The daily morning Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska) 1899-1904, 1899-03-24
HOLD UP AT rHE SUMMIT.


what similar TO the Canadian mounteN
police system, the sooner will Seriou
trouble and a possible OPEN tonflict b
averted. The DAILY ALASKAN some tint
ago raised this same question AMI ShoweC
the absolute neceSSitv for the creation Of
Suth bOdv. not only to protect American
miners and proSpectorS, but TO put a StoT
to the gradual embodiment on American
territory that has Characterized the action
Of the greedy Canadian officials for the las,
wear, and which, In fact. is becoming more
pronounced with every recurrence. From
a dispatch dated Washington, March ",
the government officials at the National
capital appear to be gradually arousing
themselves from their apathetic, Somnolent
state and to have reached the Semi-con-
SciouS condition Of feeling that something
cut Of the ordinary IS taking place out here,
but, whether serious or otherwise, has not
vet struck in deep enough to afford relief
to the long-Suffering inhabitants Of Alaska.
Thew cannot or will not see that the
Canadians haveibeen particularly aggreS-
Sive in this boundary question; they failed
10 interfere when the Canadians over a
wear ago planted their flag on the summit
Of White Pass and arbitrarily de-
cllred that point the boundary line
without even saying boob. The same
questionable method Of enerolehment
has been allowed to be pursued In other
directions, especially 50 in the vicinity Of
locations where the discovery Of new gold
fields in Alaska near the boundary line has
aroused the cupidity Of the Canadians. It
IS time 10 call halt. The Canadians are
pursuing 4 grab game. which, while very
successful among the SavageS Of Africa and
India, cSnnot be tolerated by Americans,
notwithstanding the mild aeouieScence on
the part Of the officials at Washington
10 everything done by the Canadians.
The American members OF the Joint
High Commission have been crimin
ally Negligent in allowing this boundary
question 10 70 bv default in their long
drawn out many SittIpgS. Il is apparent
that the Canadian members lulled the
American members 10 sleep and worked foI
the delay which thew knew would leave
the whole matter again open tor another
wear. They succeeded and the grab game
continues, Had the American members
been alive 10 the situation thew would have
recognized the fact that the gold fields OF,
Alaska were Of greater importance to the
United States than all the fishery questions
Of the entire Atlantic coast. over which so
much time was wasted IN the interest Of
few corporations. Ii IS now time for
President Mckinley TO take up the matter.
look into Il personally and endeavor 10 az
tord that protection to which the thousands
upon thousands of.AmericanS are entitled
who are here and coming in good faith, in
tent on developing not Canadian gold
fields but American gold fields. This
boundary muttle is 4 constant menace 10
American argonlutS and the Canadians are
taking advantage Of the ever slow and easy
methods al the Washington capital to steal
m on the American side foo, by foot and
claim il as their own in defiance Of interna-
tional amity, or the fact that the boundary
question IS still in abeylnce Alaska TODAY
contains one hundred thousand Americans;
a large proportion Of these are In southeast
en Alaska: the new PorcUpIne district,
forty miles west Of Skagway, promises rich
results and reports have already come in
that the Canadian police intend to move
the boundary line seven miles nearer
10 the coast in order to embrace the richest
portions Of the POrcupine section so far dis
covered. Gold quartz is being discovered
in numerous localities in this and other
valleys within 4 short radius Of Skagway;
these also must In time develop important
mines, and here again the graSping Cana
dams are trying to head these of by claim
tAik AlfS oAillulA " W lllAC d,s II Aucll
boundary line. II these several moves are
10 be allowed unmolesied there is nothing
to prevent the Canadians coming to Skag-
way next, erecting their flag and claiming
Il as the boundary line. There is eertIinly
no one here, in an Official position, TO gain
saw Il. and from past experiences the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury will merely rub his
eyes, take a wild look a, the map and
wonder how many SiwaSheS such a move
would turn over to the Canadians This
nav seem absurd, but Il IS not one-hSlf so
much so as the dense ignorance Of the gov
eminent officials al Washington regarding
the wealth and importance Of every inch
Of ground in Alaska, the necessity for
fighting for il at all costs, and the vast
population Of Americans il contains who
are entitled to the same protection given
that Of any Of the States II threatened BY
Entertainments such as already made on
Alaska bv the Canadians. This last out
rage Of insolently turning back American
eonvovs in the discharge or their duties
from the summit Of White Pass and delib-
erltely r1bbine them Of the property in
trusted to their charge is too much to bear
quietly. The summit Of White Pass has
all along been accepted as disputed terri
tory and common deceney should have
taught the Canadian officials to at least
await the decision Of the Joint High Com
mission. This is the last straw to the
many arbitrary acts Of these arrogant Ca
nadians. Patience will soon cease to be
virtue and II Self-Organized body OF
Americans goes to the summit and cleans
out the Canadians the government at
will be alone to blame for Il