Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-07-13
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY LINE
Return of a Distinguished Party
from an Investigation on
the Ground.

| Tacoma, Wash, July 10.-The Fair
:! hanks-Foster Alaskan boundary party
returned from the north yesterday,
and interviews with members or the
party indicate that the watershed on
White pass, back of Skagway and
Dyea, viii be accepted as the interna-
tional boundary line at that point.
The White and Chilcoot passes con-
stitute the storm center of the Alaska
boundary. At those points the "a
nadians hope to secure concessions
that will enable them to anchor down
a port of entry into the klondlke
gold fields. All other parts of the
country thereabouts where concessions
are looked for are of little import
ance compared with the Linn canal,
which is the key to the situation.
Senator Fairbanks, when inter-
viewed, placed Importance on the
fact that he must sit with the joint
high commission in August. but de-
clined to state what lines or argument
he would take up. He expressed great
satisfaction at having made the trip
Regarding boundary matters ttat
were discussed during the four weeks
spent in Alaska, Senator Foster de-
clined to speak.
Personally he said. "T am opposed
to yielding an incn of United States
territory A careful investigation.
however, demonstrates that there may
be different constructions placed upon
the treaties involved as regards chan.
nels, the situation of lesser islands
and the like. But, in the main, the
United States is plainly given strip
of territory north of Portland canal, or
Whereabouts, ten marine leagues in
land, except where a well-defined
mountain range places the boundary
nearer the coast. This strip runs to
Mount ST. Elias.
Many contend at the passes that the
watershed back of Skagway 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 that, in the opinion of
some. bring in the boundary line some
eighteen miles nearer the coast. This
seems to be a fair expression of the
American view of the boundary ques.
ton. By this construction f the treaty,
it is held England will receive the ben
eft of every point that can be fairly
and honestly granted. On the other
hand, however, the Canadian, and
many of the Englishmen, hold that the
boundary should be drawn 80 miles.
or ten marine leagues inland from the
headlands. But such construction. |
of course, Lynn canal would be an in |
let into Canadian territory, and ten
marine leagues inland from the head |
lands at the entrance would be many |
miles south of Skagway and Dyea, and |
hence Canada and England would |
have the coveted power of entry with |
out a question of doubt. AS I look |
upon it. personally, Lynn canal is
part of the ocean. Therefore, it would |
be unfair to draw line so miles in- |
land from the entrance to bodies OF /
water of that nature, and call it the |
boundary under the treaty.
Wednesday night a reception will be
given here to Senator Foster, Con-
gressmen Dalzell and Payne, the ma
tional Editorial association, the off.
GERS of the Iowa and McCulloch. Sen.
ator Fairbanks had been invited to be
present, but his duties in connection
with the boundary dispute compelled
him to leave for the east last night
rio Dor+loD5