Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-02-08

can be accomplished with no uErea-
sonable delay by means of the conven-
ton which is contemplated to that end.
1t will be observed that Senator
Squire's resolution provides for ''an in
ternational commission" to fix the
boundary line. 1t was originally the in
tention of the senator to Introduce a
resolution providing for an arbitrary
commission by this country alone; but
the department. of state has views con-
corning the management Of such affairs
in diplomatic manner, and the senator
wisely deferred to the opinions of ex-
perienced officials. 1t is always better
to do so, because with the aid of an ex-
ecutive department it is much easier
to secure legislation. 1t is not always
satisfactory to secure partial results
il congress; but the statesman who is
wise enough to wait can always secure
initial legislation which will ultimate
ly accomplish The full results desired.
The most important pending problem
is concerning the exact location of the
141st meridian. The ascertainment
of given meridian At any given point
is a work depending upon the precision
of the scientific instruments employed
and the accuracy of the astronomical
and geodetic observations, so that it
needs much time and care to reduce the
remaining amount of erroc to so small
degree that it will be practically i'm
material and of no consequences. Such
observations and surveys were under
taken by the United States coast and
geodetic survey in 1890 and 1891, and
ho let
crossed the Yukon river, also where it
intersects Forty Mile creek, and again
where it passes by the summit of
Mount ST. Elias, have been marked
with some degree of accuracy. Similar
surveys in some quarters under British
auspices are believed to give nearly CO.
incident results. There is a difference
of perhaps not more than $50 feet be-
tween the location of the respective
governments on the Yukon river where
that is intersected by the 141st merid.
ian, and there is but slight difference
at the intersection of the meridian
with what is known as Forty Mile
creek, where active mining operations
are conducted. 1t seems to be practi-
cable to reach an agreement along this
line, inasmuch as the difference is so
slight. These surveys by the re-
spective governments have been inde-
pendently conducted, and no interna-
tional agreement has yet been made
to mark those or any other parts of
the 141st meridian by permanent monu-
ments.
1t is important that this boundary
line shall be marked and taken out of
the world Of controversy. The boun-
Gary claimed by Great Britain, if al
lowed, would prove to be a great hard
ship upon the people of our country
who are seeking and developing mining
properties in Alaska. If the British
boundary line is accepted, the miners
of our country must traverse the coast
and the Yukon river for a distance of
about 1900 miles, in order to get into
the gold fields, without crossing and
recrossing British boundary lines, and
paying customs duties upon freight
and supplies. If our boundary line
shall be established beyond question,
our people would only have to travel
about 100 miles from the highest point
Of navigation to the gold fields; and
they would not have to pay any cus-
toms duties. In other words, the Brit
ish boundary line is sought to be es-
tablished solely for the purpose of