Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-24
( Alaska will be controlled by this would.

Of Alaska will be controlled by this would
be usurper."
Miner W. Bruce. the well known Alaskan
explorer, in discussing the claims Great
Britain is making, is reported to have said
The Canadians have always proceeded very
cautiously and secretly in this matter. Al
though the Canadian maps have changed
the Alaskan boundary according to Cana
dian ideas. still the press of the country
has been singularly silent, which means no
good Tor America or Americans. II has been
said that Alaska was not very valuable
anyway. but why. then. should Canada be
so anxious to secure it, Why should sur
Neying parties be sent out at great expense
in the dead of winter? The country which
England is endeavOring to secure is the
key TO the gold mines of the Yukon and
the interior. and for that reason is i'm
mcnscly valuable. Even the people at
Washington city are supremely ignorant
Of the value Of the resources of Alaska. a
well known American diplomat at
the national capital has said that
Alaska has never produced enough
70 pay her original cost. The fact is that
Alaska has produced more than
SOS 100000 since her purchase by the United
States in the fishing and seal industry, not
including tha output of her mines. The
commerce and trade of the country have
also been much greater than the casual
observer could possibly conceive Of
The acquisition of the coal fields of Alas
ka by England is OF lar more importance
than may be appreciated by our govern
ment. To make this matter palmer. It is
well TO call attention to the fact that the
United States on the Pacific coast is on
Puget sound. The Alaskan coal deposits
have been proved to be very extensive, al
though not yet being opened up to the
commercial world. England now. through
the Dominion of Canada, has vast coal
fields in British Columbia. The only ocean
inlet to Puget sound is the Strait of San
Juan de FuCa, washing the shores of the
United States territory on the south and
the British possessions on the north. 1t
may be pertinent in this connection to say
that the English government is now at
work on strong fortifiCations on the shores
of this strait. fOrtifiCationS that will cost
millions OF dollars and will not be exceeded
for impregnability by any fort on the con-
tinent. With these the Strait of San Juan
de Fuca will be practically under British
control, and with the Alaskan coal fields
owned by England the United States would
not have a COaling station in the entire Pa
citic waters. Besides this. England at al
times has a liberal fleet of warships at Es-
quimalt, Vancouver island. the point where
the great fort is now being constructed.
The revenues now derived by the British
from their inland possessions bordering on
Alaska are of such extent that she is look
ing with jealous eye upon the rich country,
the harbors, the lumber, the coal. the min
eral wealth. the fishing and seal industry.
all within the lands and waters now the
property of the United States, and for the
continued ownership of which the Ameri-
cans on the North Pacific coast are exceed
ingly anxious that the government at
shall resist the claims of
Great Britain with all its energy and
power.