Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-09-25
VERY AGGRESSIVE.
Canada Takes Possession of Rich
Gold Fields in Alaska.
Adjusts the boundary Line to Suit Herr
self and Compels Miners to Pay
Her Taxes-Unclo Sam APP
parently Indifferent.

The richest gold placer mines Of
Alaska have been transferred to Cana
dian territory, and miners are now pay
ing miners tax to British authorities.
The territory in question is from three
to eight miles in width, and embraces
the rich placer claims ON Glacier and
Miller creeks, which heretofore were
supposed to be in Alaskan territorys
Now the miners learn that they are sub
jected to the laws of Great Britain.
These statements We're made by Capt.
William Moore, Canadian mail car
rier between Victoria and Fort Cudahy,
N. w. 7. He had just returned from!
taking the first mail to the Yukon
miners on British territory. Errors in
the old survey were discovered late last
autumn, and during the winter Prof.
Ogilbee, who now has charge of corps
Of British engineers engaged in locating
the boundary between the two coun-
tries, made the correction, transferring
G strip of territory from three to seven
miles wide from Alaska to Canada. Over
200 miners were affected. These Cana
dian mounted police Immediately COM
PEELED to pay miners taxes.
Moore says there can be no doubt as
to the correctness of the new survey.
All of Miller and Glacier creeks, and
parts of several other streams rich in
gold digging are now claimed by the
British authorities. At first the Amer
lean miners were disposed to resent the
encroaohment, Moore said, but after
they had come to realize the benefits ac-
cruing from British jurisdiction they
accepted the authority of the British po-
lice.
That portion of Yukon embraces the
most valuable mining possessions in
Alaska, and affects the water rights of
40 streams on Miller creek. In IS months
man named Miller who came outwith
Moore took out 26O pounds of gold mug
gets, valued at $4,000. Many other
rich strikes are reported. 1t appears
that the miners concluded that the
| United States government did not care
enough for the territory to establish
| government fort, inasmuch as Prof.
Ogilbee was permitted to locate such
boundary lines Us he chose without the
assistance or presence of American Off
Gals, and no efforts We're made to pre-
vent the police from enforcing their reg
ulations over that portion of Alaskan
territory, Ogilbee sending his field notes
and observations to Ottawa in charge of
his son.
He told Moore that he would remain
at Fort Cudahy until the arrival of
American surveyors, and check his
work if they desire.
| The British authorities are firm in
their methods of exercising the laws,
but show great respect to the mining
interests, apparently impressing upon
them the benefits to be derived from
Canadian authority as compared with
United States rule. No excitement ex-
lists and no trouble is anticipated. The
miners are paying their taxes and sub
hitting to the new laws. Moore says
Canadian capitalists contemplate build
ing 80 miles of narrow gauge railroad
from Head Lynn to Chain Lakes, con-
Meeting the Yukon river, and then es-
tablish passenger and freight service
between Victoria and Yukon mines. An
addition of two small draught steam
boats in the lakes would complete the
service. The cost would be nominal and
would divert all trade to British Co.
lumba.