Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-10

minerals possibly coal. Several hundred
thousand tons OF provisions, clothing,
lumber and coal must be imported annually
to supply their necessities. And with a
large number of people going and coming
from SO desolate region, the ocean traffic
must soon attain the great dimensions
above figured out.
That immense line of American ships
steamtng back and forth between Puget
sound and the Yukon mouth is completely
fanked by Honolulu and Pearl Harbor at a
distance of only 2,4O0 miles to the south
west With the Hawaiian Islands in the
possession of an enemy, such thanking posi-
ton will be fatal. That line Of traffic will
inevitably be broken up, with not only loss
of ships and cargoes, but what will be in
calculably more serious, the complete de-
Struction of the Inhabitants of the Yukon
valley through restitution of supplies.
Occupy Penrl Harbor.
It would therefore seem to be incumbent
en- Congress at once, and taking no
chances, 10 proceed to occupy Pearl har-
Dor in force. Holding that point, they
will hold the key of the group and the
key of the whole North Pacific Failing
great line of communication with the
Yukon will be liable to destruction. in
volvtng the destruction of the population
Of that region.
confined to the Yukon valley. 1t is in
place here to note that in occupying that
region much Of the great stream of immi-
grafton Will inevitably be diverted to the
intervening district of southeastern Alaska
winch, III consequence, is certain to have
Its occupation greatly expedited. That ter
r1tory aboundS in the richest resources of
timber mines and fisheries. as well as
naVlns much agricultural capacity. 1t is
FULLY capable of sustaining a prosperous
population of one million. Is 1t not rea-
sonable to expect that within ten or fifteen
years at least 100000 people will become
settied IN the Sitka region in consequence
of the Yukon excitement? Thus it an
pears that a new and prosperous American
state is likely soon to be formed in the
1ar north whose lines of ocean traffic will
meeung point Of Honolulu. Sitka is one
OF our nearest neighbors, and her growth
Will De most welcome to Hawaii.
Outlying Possessions.
many OF your papers and public men ex-
press strong aversion to any extension
OF national bounds beyond the limits of the
continent, which, they say, is large enough
1or all national wants, while any outside
possessions. like Hawaii, can only bring
embarrassment and be burden. But it is
now maze to appear in a most emphatic
ana conspicuous manner, that in Alaska
you already hold a vast possession, which
Tor all practical purposes, and to all actual
intents, is Il long way outside of your con-
lnent, and as far remote from the rest OF
your territories as any part of western Eu-
rope. You own Alaska; you mean to keep
and enjoy 1t; you would deride the idea of
surrendering 1t to any other power In
TACT, 1t constitutes most important ele-
.nent IN That empire over the North Pa
enc which belong to the United States
Yet how far away Alaska is! Hawaii
"hlch some of you would reject as remote
anu amen, Is much nearer than the Yukon,
ana lar easier to reach, besides being the
strategic key to the ocean-defense of your
racine coast, as well as the key to your
commercial domination of the North Pa
CHIC, and now appearing most conspicuous
~ OF all as the key to the protection of
itself
What is of great Importance, while Ha-
wall stands as your outpost of defense to
make impossible any naval attack from the
father Pacific, this group is not like Alas
ka, separated from the United States by an
alien dominion. 1t is separated only by the
no longer 'unplumbed, estranging sea-" for
oceans are now fathomed and bridged by
electric cables and steamship lines and
the sea has become a bond of union But
between your Canada line and the Yukon
stretch 1000 miles of not too friendly Cana
dian territory. Canada owns the klondike
itself, and is likely soon to open railway
&C nmunication with it. Then Canada will
hold short and swift inner line of transit
to the Yukon, to which you have only an
outer line Of greater length by sea, and of
a difhcult river infested by shoals, and
open only five months of the year, while
the railway can be used the year round
The Alaska Boundary.
In case of your loss Of communication
with Alaska by war, Canada will supply
the necessities of the upper Yukon settle
ments by railway. That means that she
Will practically own them. by means of
their absolute dependence on her and sever
ance from their own government. That
canditfon of things should never become
possible, and it is hardly conceivable that
Congress can fail to prevent it by SO obvious
means of securing the ocean route as the
occupation of the great Hawaiian harbor,
which TANKS it.
The Canadians are our blood cousins, yet
politically, hardly our friends. My geo.
graphical figures used above l am getting
from Blacks Atlas Of 1867. In 1t l find
the boundary between the diminion and the
Sitka panhandle of Alaska just where all
maps have always placed it till lately
that Is, running at ten leagues distance
from the heads Of the salt water inlets of
the inner coast leaving all that deeply
indented short line and thirty miles farther
inland intact as the possession of the United
States. But of late in Honolulu our eyes
have been offended by beautifully executed
Canadian maps of Alaska paraded in our
news rooms, on which the boundary is
made to run ten leagues from the outer
the heads of all the inlets and makes them
British territory, with their valuable fish
cries. 1t takes more than half the best
agricultural and grazing lands, with their
timber and mines.
This preposterous and impudent altera-
ton OF an ancient and long-agreed bound
airy appears to be seriously proposed by
Canada as a well-founded claim. OF course
1t cannot for moment be seriously con-
sidered by the United States. But it we'll
illustrates the methods used on the Ven
ezuela boundary. also the hostile and grasp
ing temper of the dominion, which inter
venes between you and your great and
valuable, but remote territory in the north
west. You have that disposition to deal
with and make account Of Congress will
hardly fail to adopt every necessary meas
ure for securing your connection with
Alaska.
Our reports from your Senate come to
us in various shapes, and our sugar and
other stocks are a trifle agitated in conse-
Quence. One week the annexationists are
elated, and the next the little royalist sheet
emits venomous Civilizations. The City of
Picking Is due at any how. and may bring
us, before the Miowera is Off with this
fresh news, good or otherwise, Of what the
Senate decides to do. or is likely to do
about the treaty. On the whole. we have
little or no expectation of any decisive news
before the middle of January at the soon
est. We wish we had cable, but that