The San Francisco call., 1899-07-10
CANADA MAY GET
THE COVETED PORT
Alaskan Boundary Com
mission Returns.
FOSTER Is VERY RETlCENT
WILL NOT GIVE ANY DEFINITE
INFORMATION.
Watershed Back of Dyea and Skag-
uay Will Probably Be the Boun-
Diary Line at White
Pass.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

TACOMA, Wash. July 9.-The Fair
banks-Foster Alaska boundary party re-
turned from the north to-day and inter
views with members of the party indicate
that the watershed on White Pass, back
of Skaguay and Dyea, will be accepted
as the international boundary line at that
point The White and Chicoot passes
constitute the storm center of the Alaska
boundary controversy. At these points
the Canadians hope to secure concessions
that will enable them to anchor down
port Of entry into the Klondike gold fields
and all the other parts of the country
therea bouts where concessions are looked
for are of little Importance compare
with the Lynn Canal territory, Whlch Is
the key TO the situation.
Senator Fairbanks, when interviewed
pIaced Importance on the fact that ne
must sit with the Joint High Commission
in August, but declined to state what
lines of argument he would take up lie
expressed great satisfaction at having
made the trip. Regarding boundary mat
ters that were discussed during the four
weeks spent in Alaska. Senator Foster
declined to speak.
Personally. he said, II am opposed 10
tory. a careful investigation. however,
demonstrates that there may be different
constructions placed upon the treaues m
volved as regards channels the situation
of lesser islands and the like. But. in the
main. the United States is plainly given
a strip of terrl.ory north OF portland
inland except where a Well-dehned noun
tain range places the boundary nearer the
coast This strip runs up to Mount ST
Elias Many contend at the passes that
the watershed back of Skaguay and Dyea
is the dividing line. On the one side are
the headwaters of the Yukon and on the
other the streams flowing into Lynn
Canal are formed Between these two
districts these is a chain of mountains,
thus in the opinion of some, bringing the
boundary line some eighteen miles nearer
the coast This seems to be fatr eX-
preston of the American view OF the
boundary question. BY this construction
of the treaty il is held that England will
receive the benefit of every point that can
be fairly and honestly granted. On the
other hand. however. the Canadians ana
many OF the Englishmen hold that the
boundary should be drawn thirty miles
headlands. BY such a construction, of
course Lynn Canal would be an inlet
into Canadian territory and ten marine
leagues inland from the headlands at the
entrance would be many miles south of
Skaguay and Dyea and hence Canada and
England would have the coveted port of
entry without question of doubt As
l look al it, personally, the Lynn Canal is
would be unfair to draw line thirty
miles inland from the headlands at the
entrance to bodies of water of that ma
ture and call it the boundary under the
treaty.
given here to Senator Foster, Congress
men Dalzell and Payne, the National
Editorial Association and the officers of
the Iowa and the McCulloch. Senator
Fairbanks has been invited TO be present,
but says his duties in connection with the
boundary dispute compel him to leave for
the East tonight via Portland.