Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-14
ALASKA BOUNDARY.
UNITED STATES MUST STAND M
THE LINE.
senator Davis says the Lsnd-Gsai,-
bling prcpcnsitic. of EnxInnd
Arc Plain to All.

Warrington, Jan. Ex-senator Davir
OF the committee on foreign relations
has been giving considerable attention
to the Alaskan boundary dispute. He
has found nothing In his Investigations
which would cause him to change the
lines which have always been under
stood AZ the boundary, and upon which
both countries have been proceeding
for many years.
He Gays that the only question In
dispute " whether the ten marine
leagues from the ocean meant from tho
mainland or from the adjacent Is
lands.
Mr.. Davis says that this does not
even present case for arbitration.
because II Is manifestly plan that the
shore OF the mainland of the continent
is the basis OF the true line. II IL
also evident from the selection OF tho
mountain range us line that the men
who drew the boundary agreement
meant that the line should be ten
leagues from the ocean. where 1t
touches the mainland. Islands. he
says always 80 with the shore and
when a question arises as TO whether
an island. no matter at what time
settled or claimed. belongs to one
country or another It goes always to
the country owning the mainland u
the mainland liz adjacent. So Il In
with the islands OF the Alaskan archi-
pelago, They became the property OF
Russia because Russia owned tho
mainland OF the shore and became tho
property OF the United States when
Alaska was sold to this country.
The desire OF Great Britain for u por-
tion OF the Alaskan coast IL plainly APP
parent declares Senator Davis, when
II II Is considered that there Ia vast
coast In the northwest territory which
can reach the seaboard through pass
In the north Rocky mountains and
thence across the strip of land owned
by the United States east OF the Rocky
mountains
There may be 100. 900. 900 acres OF TIL
liable or pastoral ground In this terri
tory II has the benefit of the warm
air currents from the Pacific, which
make II n milder climate than in
thosc portions OF the northwestern ter
rltory still farther east, II Ia desired
by Great Bfitnln TO open up THIS great
wheat and stock producing country
nnd secure a shor troute to the sea.
a branch of the Canadian Pacific road
could be built through the mountains,
reach the seaeoast without much
trouble and by q much shorter route
than by railroads further south. This
would give the Canadian Pacific an
other western terminus, and build up
British city right on the flank OF
the Alaskan possession OF the United
States; there would be another great
naval station and military post COM
manding our Alaskan territory and
the protection which the Alaskan coast
now gives to this country would be
largely nulilned,
The object OF Great Britain Ia quito
plnin, Upon the great fertile lands
to be opened by building a road to the
coast through the Peace river region
/ there would be vast fields OF cereals
competing with the grains raised In
our states along our northern border.
! Al present these fields can not be
opened nor the lands developed be-
cause OF the long railroad haul to the
terminus OF the Canadian Pacific road.
without another terminus In Alaska
these great fields can not be opened
without the consent OF the United
States, Senator Davis does not think
this government win ever serlously
consider the question of arbitrating
I the Alaskan boundary.