The record-union., 1899-07-10
ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
THE LYNN CANAL THE KEY TO
THE SITUATION.
Canadians Fighting to Secure Con-
cessions at the White and
Chi1coot Passes.

TACOMA CWash.), July 9.-The Fair
banks Foster Alaska boundary party
returned from the north to-day. and
interviews with members of the party
indicate that the water shed on White
Pass, back of Skaguay and Dyea, will
be accepted as the international boun-
dairy line at that point. u
The White and Chilcoot Passes con-
stitute the storm center of the Alaska
boundary controversy. AT those points
the Canadians hope to secure conces-
sions that will enable them to anchor
down a port of entry into the Klondike
gold fields, and all other parts of the
country thereabouts where concessions
are looked for are of little Importance
compared with the Lynn Canal terri
tory, which is the key to the situation.
Senator Fairbanks when interviewed.
placed Importance on the fact that he
must sit with the Joint High Commits
sion in August, but declined to state
what lines of argument he would take
UP. He expressed great satisfaction at
having made the trip.
Regarding boundary matters that
We're discussed during the four weeks
spent in Alaska, Senator Fairbanks de-
clined to speak. Personally he
said, "I am opposed to yielding an inch
of United States territory. A careful
investigation, however. demonstrates
that there may be different construc-
tions placed upon the treaties involved
as regards channels, the situation of
lesser islands and the like. But, in
the main, the United States is plainly
given a strip of territory, north of Port
land Canal, or thereabouts, ten marine
leagues inland, except where a well de-
fined mountain range places the boun-
dary nearer the coast. This strip runs
up to Mount ST Elias.
Many contend at the passes that the
water shed 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 there is a chain of
mountains, thus, in the opinion of some,
bringing the boundary line some eigh-
teen miles nearer the coast. This
seems to be a fair expression of the
American view of the boundary ques-
ton.
''By this construction of the treaty,
1t is held that England will receive the
benefit Of every point that can be fair
1y and honestly granted. On the other
hand, however, the Canadians and
many of the Englishmen hold that the
boundary should be drawn thirty miles
or ten marine leagues inland from the
headlands BY such a construction,
Of course, Lynn Canal would be an in
let into a Canadian territory and ten
marine leagues inland from the head
lands from the entrance would be many
miles south of Skaguay and Dyea, and
hence Canada and England would have
coveted port of entry without a
question of doubt.
s'As look upon it, personally, Lynn
Canal is a part of the sea or ocean.
Therefore, it will be unfair to draw a
line thirty miles inland from the head
lands at the entrances to bodies of
water of nature and call it the boun-
dary under the treaty"
Wednesday night a reception will be
given here to Senator Foster. Congress-
men Dalzell and Payne, the National
Editorial Association, the officers of
the Iowa and McCulloch.. Senator
Fairbanks has been invited to be pres
ent, but says his duties in connection
with the boundary dispute compels him
to leave for the East tonight, via
Portland.