Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
SIGN ALASKA BOUNDARY TREATY.
Provides for Settling Only n Portion
of the Difficulty.


WASHINGTON, Jan 30--Secretary Olney
and Sir Julian Pauncefote at II o'clock to-
day signed the convention for the definition
by commission of so much OF the boundary
line between Alaska and the British pos
sessions as is marked by the Hist merld IAN
The treaty will be sent to the senate Mon
day.
The treaty provides for a commission of
four members. The names are not given in
the treaty, but will be agreed on hereafter
The commission will meet under the terms
of the treaty in London or Washington.
The formal name of the treaty is: "a
convention between Great Britain and the
United States for the demarkation of the
Hist meridian west longitude, as may be
necessary for the determination of the
boundary between their respective posses
sions in North America"
Its purpose is to settle beyond doubt the
exact location of the meridian, and thus
prevent the clashing between the miners
who have been attracted in large numbers
to the vicinity of the boundary and the ter
ritories of the two countries. The meridian
named, the 141st west longitude was not
selected as the boundary line by Secretary
Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote, but was
laid as the line of division in the treaty
of cesson by which Alaska was passed by
Russia to the United States. The difficulty
has been to tell just where the meridian
actually runs, by no means an easy task
in such a country as central Alaska Even
in more hospitable climes the task OF de-
tlning physically such an abstract line as
a meridian is beset with difficulties, so that
1t was a matter of no surprise that in the
present case the two countries should clash
often, now that the territory is known to
include extensive and valuable gold de-
posts AS laid down on the charts the mouth
Of Forty-mile creek, the Mecca of the gold
hunter, debouChes in the Great Yukon, Just
near enough to the meridian to cause each
side American and British, to set up claims
to it.
AS at present marked, the northern limit
of the line which forms the boundary is a
demarkation point, about 300 miles west of
Mackenzie bay and the southern extremity
close to Mt. st. Elias. 1t is said at the State
department that there is no reasonable
chance for friction or a radical difference
among the scientists who are to undertake
the work of laying down the meridian as
this is mainly an astronomical calculation
At set distances points will be established
by astronomical observations, and these will
be connected by lines run by surveyors in
the usual manner. Monuments will be erected
and the boundary will be definitely fixed.
The work OF the commission will be final
for no appeal will lie from their decision.
The convention just signed does not, how
ever, settle the whole Alaskan boundary
question, which has been pending for many
years between the United States and Great
Britain 1t does provide for the settlement of
that portion relating to the northern
boundary, about half OF the actual boundary
line between Alaska and the British posses
sions, and fortunately the portion which de-
named instant treatment to remove the
possibility OF dangerous friction. The south
portion of the line, however, remains to be
fixed. 1t was only very insufiiciently de-
scrbed In the Russian treaty of cession as
a line running along the tops OF a mountain
range skirting the coast from the southern
edge OF Alaska to a point where 1t connected
with the 14lst meridian.
Investigation by the coast and geodetic
survey is said to have developed the fact
that there Is no such mountain range. Su-
Duffield Of the United States
coast survey and Mr.. King, one OF the Brit
ish crown surveyors, under a special treaty
made careful survey uf the territory In the
vicinity OF the supposed boundary with a
view to the gathering OF information upon
which could be based negotiations for the
drawing of new boundary line, for it had
become apparent that the Russian definition
was worthless and that subject must be
treated do noyo. The reports OF these sur
yeyors are expected to be made very soon
and then negotiations will be set on foot
for the creation OF a commission to locate
the southern part of the boundary line. To
get this important subject removed from the
field of contention is the earnest desire of
Sir Julian Pauncefote, for with that out of
the way he will rest satisfied with the knowl- |
edge that he has been instrumental in set
Ting all OF the issues which disturb the rea-
tions OF the two English-speaking peoples
during his ambassadorship
The Alaskan treaty just signed between
the United States and Great Britain does
not apply to the boundary in the southern
part of Alaska but only to that of the 14lst
meridian readily fixed by astronomical OBJ
in M
II is this southern branch of the contro-
versy which presents serious difficulties, in
yolving questions of territory between the
United States and Great Britain. The main
question is whether the boundary is to be
from the mainland or outer fringe
Of islands along the coast. II is repeti-
ton OF the old contest over a "closed sea-"
which brought on the dispute referred to
he fisheries commission. The rights of the
United States are those ceded from Russia
when the territory was purchased. This
boundary is easily established In the north