The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-01
GREATGAME OF GRAB.
NOW CANADA SET rP A CLAIM TO
PART OF ALASKA.
True Dehnifiou of the Boundary ana
which Canada Ignores In Her
Naps-fsOOd Ground ON Alaska
side of the Line-Rest Places 70
Prospect.

NEW YORK. July IA special TO the
Tribune from Washington says:
The claim Of Great Britain TO Dig
share OF Alaska promises to occupy
large amount 81 public attention for some
tsr.ae 20 come. II not, indeed. become
vital question and give rise 70 diplomatic
cornplics lions Between the United states
and England The claim IS regarded oy
government officials here as pEvposterons-
The senate. however. when the boundary
question was brought before Il as the re-
suit Of a treaty negotiated by secretary
Oinsy and Sir Julian Pauncefste, did NOT
place itself on record in the matter, so
mat the location Of the divisional line
which has been in dispute since issi IS no
nearer settlement :han il has been al any
period in the last thirteen years.
Gen Dutfieid. superintendent or the
coast and geodetic survey, was member
OF the boundary commission The survey
authorized by it has until recently been
deemed official and correct by both coun-
tries. Gen. Dufield said today:
FTP TO 1854 both countries were prac-
.t~allv united as 20 the boundary limo
from Mount ST. Elias 10 the southeast
According TO the terms of the treaty be-
tween Russia and Great Britain. the
United States. in purchasing Alaska IN
1857. acquired all OF Russias nights IN
describing the southeastern boundary, ths
Russian treaty read:
Text of the Treaty.
1.-The line of demarkation between the
possessions of the high contracting pow
ers upon the coast - the continent and
the islands of America to the northwest
should be drawn in the following manner:
Commencing from the southernmost or
the land called Prince of Wales island,
which point lies in the parallel of "a de-
grees - minutes north latitude, and be-
tween the 13lst degree and l25d degree or
west longitude, the same line shall as
cend 10 the north along the channel called
Portland channel as far as the point OF
the continent where 1t strikes the 55th
degree of north latitude. From this last
mentioned point the line OF demarcation
shall follow the summit OF the mountains
situated parallel to the coast as Tar as
the point OF intersection of the Hist de-
gree of west longitude OF the same merid-
IAN and finally from the said point or IN
,ersectlon on the said meridian line OF the
l4lst degree in its prolongation as far as
the frozen ocean. sIall form the limit
between the Russian AID British posses
stons on the continent OF America 10 the
northwest Wherever the summit OF the
mountains, which extend in direction
parallel to the coast from the o6th degree
of north latitude TO the point of inter-
section of the 141st degree OF west longi-
tude shall prove TO be a distance OF more
than ten marine leagues from the ocean,
the limit between the British possessions
and the line of coast which is to belong
10 Russia as above mentioned shall be
formed by line parallel to the winding
of the coast and which shall never exceed
the distance of ten marine leagues there
from
Canada Changing the Maps.
'On all maps from 1927 to 1884 the
T. hnu In
eral terms parallel to the winding of the
coast and thir;y-five miles from 1t. In
1854 however one of the Canadian maps
showed a marked DETECTION of this line at
Its south end Instead of passing up Port
land channel. this Canadian map showed
the boundary as passing UP the Benin
canal an arm of the sea, sixty or seven
ty miles west of Portland channel this
change having been made on the bare as
sertion that the words Portland canal