The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-21
Sir Charles Tupper's Remedies.

Sir CHARLES TUrPER, who Is now in Lon
don. is quoted as holding. in regard to the
Alaska controversy, that "if arbitration is
not to be had" Canada, by running a rail-
way through British territory exclusively
to Dawson, can seriously cut into our ship
ping trade TO the klondike.
This seems to us a sensible view to take,
and the project Ia certainly one to which
our country could make no objection.
TIL, railroad, which Sir CHARLES also adj
vocate'i recently in the Ottawa Parliament,
would run from Kitimat Harbor. in British
Columbia, to Dawson. The distance to be
covered is said to be about 700 miles, and
as the road would undoubtedly be subsi-
died, since a great part OF 1t passes
through barren and unsettled region. it
has been estimated that the cost
to the Government would be about
$3,5oo,0oo. Nevertheless. Sir CHARLES
UPPER thinks that it ought to be built,
provided Canada cannot get arbitration on
her own terms.
The railway question forms an important
part of Canadss projects regarding the
Klondike. More than two months ago the
Dominion Government announced that IL
had decided not to grant any additional
charters to railways going into the Yukon
district from Lynn canal, at the current
session Of Parliament. The ground taken
was that, should it consent to any one of
the schemes to build a railway along tho
Dalton trail from Pyramid Harbor toward
Dawson, 1t would simply be building up
another American city at the former point,
Just as when, year before last, 1t granted
charter to the British Yukon Railway Com
tpany, along tho White Pass. it contributed
to- building up tho American city of Skag-
way. II was believed that the establish
ment OF such new railroad from Pyramid
Harbor would tend to make still more
powerful tho vested interests, which want
ths boundary to stay as it is running
around the head Of Lynn canal and to pre-
vent the Dominion from carrying out Its
cherished project OF having ut least tho
upper part OF Lynn canal awarded to 1t by
arbitration. This decision affected six Yu-
kon railway projects, at that time before
Parliament, including one of a syndicate Of
American and English capitalists, who Of
fcred to build o road from Pyramid Harbor
to Fort Solkirk without subsidy.
II was said ut the time, however that
the Dominion did not object TO any project
| for building railway from waters indls-
| putably Canadian to the Yukon country
Indeed Sir WnFRTD LAuRTER was reported
as saying. IN an interview that. II Canada
could not get possession OF Pyramid Har-
Dor through arbitration OF otherwise, then
her policy would he to build a railway
wholly in Canadian territory to Observa-
InIn hn
Yukon districts. Year before last the So
called Mckenzie and Mann project. which
the Dominion Senate did not approve pro-
posed to build a railroad, in consideration
Of a very large land subsidy. from Stickeen
river to Teslin Lake, wholly through Cam
adian territory.
Sir CHARLES TUPPER's project then, Is
| one that has been for two years or more
! before the Canadian public and In a debate
| in thu, Ottawa House Of Commons. about
month ago. Sir WILFRGp LAURIER PROM
| ised that the government would seriously
! consider It, Al that time Sir CHARLES pro-
/ posed another measure for the protection
! of British and Canadian interests which
could not command International approval,
namely, that no further mining leases or
| licenses In the Canadian Yukon should be
| granted to any other persons than British
subjects. He asked that a law should be
enacted by the Parliament for this purpose,
| to take effect only after proclamation Of
| tbe Governor General and Council. Even
although all existing claims OF Americans
| would be respected, and although the
| American miners Hre now estimated by Sir
! CHARLES at sixty per cent. OF the whole,
and by the Canadian Minister OF the Inter
Tor as much greater percentage, yet we
should consider that measure as lll-advised.
1t would suggest the question Of retalla-