Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-07
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY
Senator squire's Clear and Accurate Expo
sition of the Question.
The Preliminary Work of Survey
Done by the British and Amerf-
can Expeditions.

Senator Squire has the credit Of giving
the clearest and most accurate exposition
of the Alaskan boundary question that has
yet been offered. Mr. Squire introduced
resolution in the Senate appropriating
$4,000 for the share Of the United States in
the joint expense Of this country and Great
Britain of locating the Fist meridian of
west longitude where it forms the boundary
of Alaska and British North American ter
ritory. In introducing this resolution, Mr.
Squire explained the entire Alaska bound
airy question, and did SO SO satisfactorily
as to cause Secretary -Omey TO pronounce
his effort as the best exposition of the
subject he had ever heard
Divisible Into Two Sections.
THE Alaskan boundary is conveniently
divisible into two sections" Mr.. Squire ex-
planned. 1.-The first, where it follows the
contour Of the coast from the southernmost
point Of Prince of Wales Island until it
strikes the one hundred and forty-first
meridian at or near the summit of Mount
st. Elias; the second, where it is formed by
the one hundred and forty-1rs. meridian,
which 1t follows from that intersecting
point to the frozen ocean.
1.-THE determination of the exact limits of
the first coastwise section Is in progress,
or has been In progress until recently,
through preliminary survey by American
and British expeditions acting separately
or coincidentally, as convenience might die
tate, under the provisions of the convention
of July %. 1892 and the supplementary
convention Of February 3, 1894, between
the United States and Great Britain. The
object of this preliminary survey has been
to obtain for the information Of their re-
spective governments affirmative data from
which they may by conventional agree
ment determine the true boundary describ-
ed in the Anglo-Russian treaty of 1925,
and redescribed in the first article of the
treaty between the United States and Rus
STA of March, 1867. whereby the Russian
territory of Alaska was ceded to this coun-
try.
Further Time Needed.
"As before stated. this preliminary ex-
animation had been taking place until the
31st day Of December, 1895, to which date
1t was extended by supplementary con-
vention Of February 3, 1894. 1t seems that,
referring to the Presidents message, a fur
Their extension of time will be necessary,
as well as an additional appropriation for
the completion Of this work.
TT has been enormously stated in the
public prints, as I am informed upon good
authority. that some agreement has been
signed by the respective commissioners in
the past few days. This seems to be a mis-
apprehension: The commissioners were
not created for the purpose of coming to
any agreement. They had no power rela-
tive to coming to any such agreement so
as to bind their governments. They were
simply to examine and report for the in
formation Of their respective governments
and to furnish the necessary data to afford
the basis for treaty between the United
States and Great Britain relative to the
southeastern boundary Of Alaska. I doubt
not there should be an appropriate ton for
the continuation Of the work of the COM
mission, ard I believe it is expected that
the present commission will be continued
ments extending the term Of its existence
and it's labors"