The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-31

boundary between their respectgvs po-ses-
sious in North America" fta purpose Is
- settle beyond doubt the exact location
Of the meridian, and thus prevent the
clashing between the miners vino have
been attracted in large numbers to the
vicinity Of the boundary 0f the two conn-
tries.
The meridian named. the llist west long.
itude. ~ 70 be selected a. the boundary
lins by Secretary Olney and Slr Julian
Pauncefots. Il waa laid down ~ the line
of division IA the treaty of csasion when
Alaska was passed by Russia 70 the
United States. The difficulty has been 70
tell Just where tAe meridian actually runs.
BY no means an easy task in such a coun-
try as Central Alaska. IN even more hos
pltabIs climea the task OF defining physt-
caliy such an abstract line a meridian,
- 80 beset with difficulties that IL was
matter Of no surprise thaf II the present
case the two countries should cisEh often.
now that the territory = known 20 include
extensive and valuable gold deposits.
A. lad down or the charts, the mouth
of Forty Nile creek the Mecca Of the gold
hunters. asbouches into The great Yukon
river izst near enough 10 the meridian %
cause each side. American and British 90
set up she claim that tbs mines are II their
territory
As At present marked. the northern lin
6ary. IL n deFnarisa ION point NJ 30 niles
west u Mackeazle aay and the southern
extremity close 20 Mount 81. Elias
Il - said AZ the state department. taat
there Is no reasonable chance for frfr-
flon or a radical difference among the
scien tlsts who are 20 undertake the work
of layfEg down the meridian. a. this -
mainly AT astronomical calculation. Tire
work 8f the commission viii ne nnal, t8r
no appeal wii. r. from their decision.
TIE convention fast siwned does rot.
hawever. settle tne whole Alaskan baan-
dary question which has been pending for
many years. T. does provide for the sef-
tleuent of that portion relating 60 the
northern boundary. about haf ~ IRE as-
taaf boundary Tlae 30 weeB A}aaiea and re
British possessions and fortBuafely. thr
portions whlca demand instant treatment
to remove The possibility - dangerous
friction The south portion - Tire Hne
however. remains 20 he dxed. for De- wss
oalY very inssfficientiv described n tie
Russian treaty - eeaniou ~ q lfse ~lnnEng
aianz tire touE - msgutatn ranges skirt
ing the coast fr0rn tae southern e7Ee -
AIaska 10 = wosnt where Gt e0anerfef w8fa
tha f4iar merriam. FHveaftRaffgn nv tfss
coasr ard Eeetefie sgrTeT e sslA % have
developed the fact that there is no s8ch
n1nuuFafr rasas.
snpf Dua7sIf - 1ur c0ast survey. ara
3fr- K.nx ere og fba BRITISH crown sur-
veyorN uEfer Huef fFeEtn made
careful survey 81 tne territory lr taa w.
etnitT - fhe supposed boundary wf4h a
vsew 20 ta@ catherine ~ fnf3gm8tnu ea
whteh 20 base reg1t'atiSns for fhe d-azr-
InE ~ a rew boundary .iue t5r r. haH BE-
come apparent tast ne 4aslan aeea 5sa
was worthless ard thaf ire a1shs@se must
- treated e@ rave Tha reperts sf ~
surveyors are expecfaE - ~ rafe very
soon ard thsu aea8-ia lsrs RlH - ves
or S90f FOR TIE sreatlon - e con sfsaEoa
rs Iacafe the southern sss son ~ fse aoun-
Gxgv aue