The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-12
TIE YUKON RAILWAY JOB.

1t would seem that the great Macken-
ziezMann-Stickeen-T railroad Job
viii be Endorsed by the Canadian par
lament The good faith OF the Liberal
government has been pledged. the con-
tract has been signed, and there is no
recourse for the Liberal majority but
To ratify ID. unless 1t is willing To go to
the extreme of overthrowing it's own ad
mlnistration. The Liberals have been
able through unknown means to Sc
cure the support of Sir Charles Upper,
leader Of the opposition. who has open
~ upheld the job. and who has thereby
seriously angered many members Of
his own party.
II is not to be denied that this action
Of the Canadian government is of the
highest Importance 10 the future OF
Alaska. Whatever may be the facts
about the methods employed to secure
this astounding grant TO the contract
ors, and however questionable a trans
truth that the Canadians are making a
determined and systematic effort t. di-
vert travel by way Of the Stickeen route,
whore they fancy 1t viii be pretty much
In their own hands. The contract stipu-
lates that for five years. from Septem-
her !. 1898 the date on which the new
f4es-.as - e. ar.
of railway shall be authorized from
Lynn canal or any other point near the
international boundary into the Yukon
territory. and that during the same
period 40 grant Of land or money shall
be made for any such railway. except
10 the company building the line from
the Stlckeen TO Teslin lake. II Will thus
be- seen that the government absolutely
covenants 20 give Mackenzie * Mann
a monopoly 81 railroad traffic into the
Yukon for i've ears, and to permit con
struction OF no line by any other route.
But il is clear that the Canadian au-
shorities have not clearly understood.
conditions al the mouth OF the Siickeen
river. If has been widely proclaimed
that the Stickeen is an ali-Canadian
route. and that there ear be no yexa-
tious delays or charges OF any kind inn
posed BY American customs officers.
The Toronto Mail and Empire. however.
tstss . ~.
opposes the Job and says on this point:
'Tnclc sam holds yhe gateway Of the
Stickvtn-Te>s route as ne holds tie ar
rToaches - the northern passes
He can levy toll on All cur merchandise
passing MS town Of Fort WranCri. af the
month az the Stickcen river Al Fort
NTsngei tae freight Ter ;be Yukon distrlrt
has 50 oe tT2asshipped from the ocean
steamers 20 the river boats that navigate
fhr St3cNteN Wp u GteN0ra NAere Il Is
Joined Ia Telegraph creek. once ana the
traffic wsre thrown in'o tire s.sckeen-
Tcslin channel sS Il w5il he whom Mscken-
sie = Mann's monoPoly gets sat1 working
order. o7aT ooigApoTs VII place their ea-
criter - srcute az Forg WfarssI"
Il Is a fact that American customs
oaiceTs az Fort WranEel aye now eal.
lectlag euH duty on Canadian goods
ea' We have ms doubt that ,he United
States vll make lt easy "a exercise the
bonding privilege There. as p; has az
pyea ana Skagway. The irnnortau,
point Is tAat Canadian goods designed
Tor the so-caIlea au-Canasiaa r.afs
ra3st undergo the same American cgs
totnS stlyx-rS iStat and tfrxus-etser ne -,
she head - LYNN canal /, is net uec-
rssary 90 point cat here IRE atvantsze
feas hela ~ This country at wrang,a.
a. vru SIS ~ pvva and Skarwav.
Nj the Canadian T.an~arS have come
sosneV bat hastily - TIE conclusion tha:
to building & tie Lake Teslln mad
wiz divert al tra~se 10 the Stseke~n
rassr TIE circumstance IL IAN max
'ttJe difference - the United states II
II dos tut a. are not q; az os opsa-