The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-08-01
THE LINE ON ALASKA.
United States and England May
Have Trouble Over II.
NO SETTLEMENT YET NEAR
The Matter stands the Same ~ n mid
Thirteen Years AEo-osnsTai Duf.
nsld TELLS what lie Kaows
10 Ne Facts In the Case.

Washington. July Si.--The claim OF
Great Britain to a big share of Alaska
promises TO occupy large amount Of
public attention for some time TO come.
II, indeed. It does not become a vital
question and give rise TO diplomatic
complications between the United
States and England. The claim ia re-
gardcd by government officials here as
preposteroua. The senate. before which
the boundary question was brought
as the outcome Of a treaty negotiated
by Secretary Olney and Sir Julian
Pauncefote. did not place itself on rec
ord in the matter. however. before a
vote was taken. congress adjourned. 70
that tho location Of the divisional line.
which has been In dispute since 1854.
N no nearer settlement than Il has been
a, any period In the last IS years.
General Dufield superintendent Of
coast and Eeodetio survey. was a mem.
Der OF the boundary commission The
survey authorized BY it has until re-
Gently been deemed Official aud cor
rect by both countries General Duf-
Geld said to-day. Up 10 1884 both
countries we're practically united AZ 10
the boundary line from Mount 81 Elias
to the southeast. According 10 the
terms Of The treaty between Russia and
Great Britain, ne United States In pur-
chasing Alaska IN 1867 acquired an Of
Russla's rights. In describing the
southeastern boundary. the Anglo Rus
sian treaty read. The line OF demarla.
don between the possession Of the high
contracting parties upon the coast oi
the continent and the Islands Of Amer
lea 10 the northwest shall be drawn
In the following manner:
Commencing from the sou,hornmost
point Of the island called the Prince of
Wales Island. which point lies IN the
parallel Of 81 degrees 20 minutes north
latliuc and between the i3ist degree
and the ia2rd degree of west longitude
the same lines shall ascend 10 the north
along the channel called Portland chan
mel as far as the point IN the continent
where Il strikes the Sc degree Of north
latiiuds. From this last mentioned
point the line Of demarkatlon shall FOL.
low the summit Of the mountains situ.
a,od parallel 10 the coast a. Gar az the
point o. Intersection Of the ili degree
Of west longitude q the meridlsn and
finally from the said point Of lnteraec-
ton tho said meridian line of the iii
degree, In its prolongailon a. Oar az the
frozen ocean, shall form toe limit be-.
tween the Russian and British posses.
slons on the continent Of Ameuca 20
the northwest Wherever the summit
OF the mountains. which extend In a al.
recuon parallel 10 me coast from the Es
degree Of north latitude 10 the point
Of intersection Of the iu degree OF
wet longitude, shall prove to be a dis.
iance Of more than 10 marine leagues
from the ocean. the limit between the
British possessions and the line OF ooas,
which is to belong 70 Russia. az above
mentioned, shall be formed BY a line
parallel TO the winding Of the ooas,
and which shall never exceed the dls.
mnce Of 10 marine leagues therefrom.
"of an maps from 1926 down to 1854
the boundary line had been shown a.
In general terms parallel 10 the winding
Of the coast and IS miles from H. In
1854, however. an oflclal Canadian man
showed a marked detection IN this line
at iis south end Instead of passing an
Portland channel this Canadian map
showing the boundary as passing M
hshm canal, an arm Of the sea some 60
or 20 miles west Of Portland channel
this change having been made on the
bare assertion that the worus Port.
land canal" as Inserted we're erroneous
BY this change Of the lire an area OF
American territory abou, equal IN sire
to the state Of Connecticut were trans.
ierred to British territory. There are
three facts which 80 to show that thl,
map was Incorrect
In the ar'i place. the British admiral.
iiy when surveying the northern liml,
Of the British Columbian possessions IN
1865, one YEAR afisr the cosslon Of
Alaska, surveyed Portland canal and
not nehm canal and thus BY impnoa-
ton, admitted this canal 10 be- The
boundary hne, Second. the region now
claimed by British Columbia was AZ
that tine occupied a. a military pos,
Of the United States without obieciioq
or protest 0n the part Of Brllish Colum.
bla. Third, Annetts island In this re-
sion, BY ar Of congress, four years
aeo, set apart As a reservation for the
nee Of the Metlakaaa Indians who
sought asylum under the American
nag TO esc-qe annoyancea experienced
under the British hag.
"Ano'he chanre was made At Lynn
canal. the uortherumost extension Of
the Alexander archipelago. which runa
north OF juneau and ls the land quite,
for the Yui n trade The oficlal Cana
dian map % 1854 carried the boundary
line around he head Of the canal N
such . manner 81 70 throw IL heal
waters into British territory. san