The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS
 RECEIVED NO NOTICE.
Not Yet Cognizant of the Seizure or Lake Bennett Territory by
 Canada.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The officials of this Government are watching with some interest the attempts of the Brit ish Columbian publications to make it appear that valuable territory in Southeastern Alaska is within the Brit ish possessions. The semi official map put out in the British Columbian year book is but one instance Of British trickery to make it appear that such important points as Juneau, Dyea and Skaguay are within her Majesty's ter ritory.
 A publication still more dangerous than the year book has been issued. It is an official map published by the Surveyor General in the Interior De partment at Ottawa, This map has just been received at the coast and geodet1c survey here, and has excited some com ment It marks no boundary at all be- tween the United States territory and British Columbia south of Mount St. Elias, where he Hist meridian crosses and marks a division of which there is no dispute South of that point, how ever, the map makes it appear that all the territory is in the British posses Sions.
 There is a legend written across the face of this part of the map, reading: "Undefned boundary" It requires a second glance, however, to perceive these words. Superintendent Pritchett of the Coast and Geodetic Survey said this evening with regard to the claim of the Canadians to Dyea, Skaguay and Juneau:
 We have no notice of any such claim L. rhoh oyicn out of the indefinite marking of the new map just issued by the Surveyor General at Ottawa. We do not know officially that the Canadian Govern nent ever in its map defined the bound ary south of Mount St. Elias, but the old treaty defining the English and Russian possessions is very clear in de- fining the distance this boundary shall be located from the coast line. The treaty now pending in the Senate for joint survey of the line between Alaska and the British possessions will prob ably put an end to. this controversy. Our maps are drawn in accordance with the old treaty and the towns men tioned are clearly within United States territory
 The new official map of this region Is looked on as another English trick. They will not acknowledge that there yt meantime convey the impression by their publications that they own every thing clear to the Pacific Ocean. The Coast and Geodetic Survey has just completed the most accurate map yet published of the Yukon district It shows the river in all it's detail, with the route of travel clearly defined to those who wish to reach the gold fields In that vicinity. It shows that at pres ent the ocean vessels have to go as far up as St. Michael, which is now the center of military reservation, having a radius of 100 miles. At St Michael the vessels have to be unloaded and the cargoes transferred to lighter draft boats that can enter the mouth of the Yukon, long distance south of St. Michael
 The United States survey will have two parties at work as soon as the weather will permit, surveying the mouth of the Yukon in an endeavor to find a deep-water channel up that river. Such a channel has been report cd as existing and is marked tenta- lively on the new map. In case it is finally located 1t is expected that oceair going vessels can go right up the river for hundreds of miles before it becomes necessary to transfer cargoes.
 This new map, taken in connection with the one of Southeastern Alaska issued short time ago, gives the pub lie the two great routes by which the Klondike can be reached. The latter map Is very clear outline of the coun- try trayersed from Juneau by way of Dyea and Skaguay up through the chain of lakes and various rivers until the gold territory is reached.
 The Government officials say that no notice can be taken of the misleading maps sent out in Canada unless there IS an official line designated that varies from that laid down by the treaty.