The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-04
PORCUP|Nt NOT INCLUDED.
DISTRICT IN AMERICAN TERRITORY
UNDER MODUs vIvENDI.
BILE Land Was Given England. but
Says IL Was Barren and Worth

Special Dispatch 10 the Post-Intalligencer.
WASHINGTON. Nov 3.-Tpon being
shown the statement by Judge Thomas
Burke. OF Seattle, that -;he United States
has surrendered twenty miles Of Ameri-
can territory 10 the Dominion OF Cana
CO." officials OF the department. Of state
say that the arrangement entered into
with Great Britain IS simply temporary
in character. and specifically provides
that by agreeing To its provisions neither
government surrenders its claims TO ter
ritory.
Il Is true that the temporary boundary
line Is located about TWO and one-haf
miles north of klukwan. and that the
previous line had been drawn north of
that point. but In view OF the reports
ceived here that the territory Is only
sparsely occupied and comparatively
valueless. the authorities did not seri-
ously object ia that temporary location.
especially when the British government
agreed 10 the establishment Of the line
so as TO include the valuable porcupine
district in American jurisdiction. and TO
prevent Canada from enjoying tide water
facilities or even reaching tide water by
river navigation.
IL is evident from a comparison Of the
American and British pretensions that
the administration scored a decided vic
tory In the provisional arrangement. and
II IS believed. with a consideration Of
the modus sivendi in the line al the
great concessions made by Great Brit
ain. that this government has gained all
that ii could reasonably have expect
ed 10.
kIondtke Not In Alaska.
It was said al the state department to-
day. after reading the article In the Post
Intaiiigencer OF October p, that there is
no possibility that the Klondike IS within
American territory. The treaty providing
for the Cession Of the Russian possessions
10 the United States, negotiated in 1851.
provides In the first article that the liist
degree Of longitude should De the boundary
line from point on that degree intersect-
81 by a chain Of mountains from the 18th
degree Of latitude 10 the point Of intersec-
ton OF the Hist degree.
So. reasons the department. no matter
whether the Russians established monu-
ments more than POO miles east of the
boundary as al present located, az stated in
a recent issue of the POst-Intelligencar.
the fact that the treaty specifically states
the Hist meridian makes that the bound
airy line. and the last survey made Is the
one recognized ny both governments.
The following is copied from the original
treaty with Russia, kept in the state de-
par,ment in this city:
Text of Russian Treaty.
His majesty. The emperor Of all the
Russias. agrees TO ce6e 20 the United
States by this convention, Immediately
upon the exchange Of the ratthcations
thereof all the territory and dominion now
possessed by his said majesty on the con-
tnent q America and in the adjacent
islands. the same being done with the
geographical limits herein get forth to-
wit. Commencing from the snuthernmnst
poin; of the island c,lle1 Prince Of wales
island which point lies on he parallel Of
- degrees minutes north latitude and
between the i3iSi and l2ad degree Of west
longitude, said line shall ascend 20 the
north along the channel called Portland
channel as far AZ the point of the noun
tain where II strikes the 18th degree os
north latitude. from the last mentioned
point the line % teuOkat;Qn shali follow
The summit Of the mountains situated
parallel 70 The coast as far as the inter
section u The l4ist degree of ives, iongi-
tude and finally from the said point II
intarsec ton The said meridian line oc The
iiist degree in It's proloneation rs far as
he frozen north -