The record-union., 1896-08-12
transfer Strip From Three to Seven
Miles Wide.
Enpiueers Make Corrections in the
Boundary Line to Suit Themselves
Without Interference From This
Government, and Compel Miners
to Pay Tax to the Canadian Gov
erur,1euf
ernn1ent.

PORT TOWNSEND CWash.), Aug. IL.
THE richest gold placer mines of Alas
Ea have been transferred to Canadian
territory, and miners are now paying a
miners tax to the 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 Alaska Territory. Now
the miners learn that they are subjected
to the laws of Great Britain.
These statements were made to-day
by Captain William Moore, Canadian
mail carrier between Victoria and Fort
Cudahy, n. w. T. He has just re-
turned from taking the mail to the Yu-
kon miners. on British territory. Errors
in the old survey We're discovered late
last autumn, and during the winter Pro-
fessor Ogilbee, who now has charge of a
corps of British engineers engaged in
locating the boundary between the two
countries, made the correction, trans
ferring a strip of territory from three
to seven miles wide from Alaska to
Canada Over 200 miners were af-
fected. These the Canadian mounted
police Immediately compelled 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 are rich
in gold diggings, and are now claimed
by the British authorities. At first the
American miners were disposed to re-
sent the encroachment, Moore said, but
after they had come to realize the bene-
fits accruing from British Jurisdiction
they accepted the authority of the Brit
ish police.
That portion of the Yukon embraces
the most valuable mining possessions in
Alaska, and affects the water rights
of forty streams on Miller Creek. In
eighteen months a man named Miller,
who came out with Moore, took out 260
pounds of gold nuggets, valued at $780,
coo. Many other rich strikes are re-
ported.
1t appears that the miners concluded
that the United States Government did
not care enough for the territory to es-
tablish a Government fort inasmuch as
Professor Ogilbee was permitted to To-
cate such boundary lines as he choose
without the assistance or presence of
American officers, and no efforts We're
made to prevent the police from enforc-
ing their regulations over that portion
of Alaskan territory.
Ogilbee sent his field notes and OBJ
servations to Ottawa in charge of his
son. He told Moore he would remain
at Fort Cudahy until the arrival of
American surveyors and check his work
if they so desired.
The British authorities are firm In
their methods of exercising the laws.
but show great respect to the mining in
terests, 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
mitting to the new laws
Moore says Canadian capitalists con-
template building thirty miles of mar
row-gauge railroad from Head Line II
Chain Lakes connecting the Yukon
River, and then establish passenger and
freight service between Victoria and thc
Yukon mines. An addition of two small
draught steamboats, in the lakes wouId
complete the service. The cost would
be nominal, and divert all the trade tc
British Columbia