The herald., 1897-10-26
Becomes Important Since
the Strike
BOUNDARY LINE QUESTIONS
TO BE TAKEN UP WHEN CON-
GRESS MEETS
Official Reports From the Gold Region
Confirm All Claims of Richness
of the Mines
ated Press Special Wire.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-It is be-
lieved here that in view of the great
prominence Alaska has received from
the recent gold discoveries and the i'm
portance of definitely fixing the bound
airy line between our territory and that
of the Dominion of Canada, the senate
when it reassembles in December, will
take early action upon the treaty pend
ing between Great Britain and the Unit
ed States survey and marking of the
141st meridian. This treaty was sent
to the senate almost two years ago. The
141st meridian marks the eastern bound
airy of Alaska down to within ten marine
leagues of the southern coast, where the
line trends to the southeast, keeping
that distance from the coast. Concern
ing the 141st meridian there is, of course,
no controversy between the United
States and Great Britain and no basis OF
settlement of the southeastern line has
yet been reached by the two countries.
The original treaty, as sent to the sen-
ate, it is understood, was amended or
proposed to be amended by Senator
clCNetl L, ~ etS ~ iiiNiuNiC thC SCltiOiiiVi4t
of the dispute relating to the southeast
ern line. If such an amendment were
insisted upon by the senate, as appears
not unlikely, it is not at all certain that
Great Britain will at present agree to the
modification.
Adjusting the differences between
the two countries regarding the south
eastern line has not progressed for two
years. In 1898 each government appoint
ed a commissioner to survey the terri
tory through which this line runs, and
each made typographical maps of the
country which were submitted to the
respective governments December 81,
1895. These commissioners had no pow
er to propose a settlement. Their work
was confined strictly to furnishing in
formation upon which subsequent nego-
tiations could proceed. AS no range of
mountains runs along the coast, as was
assumed to be the case when the bound
airy line between Russia and Canada
was fixed in terms, the alternative prop
osition of line ten marine leagues
from the coast must mark the limit of
our territory. But in the determine
ton, many intricate questions are in
volved, whether the coast line shall be
assumed to follow the sinuosities of the
shore. or run from headland to headland,
or whether the line shall be considered to
run ten marine leagues from the outer
shore of the islands which form a sort
Of archipelago along the coast. The
government officials who have studied
the contest are confident that our title
includes the islands and ten marine
leagues of territory from the coast line,
with all it's sinuosities.
OFFICIAL REPORT
SKAGUAY, Alaska, Oct. 20.-(Special
Correspondence to the Associated Press,
per steamer City of Seattle.) Hon. Clif-
ford Sifton, Canadian minister of the
interior, and party returned yesterday
from trip over the Chilcoot and Skag-
uay trails, going as far as Lake Tagish.
Mr.. Sifton said that from information
he received while in the interior there
will be no shortage of food at Dawson
City this winter and that the reports of
ravages by typhoid fever have been
greatly exaggerated. He also says that
the richness of the new discoveries on
Dominion, Sulphur, Quartz and Moose
skin creeks, on the Klondike, has been
fully established. Mr.. Sifton further
said that the disposition of his govern
ment was to facilitate any reasonable
plan for getting into the Yukon country.
The Canadian government, he said,
understands that If the rich gold fields
of the Yukon districts are to be devel-
oped every means of communication
,,4 1Na T. o.,4. l.
lished at different points along the
routes leading from-Skaguay and Dyea
to and down the lakes and rivers to Daw-
son City. These posts will be garri-
soned with police to aid in the suppress
sion of lawlessness and furnish any
needed assistance to travellers. They
will also contain stores of food and
clothing, which can be forwarded as re-
quired at any time to the Yukon coun-
try. The work of building these posts
has already been commenced at Sheep
camp, Linderman, Tagish and White
horse rapids, and others will be built at
a distance of fifty miles all the way
down the Yukon to Dawson City.
Mr.. Sifton will cave for the south to-
morrow or next day and on the way
uOWl liC Will c|AelillllC ohou lIllcl dlll q
portion of the route leading into the
interior from that point.
The party Will then proceed to Fort
Wrangel where they will ascend the
Stickeen river as far as may be practi
cable in the steamers launch, the object
being to examine the shoals and quick
sands that beset the rapid Stickeen.
CAPTAIN RAYS REPORT
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-The wa
department has just received a most in
teresting report from Captain Ray a.
to the condition Of affairs in the gold re
gion as he has found them from st
Michaels to Fort Yukon. The officer
who was sent especially for the purp4,
of making recommendations for the bet
terment of affairs there, has some rad
| ical suggestions to make. Among then
he urges the division of Alaska into tw,
districts, the southern district to re
main under present jurisdiction, Will.
the northern district, including the golt
region, is to be placed under a form o
military government until congress cal
| make other provisions.
The place selected by the captain for
military post is near Rapid City, abou
250 miles below Dawson.
A CORNER IN FLOUR
SKAGUAY, Alaska, Oct 21.-There /,
corner in flour at Dawson City ant
none can be had at any price. This i,
the statement made by Mr.. Moore, one
of party of four who reached here las
might, having come direct from Daw