the trip. A
| naval vessel steam launch may be
granted for use in the winding inlets and
| bays about Sitka the first region to be eX-
| amined. Most of the travel on inland
streams will be made in native dugout ca
noes the only light craft of that region.
Director Walcott of the geological survey,
| who was interviewed by the writer, esti-
| mated that three or four months will be
| required for the investigation. The rich
| gold region of the Yukon and Forty Mile
| creek, far into the interior, will not be Wis
| tied this year, owing to the lack of both
| time and money. To do this work it would
| be necessary that a representative of the
| survey be kept in this secluded country
over winter.
| Biologists especially will look forward
with interest to the return of this party,
| since it's work will constitute the first Off
| cfal examination of the mineral wealth of
| our territory, of which so little is known
| and so much is expected. The definite loca-
| ton of the extensive gold and coal beds
| which are believed to exist in as yet IN
| frequented districts will to great extent
| determine the future of Alaska.
| Although Alaska was discovered by Be
| ring more than $50 years ago, it was used
| by the Russians entirely as hunting and
| fishing ground until 1913, when an explorer
named Doroshin made the first discovery
| of gold in that territory. DR.. Becker has
| found the discoverer's own account of this
| find, printed in the original tongue. The
| first discovery of gold. the writer states,
| was at Mt. Kenai. which stands off the
| shore of Cook inlet. 1t kept quiet at
| the time by Russia, who then hoped to reap
| a rich harvest from the gold mines of
| Alaska. The gold mines in the region of
! Sitka, DR.. Becker says, were not discov-
| cred until 1873.
| The Yukon Region,