Evening star., 1896-09-21
THE ALASKAN GOLD MINES.
Gen. DufHeId Says They Are ON The
American side of the Bouudnrp.


Gen. Dutfield. superintendent of the coast
and geodetic survey, has resumed his du-
ties in this city, after an extensive trip
along the northwest coast. including
Alaska. He has made statement of the
results of his observations in Alaska. in
which he expresses the belief that The
Alaskan gold fields are located the
American side of the 14lst meridian. form
ing the true boundary line of British CO.
lumbla.
The question of the exact determination
of this boundary line is now pretty well
settled, according to Gen. Dufheld. "All
doubt" says he. caused by references to
mountain chairs or ranges near the
coast along the Panhandle have been
disposed of, as ii has been found that there
are only two groups of elevations that can
be even remotely considered as mountain
chains. the enc being the Mount ST. Elias
chain. the other the Treadwell cha n. Tn'e
first is conceded TO be on British Soll, while
the latter cannot be brought into the uis-
oussion with any dignity, as IL Is simply
group of peaks The determination of the
boundary line thus resolves ltsen INTO the
loca ton of line ten marine leagues from
the coast and the determination OF the line
of the Hist meridian of longitude.
1.-The maps prepared by the joint comm.s-
| sion named by this country and Great Brit
ain 10 explore the country are now IN the
| hands of the two governments. ara nave
just been informed negotiations are about
completed looking TO The selection OF a
| Joint commission to strike the line between
| the tWo countries from the maps suDmltte1.
| The commission named TO prepare the
maps went into the field in each case so di-
Vided that each American party had "A Brit
ish representative, while an American WAS
present in each British surveying party 10
look after the interests OF tins country. AS
| a result, absolute fairness was secured. ANA
| the cartOSraphical results can DE depeHGci
upon for accuracy.
I'm determining the Hist meridian Of
Ionni Ude the notes of the British surveyor,
| Oginie, six years in preparation haNe ptth
| compared with those OF the American sur
yeyors and have been found 10 vary 50
| little that no trouble will be found in slllR-
| ing a compromise between the two lines
| Al some points these lines are only SIX ieet
| arart while at the greatest divergence
| they are within 900 feet of each Other.
| ..I'he difficulty encountered in locating
| the great peak OF Mount st. Elias arises
rom the fact that il was possible by the
| terms of the treaty to locate IL just over
| the line in the British dominion, IL It's locd-
| ton were decided by the meridian, wnl'e
! IN, ten leagues from the coast ilne brinS
| il lust inside the American possessions.
| This uncertainty arose from the JulIctio.l
| of the meridian line with the other line OF
| boundary following the coast II VIII, l
| think he decided TO consider Mount II.
| Elias the terminal Of the coast line from
! the head of Portland canal although il Is
| nve minutes east OF the meridian. and mus
| ia British territory.
| THE gold thus far found is all west of the
| meridian line. and so far none has been dis
! coyerci al the possessions of her Britis,
| majesty. The PAGER mining is all done along
| In,, head waters of Bircn creek, Forty-mi.e
| creek ana sSiAty-nile creek. Birch creek il.
| | Judge from my observations, wholly west
| OF the lime Forty-miie creek crosses the
| line INTO British territory before emptying
| irto tne Yukon. as do also the western
| head waters of Sixtynlile creek. but nO
| gold has been found in either stream cu
l. H.. II
being confined TO the fields near the sources
of these creeks