The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-22

pmAfeay to the norta along the ,4sss
TIE route Il comparatively an
one IN contrast 20 whz; II Is be-
the ort41nai boundary lire be-
AIaskA an! the Northwest terri
10y. AZ - SO Easy Of access shat IL is
10y likely the ancient car OF ali the
xss would have chosen 1t as a line OF
.auon. He would more likely have
eu more rugged hundary lire, and
- IS pretty evident that he did do so. now
located. N''
=. Monuments o. the original boundary
me nave been discovered over ac miles
r ~, o. the boundary a. Il present located
Iney stand ~ far ~ discovered At points
- ane mead CT Stewart river and on the
ActeoeSfson fork and run nnmtnai,y north
and south approximately between the ;ss,h
ana is1sh meridians, bat following the
rugged contour OF the region The region
sifnoes inaccessible and there Ii not
.he shgnsest probability tina; the United
states surveyors ever tried to follow the
hne II they even knew OK 1t. but rushed
along the easier route described by the
list meridian.
sian Firms started from Dawson to pros
peot along the headwaters CT the Stewart
river. and also on the stream known ar
the McQuestion fork. These Finianders
were perfectly familiar with the monu-
menss on the Russian frontiers tina. mark
the boundary line between the cars en-
pre- and foreign countrieS
Upon reaching The MrQues.ion they
were surprised to discover one Of the Rus
san boundary monuments. and upon fur
ther prospecting they located several
others which clearly demonstrated to them
that they had discovered the origina,
eastern boundary OF Alaska. Each OF
these monuments bears the same HERO
giyphics as are found on ali the monu-
menfs marking the boundary lines OF the
cars dominions. Upon their return to
Dawson. elated with their discovery, these
hardy prospectors hastened to make re-
port to the United States consul. John
Church McCook. but that erratic public
funciionary. either not approaching the
importance OF the Information or for Some
other reason. treated the discoveries cava-
herly. not to say CONTEMPORARY.
xMM
ssH owEvER. the news was appre-
- cfated by intelligent American
business men and miners in Dawson. and
immediate steps were taken to verify the
reports made by the prospectors. Not only
were their discoveries verified. but other
monuments were discovered both further
north and toward the south Of McQuession
fork Those best qualified to judge be-
ueEe mat the original eastern boundary
line Of Alaska. wherever II may begin on
the north, runs In a southeasteriy direc-
ton. cutting the south boundary line at
point near Neskatahee. That the North
west territory authorities themselves fully
appreciate the Significance Of these dis
coverfes by the Americans Is clearly shown
by the fact that police have been placed
in the vicinity OF .hese monuments and no
American Is now permitted TO approach
them or TO prospect in the vicinity where
Ii Is supposed ether monuments stand
Leading Americans In the Klonaike,
however. have taken hold OF the matter
There are a number OF prospectors who
have valuable Information in respect to
the original limo which they would dis
close could they be assured Of protection
but as II Is they dare not open thei-
mouths.
Were the United States government 10
take up these discoveries / have no doubt
that II would be able to establish its
claim to the entire Kiondike region. and.
as l said before to many miles Of the
eastern country, all Of which II was the
Intention Of the car should be embraced
In his sale Of territory TO the United States
and certainly. X by any technical ratifica-
ton Of territorial boundary the eastern
boundary line Of Alaska has been estab-
llshed along the l&lst meridian. there are
three degrees OF land to the east. claimed