The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-10
FAIRBANKS RETURNS.
From His Trip to Alaska to See About
Boundary Line.

Tacoma, Wash, July 1O.-The Fair
banks Foster Alaskan boundary party
returned from the north today, and in
terviews with members Of the party IN
dicate that the watershed on White
pass, back Of Skaguay and Dyea, will
be accepted as the international bOun-
Diary line at that point. The White and
ChiIcoot passes constitute the storm
center of the Alaska boundary. At
these points the Canadians hope to Sc
cure concessions that Will enable them
to anchor down a port of entry into the
Klondike gold fields. All other parts Of
the country therea bouts where cOnces-
siOns are looked for are of little i'm
pOrtance compared with the Lynn canal,
which is the key to the situation Sen
atOr Fairbanks, when interviewed,
placed Importance on the fact that he
must sit with the joint high commission
IN August but declined TO state what
lines of argument he would take up.
He expressed great satisfaction in hav-
ing made the trip Regarding boundary
matters that were discussed during the
four weeks spent in Alaska, Senator
Foster declined to speak.
Personally" he said, II am opposed
to yielding an inch of United States ter
ritory. A careful investigation, how
ever, demonstrates that there may be
different constructions 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 Portland canal, or thereabO ten
marine leagues inland, except where a
we'll 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 Skaguay and Dyea is the dividing
line. On the one side the headwarers
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 the boundary
line some eighteen miles nearer the
coast. This seems to be a fair express
sion OF the American view of the boun-
dafy question BY this construction of
the treaty, it is held England will re-
ceive the benefit of every point that can
be fairly and honestly granted
On the other hand, however, the
Canadians and many of the Establishment
held that the boundary should be drawn
thirty miles, or ten marine leagues in
land from the headland. BY such a con-
struct1On, of course, Lynn canal Would
be an outlet into Canadian territory
ana ten marine leagues inland from the
headlandS at the entrance would be
many miles south of Skaguay and Dvea
and hence Canada and England would
nave the coveted port of entry without
a question of doubt. AS I look uDOn
1t, personally, Lynn canal is a part of
the ocean. Therefore, it would be IN
fair to draw line thirty miles inland
from the entrance to bodies of wafer
of that nature and call it the boundary
under the treaty"
Wednesday night a reception will be
given here to Senator Foster. CONGRESS-
men Dalze1 ard Payne, the National
Editorial association and the officers of
the Iowa and McCullOch. Senator Fair
banks has been invited to be present.
but says his duties in connection with
the boundary dispute cOmpeIs him to
leave for the east tonight via Port
land.