The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-21
BUCH A POSSIBILITY PRESENTS IT.
SELF IN THE CONTROVERSY
IN alaska
CANADIANS INVITING CONFLICT
ARE AGGRESSIVE AND SEEM DE-
ICANS AT ALL HAZARDS
SOME INCIDENTS ARE CITED

Alaskan Situation-Urged That
Steps Be Taken to Establish
Americas Claim to Territory in
the Richest Regions in Alaska.
WASHINGTON, March 2O.-Important
statements concerning the Alaskan boun-
dairy line situation are given in official
correspondence now on file in the state
and territory departments, which have
never before been made public.
The controversy between the miners on
either side of the line has, within the
past week led up to a conflict with cas-
ualties. Gov. Brady. of Alaska, as long
ago as the latter part of February called
attention to the extremely threatening
condition of affairs. On Feb. q Gov.
Brady, who was here, had a conference
with both Secretary Bliss, who was then
Just leaving the cabinet, and Secretary
Hay, in which he urged that the aggres-
siVe acts of the Canadians should be
promptly met. He submitted a formal
note of warning of the impending trouble
and the possibility of bloodshed. The
note was considered at the next meeting
of the cabinet. On Feb. %, the archives
show, the governor submitted a formal
communication to the secretary of the
interior, in which he speaks of the bitter
feeling along the line that made the pres
ence of troops, in his opinion, impera-
tive, and among other things says:
The Canadians, from our way of look
Ing at matters, have constantly shown
spirit of aggressiveness, so far as the
boundary line is concerned. This is shown
in three instances There is point upon
the Stickeen river which for years has
been regarded as upon the boundary line
Thousands of miners have passed up and
down the river, merchants have done
immense business, and this was almost
recognized as the boundary line. An
American citizen is operating a quartz
ledge six miles below the recognized
boundary. The Canadian officials have
gone down six miles below him, thus
making a gap of twelve miles. They
compel him to pay duties on his supplies
which he carries in to operate this ledge
Last year. in February, an order went
out to the customs officials Of the mount
ed police to move from the recognized
stations on the boundary lines to the
summit of the passes. Our people had no
notification of such intention, but they
made the move. and some of our citizens
were at that time in favor of going up
and compelling them 70 move back by
force, but when 1 was sounded upon 1t,
of course 1 peremptorily forbade any Yuch
act.
BRITISH FLAG FLOATING.
Il took the trip to the summit of Chill
coot pass, and found the British flag fly
ing there and the customs officials collect
ing duties from all who had their goods
piled up upon the snow. l asked the Of
ficer in charge by what authority he had
moved from the lake to the summit, and
he replied by the command of his su-
perior officer. Now our customs officials
at Skaguay have not recognized these
lines so far as sending conveys over
with British goods. The conveys get
compensation from the persons they con-
vey SO far as Log Cabin, the point from
which the British moved to the summit
of the White pass.
Recently the news has reached US here
that two conveys were imprisoned for
undertaking TO continue to convoy as faI
as Log Cabin for two days. Late last
autumn the gold diggings were discov-
cred on a creek called Porcupine creek
which is a tributary to the Chilcat river
which is upon the third trail, viz: The
Dalton or Chilcat trail These discov-
they are very close to the thirtymile
limit, which We always have regarded the
boundary line. The claims have been
worked during the winter, and people are
satisfied Of their richness, and many men
have gone in with stocks of goods and
propose to start in business with the
prospect of lively mining season. This
immigration has been extensive, from the
fact that a few weeks ago the parlia-
ment of British Columbia passed an alien
act which would throw part Of the in
tended immigration into the Atlin coun-
try into the Porcupine district instead
The same aggressiveness which has beer
shown upon the Stickeen, and upon the
passes would impel the Canadians te
move down and claim this country as
belonging to them.
CONFLICT is IMMINENT.
ct think I know the temper of our peo-
pie and feel sure in saying that, If such
q step is attempted on the part of the
Canadians, a conflict will ensue. This
danger is so imminent that l deem 1t wise
that our troops in Alaska be ordered to
take possession of these lines and main
tain our sovereignty over the soil which
We claim. l see no other step for us to
take If we want to avoid a conflict with
Great Britain. I regard the Porcupine
district actually as the point of dan
ger"
secretary hay, on FeD rs, wrote TO lne
interior department a letter in which he
adverts to the boundary negotiations
Among other things he says:
I'm the whole stretch of coast boundary
line between Prince of Wales island and
Mount st. Elias there are but two local
tiles in which a boundary has been pro-
visionally established pending the even
tual determination of the entire question
of the frontier, namely, on the Stickeer
river aEd at the passes north Of Dyea
and Skaguay.
1.-The location of the so-called Panhan-
die boundary line between Alaska and
the British Northwestern territory is now
under negotiation, without agreement sc
far. Until the two governments shall
reach an accord as to the definitive boun.
dairy, it would appear that the point pro-
visionally located on the Stickeen rive,
should be respected by both governments
as a modus vivendi, without prejudice tc
the final fiXation of the line. The very
full report of the Canadian engineer, Mr.
Joseph Hunter, should, it is thought, suf.
fee to determine whether there has since