The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-02

maps in which this territory. IN reality De-
longing 10 Canada as much as a.storle t&os-
bee. - represented forming part o.
Alaska, and, s0rry TO say. some Of our e"h
map makers have fallen into the snare
and, taking IL for granted that the Amer
lean claim II a valid one, have "corTeetel
Canadian maps accordingly.
The very latest official map Of the
province u British Columbia, issued un0er
governmental authority and puTporting 10
be compiled under direction Of Hon q. =
Martin. chief commissioner OF lands and
works a. Victoria. r. G, shows the boun-
dary Ii8e as proceeding W through Benin
canal, and, further. places IL British Co
iumb-a the heads OF the most valuable
bays and inlets and an area Of valuable
territory heretofore regarded as and tacst-
IS conceded D. Canada 10 % the posses
sions OF the United States. part OF when
has been the subject of recent special leg
isIat.on BY our Federal government
The committee has earnestly and dill
gently enGeayoref 10 ascertain upon what
sound reasoning these pretens.ons are
founded and IN what manner the Dominion
OF Canada can logically establish It's claim
TO this rich territory. as said claim is man
ifested by official maps and the foregoing
assertions.
An exhaustive examination Of the evil
dence that is ma tsrial or relevant which
the committee has been able 10 obiasn, leads
10 the conclusion that these claims. with
the exception hereinafter mentioned, are
founded on neither fact nor reason, and
that the controversy. when once clearly un-
derstoo6, viii be in grear measure strip
ped OF its perplexities. The exception re-
feFred 10 IS whether or not there exists
a range OF mountains which extend in a
direction parallel TO the coast from the
9th degree Of north latitude 20 the point
OF intersection of the Hist degree of west
longitude within the ten marine league
limit.
ITO set forth in extenso the evidence
which in the judgment of the committee
would establish the conclusion that the
Canadian claims are untenabie would de-
mand a report OF too great length. and a
reference to the same viii be sufficient to
invite the confidence OF the chamber in its
relia bility.
"First--In the first place. the charts and
maps OF both governments. for nearly quar-
ter OF century, show the boundary line
Is drawn thereon TO follow the sinuos.ties
OF the coast, equidistant therefrom. begin
ming at the head Of Portland canal and
reaching to Mount St Elias: and that this
line so drawn. has been recognized by the
civilized world from 1875 TO about 1884. and
has been so recognized by British Column
b.a on the official maps OF that government
as late as the date last mentioned.
''Second-That this lire was so recognized
at the time Alaska. was purchased by the
United States from Russia in 1861, and
United States troops We're soon thereafter
stationed at Fort Tongass, al the mouth
of Portland canal. and United States Gus
toms officials maintained at said point as
late as 1889 meeting with no protest from
the Canadian government or other powers
OF the world.
''Third-That Benin canal and Portland
canal were both well known at the time
of the convention of 1925 between Great
Britain and Russia. and that Portland
canal was 40 named by that eminent Brit
ish navigator. Capt. George Vancouver. in
1883 and was one OF the subjects of diplo-
matte correspondence between England
and Russia for several years Immediately
preceding The convention OF 1926.
"Fourth--That for many years prior to
the purchase OF Alaska by the United
states. that powerful English commercial
institution. the Hudson Bay Fur Company,
paid the Russian government an annual
stipend for the privilege OF trading in the
very inlets that the Dominion of Canada
now claims: that the compact between that
company and the frst-named government
ii is believed can be found among the Rus
sian archives.
s.Fsfth-That If written evidence of such
a eompact can not be found. there are now
living witnesses who can testify that the
Hudson Bay Company paid the annual
compensation referred 10 as late as the
year 1851
Mr. Metcalfe then carefully sums up and
answers all the other contentious of Cam
ada. and the disagreement upon the facts,
and concludes: The output from the
resources of Alaska since its purchase by
the United States runs into the millions
far I'm excess OF its purchase price, and
its commerce with the state is now great.
and increasing yearly. The Alaskan trade
with the city OF Seattle in the past year
has reached nearly Sl.oooen. and with the
present increase o. trade VIII double with
In the next year.