The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-05
BOUNDARY LINE OF ALASKA
KIOndike Gold Fields Probably
on the Canadian Side.
50 SAYS GENERAL DUFFIELD
Good Diggines, However, on the
American side, With ProInise Oh
Very Much More-Coast Survey
Now Engaged ON Map showing
the Routes To the Gold Country.

1t is well to bear in mind during all
this discussion about the gold fields oil
tie Yukon region and the boundary line
between British America and the United
States Territory OF Alaska that there are
two established and fixed boundary mark
ings in the gold country that have been
located and determined by the United
States, and tested by tie Canadian gov
crument These Two posts have been
agreed 10 by the respective governments.
and there can be no further dispute about
them.
The first Of these points was deter
mined by the Coast and Geodetc Sur
vey couple Of years ago. at the point
where the 14lst meridian crosses Forty
Mile Greek A stone post was erected at
the spot.
The Canadians came along afterward and
also determined the line, differing from
the Anerican engineers but Is of a second
which, in that latitude, meant a variance
OF only nix and one-Ealf feet, thus show
ing that the survey had been almost alb
solutely accurate.
The second post erected was where the
lire crosses the Yukon River, and when
the Canadians tested that spot they found
a. difference of fourteen seconds, when
was equivalent TO 300 feet ia TIE one
case the United States lost six and halI
feet at Forty Mile Greek, while in the
other il gained 500 feet. The American
partv also determined the line much far
tier north at the crossing ofthe Porcuplne
River tyut whether the Canadians ever
tested IL is not known by the Coast and
Geodetc Survey.
There is an appropriation OF $4,000
available for the marking OF the boundary
line. and the work VIII be commenced as
Euon as the Senate agrees TO the treaty
providing for that work by Joint party
composed OF English and United states
engineers Gen. puffield says it is the in
tention TO erect a line of intervisible stone
posts, the one visible from the other, from
Nit. St Elias TO the frozen ocean, "A work
which seems almost impossible, but which.
he says, can be accomplished without much
trouble. Mt. st Elias is not exactly on the
line. This mountain stands on l40-55, While
the meridian forming the boundary is III.
This difference OF five minutesis equivalent
70 two and a half miles in that northern
latitude.
If figured according TO its Ion gltude
Mount st. Elias is two ard half miles
in British territory, but under our treaty
Of cessiou from Russia, which includes ten
marine leagues ffcm the coast, ire mo unit
ain is one and a half miles in American
territory, il being only twenty-eight md a
half miles from the coast. Gen. i field
saws it's probable that the line will he be
gun frorl the base of the mo IN tain and then
swung rapidly over TO the meridian which
forms the correct boundary and which
would he reached within twenty miles OF
the starting point.
There is no doubt In the mind OF Gen
Duffield but that the Yukon gold fields,
as they are now known, are in British
territory, as they are wen TO the east Of
the I4Ist meridian. but he says there
has been a great deal OF gold found on
the American side. at the head of Forty
Mile Creek. W est of Circle City, at the head
OF Birch Creek. and one of its tributaries.
Preacher Greek In all of these localities
there have been gold diggings. with a
promise of very much more.
The survey is now at work upon map
which will be ready for distribution the
first OF next week. IT is being prepared
at the request OF the quarternaster' s de
partment OF the War Department. 1t Will
show the routes 10 the gold country and
how 10 get there from Dyea, and the dan
gerous topography of the Chlkat and
Chilkoot passes. There has been an enor
nous demand for these maps, but they
VIII orIy be Issued upon the order OF a
Member OF Congress or sold at a price
about equal to what it costs the depart
ment 70 prepare and print them.