The evening times., 1898-03-21

Dyea. Alaska, March Il, via Seattle.
March 21.-Colonel Anderson. the COM
mander of the military district of Lynn
Canal. said today that if the American
Government were not so thoroughly en-
crossed with the Maine disaster it would
see the Importance OF at once taking ac-
tion in regard to the encroachment of the
Canadians upon disputed territory. Col
lector Of Customs lvey had been with him
on the previous day, having come almost
direct from Washington. ID. c., and asked
the assistance of the troops in forcing the
Canadians back from the SUBMITS to the
head OF Lake Bennett. the boundary line
claimed by the United States.
Ii was said at first by Canadian Off
cials that their custom houses were
placed on the SUBMITS of the two passes
merely as a matter Of convenience, but
they tell another story now. Captain
Belcher in command on Chilkoot summit.
was asked on Saturday if Canada claimed
the soil there, and he answered with a
knowing smile: Wei. you see that flag"
On the summit of White Pass there is a
similar flag, with Major Strickland and
eighteen mounted police to defend ii.
The deputy collector at SlIguay, in send
ing a convoy with good oRded through
American territory. max, out the con-
yoy's paper to Lake BeD -, but at the
summit the owners of the goods are told:
You are on Her Majesty's soil and
need not pay this convoy any further
To the convoy they say:
You can go on to Lake Bennett IL you
want TO do it for the fun of the thing, but
you have no authority beyond this point
and can collect no fees
Collector Iyey asked if Col. Anderson
could not give him men to see that bond
ed goods were under the charge of the
convoy through American territory TO
Lake Bennett. The colonel believed he
could but was averse to hasty action
while the American Government was so
engrossed with Spanish affairs. Collector
Ivey has gone to Juneau, where Gov
Brady now is.
A comparatively easy test Of the boun-
dary question has been suggested to Col.
Anderson. The Canadian authorities
granted permission 10 the troops of the
relief expedition 10 pass through Cana
dian territory on condition that they did
lCt carry arms. Their arms went as
baggage. A week ago Major Rucker re-
ceiNed notice from the commander of the
mounted ponce at SkaSudE In1I the
American troops must not wear uni
forms in Canadian territory. As the eX-
pedition has been abandoned this il now
of no consequence. but Major Rucker has
sent il 10 Washington to show the feel
ing Of the Canadians.
The mounted police have had quarters
I'm Skaguay and large barracks and store
houses three miles up the trail and the
men wear uniforms. but do not carry
arms. The suggestion to Col. Anderson
is that he might send a squad of men
uniformed and armed through Ameri-
can territory 10 Lake Bennett to see
whether they would be stopped at the
passes. IL il not likely that he will DO
this, but seven OF his officers started
for the Chilkoot Summit this morning.
Merely for exercise, said Col. Ander-
son.
The four companies Of infantry divid-
ed between here and Skaguay now form
a permanent military sUbdepartment to
be known as the district of Lynn Canal.
Col. Anderson has been made district
commander. with probably wider pow
ers than those of commander Of any
military department in the United States.
This was made necessary from the diff
Guilty of communicating with the depart
ment of the Columbia and awaiting in
structiOns.