The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-02
ALASKA GOLD FIELDS.
General DdffieId SAYS the United
States Owns Them.
CANADA is CLAIMING TOO MUCH.

cotiOns May Afise-h nat "A recent tSe-
port of the United States Surveyors Says
as to the boundary Line.
Washington, Aug 2.-The claim OF
Great Britain to a big share Of Alaska
promises TO occupy a large amount OF
public attention for some time to come
If, indeed. it does not become a vital
question aud give rise to diplomatic
complications between the United States
and England. The claim is regarded by
government officials here as preposter-
GUS The senate. before which the
boundary question was brought as the |
outcome Of a treaty negotiated by Sec
retary Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote. |
did not place itself on record in the mat
ter, however. Before a vote was taken !
congress adjourned. so that the location |
Of the divisional line. which has been in |
dispute since 1884, is no nearer settle
ment than IT has been in any period in |
the last thirteen years General Duff |
field, superintendent of the coast and |
geodetic survey. was a member of the
boundary commission. The survey au-
thorized by 1t has until recently been
deemed official and correct by both
countries, General Duffield said:
Were Practically United.
up to 1884 both countries were prac-
tically united as to the boundary line
from St. Elias to the southeast Accord
ing TO the terms Of the treaty between
Russia and Great Britain the United
| States in purchasing Alaska in 1867 ac-
| uuired all CT Russa's rights. In 1884
chnxVad
marked change in the boundary line at
| its south end. Instead of passing up
| Portland channel this Canadian map
| showed the boundary as passing up
| Behm canal, an arm Of the sea some six
| ty or seventy miles west Of Portland
channel this change having been made
on the bare assertion that the words
Portland canal as inserted were erro-
neous BY this change an area Of Amer
| ican territory about equal in size TO the
| state of Connecticut was transferred to
J British territory. There are three facts
| which go to show this map was incor-
rect.
Surveyed Portland Canal.
'Tn the first place the British ad-
! miralty when surveying the northern
! limit Of the British Columbian posses
|
of Alaska, surveyed Portland canal and
not Benin canal, and thus by implica-
ton admitted this canal to be the bound
ary line Second. the region now claimed
by British Columbia was at that time
occupied as a military post Of the Unit d
States without objection or protest on
the part of British Columbia. Third.
{ Annette island in this region was, by
act Of congress four years ago. set apart
as a reservation for the use Of the Met
laktala Indians, who sought asylum 'un-
! der the American flag to escape annoy
! ances experienced under the British
J flag.
Another change was made at Lynn
! canal the northermost extension or the
Alexander archipelago, which runs
north of Juneau and is the land outlet
OF the Yukon trade. If the official Cana
dian map Of 1884 carried the boundary
line around the head of this canal anoth-
er Canadian map. three years later car
ried a line across the head of the cana!
IN such a manner as to throw its head
waters into British territory.
south of the Former Line.
Later Canadian maps carry the line
| not across the head OF the canal pu'
across near it's mouth. some sixty ot
seventy miles south of the former line
In such a way as practically to take II
Juneau. or at least all overland imme-
diately back of It, And the very lates'
I Canadian map. published at Ottawa
within a few days, while it runs no line
at all southeast of Alaska, prints th'
legend British Columbia over portions
t I of the Lynn canal which are now ad
ministered by the United States.
A recent report of the United State
surveyors as to the boundary line IL
. this connection said:
"In substance these determination
throw the diggings at the mouth
Forty Mile creek within the territor!
d of the United States. The whole Valle.
: of Birch creek. another most Valuapl
l gold producing part of the country
: also in the United States. Most OF IN
gold is to the west of the crossing 0
the l41st meridian at Forty-Mile creeh
within United states Territory.
off we produce the 141st meridian on
| chart the mouth of Millers creek
'. tributary of SixtyMile creek and val
liable gold region. is five miles west i
direct line or seven miles accorulh
TO the winding of the stream-ail Win
in the territory of the United States
In substance, the only places In the ~
= kon region where gold In quantity ma
= been found are therefore all to the Yves
of the boundary line between Canau
e and the United States"
J. II can readily be seen that the claii
81 the United States is directly oppose
n 70 that Of the Canadians. 1t is tru
: that the arbitration of the l4ls
meridian was favored by the Unite
states surveyors but some of thel
in were angered at the claims of the Ems
N lsh with regard to Lynn creek and II
/ whole southeastern boundary and e'
:. messed the belief that the United STATE
10 would refuse to arbtrate the claims
:. this portion Of the boundary.
as TWO CAN PLAY Az 1T.