The herald., 1896-01-13
THE alaskan boundary
Does Not Present a Case for
Arbitration
ISLANDS Go WITH THE SHORE
Aud Always Go to the Owner OF the
Mainland
Senator Davis Shows the Reason Why Great
Britain Wants Terminal Facilities
in Alaskan Territory
Associated Press snecial Wire.

Associated Press Snecial Wire.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Davis of
the committee on foreign relations has
been giving considerable attention to the
Alaskan boundary dispute. He has found
nothing in his investigation which would
cause him to change the lines which have
always been understood as the boundary
and upon which both countries been pro-
ceeding for many years. He says that the
only question in dispute is whether the ten
marine leagues from the ocean meant from
the main land or from the djacent islands.
Mr.. Davis says this does not even present
a case for arbitration, because it is mani
festly plain that the shore OF the mainland
of the continent is the basis of the true
line. 1t is also evident from the
selection of the mountain range as a
line that the men who drew the boundary
agreement meant that the line should be
ten leagues from the ocean where it
touched the mainland. Islands, he says,
always go with the shore, and when a ques-
ton arises as to whether an island, no mat
ter at what time settled or claimed, belongs
to one country or another, it goes always
to the country owning the mainland if the
mainland is ad jacent. So it is with the
islands of the Alaskan archipelago. They
became the property of Russia because
Russia owned the mainland of
erty of the United States when
Alaska was sold to this country
The desire of Great Britain for portion
of the Alaskan coast is plainly apparent.
declares Senator Davis, when it il con.
sidered that there is a vast country in the
northwest territory which can reach the
seaboard only through pass in the North
Rocky mountains, and thence across the
/ strip of land owned by the United States.
, West of the Roaky mountains and east of
the Alaskan coast is country of almost
unmeasurabte extent, known as the Peace
River country. There may be one hundred
| million acres of tillable or pasture lands.
| 1t has the benefit of the warm air current
| from the Pacific, which makes it a milder
! climate than in those parts of the north
western territory still further east.
1t is desired by Great Britain to
open up this great wheat and stock produc-
ing country, and as short route to the
sea. branch of the Canadian Pacific
railroad could be built through this Peace
river region, and by pass through ,he
| mountains reach the sea coast without
much trouble and by much shorter haul
than by railroads further south. This
would give the Canadian Pacific another
western terminus, would build up British
city right upon the flank of the Alaskan
| possessions of the United States; there
would be another great naval station and a
military post commanding our Alaskan
J territory, and tho protection which the
| Alaskan coast now gives to this country
would be largely nullifled. The object of
Great Britain is quite plain. Upon the great
| fertile lands to be opened by building a
road to the coast through the Peace river
| region there would be {. vast field of cereals
competing with the grain raised in our
] states along cur northern border. At pres
ftflI Ir hn liz,
lands developed because OF the long rail
| haul to the terminus of the Canadian Pa
cific road Without another terminus in
Alaska these great fields cannot be opened
| without the consent of the United States.
j Senator Davis does not think this gov