The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-02-11
OUR BOUNDARY in DOUBT.
Definite Lines Have Never Been
Established Between Min
nesota and Canada.

Washington, Feb 2 There has
never been defiuite boundary line
established between the State of Min
nesota and the Dominion OF Canads.
In the general delineation of the from
tier between the United States and
British North America this particular
liepot has escaped attention until now,
when valuable timber lands aud pros.
lective gold mines have lent impor-
lance to the question. Congressman
Howae, OF Minnesota, has introduced Il
resolution calling upon the President
enter INFO negotiations with the British
Government to have the boundary
adjusted.
MIR. Towne's attention was called 10
the subject last summer through the
arrest by Canadian authorities of
certain fishermen employed by the
ArioD Fishing Company, of which a
Mr.. AIMS, of New York, is President.
These men were thrown into prison
and their nets and fishing apparatus
were contiscstea CT: The ground that
they were violating the Canadian
regulations.
Between Lake Superior and the
Lake of the Woods is network of
Islands in Rainy Lake River. Some
where between these Islands the
boundary line runs. The largest of
these are Hunters and Coleman's
Islands, which together contain about
zoe, GOO acres. They are covered with
valuable timber, and signs of gold
have been found there. The treaty of
Client declared that the boundary line
between Canada and The United
States should follow the main water
courses. Capable surveyors have fur
nished Mr.. Towne with aflidavits that
the main channel of Rainy Lake River
runs to the north OF these two Islands,
thereby placing them within the
United States.
Mr.. Towne has found that while the
English, German and some Canadian
maps published in this. country by the
Government place the Islands on the
Canadian side, the map Of Arrowsmith
& Co., published in London in 1912,
gives the islands to the United States,
as does map published by the Cana
dian Government in 1875, purporting
to be based upon the most recent Of
fetal surveys. Yet the United States
Land Office maps all put the islands in
Canada.
The owners of Coleman's Island, one
of whom is Mr.. George II. Fletcher,
lawyer, of New York, who has half
interest in it, hold their patents from
the United States, and the authorities
of st. Louis county, Mimi, have levied
taxes on the island. Recently the
Ontario Government has also served
notice of an intention to collect taxes
on the island. Canada has been tax
ing Hunters Island, and there has
been tscit understanding by the
United States Government that that
island really belonged to Canada.
All of Mr.. Towne'sS Investigations
tend to dispute this theory and give
both islands to Minnesota. His reso-
luton. proposing negotiations to decide
the question is before subcommittee
of the Foreign Affairs Committee of
the House, of which Mr.. Heatwole is
Chairman. 1t is expected that this
subcommittee will make its report in
about a week.
Butte, Mon, Feb. 2.-Complaint
comes from settlers in Teton aud Cho-
teau Counties that the forests on the
American side of the boundary have
been almost denuded of timber by
Canadians, and that millions of doll
Lara worth oflumber has been taken
during the past few years. The in.
spector has referred the matter to the