The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-04
STUDYING TIE BOUNDARY.


Hon. Francis W. CushmAn was Ia the
city hast night, leaving on the Dirsgo for
6kAgway and other Alaskan points where
be goes to make special study Of inter-
esss which concern Alaskane directly. He
= accompanied BY hi wife and mother.
II expect TO meet many friends and &C.
quaintances IT 6kagway and points which
I may visit" ssid Mr.. casnman last night.
but the main object Of my visit II to look
into the boundary question. l am aware
that some may Ay that the senate rather
than the house II likely 10 be called upon
to deal with that question. but In my judg-
ment II 10 . matter OF such. vital import.
ance TO M Ia the Northwest that ! wish
10 get AZ thoroughly acquainted with IL
and MAPS and OF these have been and am
now making q careful study.
81 have done this not with q view to
reaching q decision In accordance with the
popular belief. but as far a. I have been
able 10 determine impartiaiiy there Is real-
II but one side 10 the question There y
abundant proof from Engikh maps and
publications themselves that prior 10 the
present controversy the boundary lire
which we claim 10 be the correct one WAS
recognized by the British. 1ndeed il was
recognized In the original treaty between
Great Britain and Russia, when the terri
tory we now claim belonged 70 Russia. and
i, was again recognised In the treaty be-
tween RuMia and the United States when
the purchase OF Alaska was made.
Some time ago was reading an En-
giish publication in which the writer was
hystericaliy endeayoring 90 uphold the
claim that Great Britain h entitled to q
port At the head Of Lynn canal He said
that he was compelled to concede that there
were English maps extant which showed
the boundary line as claimed by the Amer
leans. hut that such mo- could not count
for anything az they were printed At time
when there was no controversy.
That n precisely what / think. There
was no controversy then. and there would
not have been any II American energy and
shown It 20 be one Of great wealth and
vast resources Then and not until then
did II become q subject Of controversy.
glish cousins were SO thoroughly imbued
with the idea that the head Of Lynn canal
was English and not American territory,
that they should have made an effort to
in the first instances, and by not Going 50
they showed a lack OF faith In the propo-
sition they are now contending for.
II am also going north with the intention
Of observing Alaska laws ana their opera
ton and the needs OF the people. am
naturally interested In the laws governing
sympathy with the existing law that will
use q large percentage OF the money ex-
acted from the citizens and business inter-
esfs OF Alaska by taxation for local i'm
provemenfs within the limits Of the terri
tory. I also believe that Alaska should be
given q good game law TO prevent the ex.
termination Of the game which ID valliA-
bic for food and has been ruthlessiy dis
turbec by hunters.
II have heard a great deal Of controversy
regarding the Alaska liquor law. but am
moi sufficiently familiar with the actual
condition In Alaska and the practical
working of the present law to give an opr-
ion now on this subject. hope during my
visit there TO famflsarixe myself sufIfcientIy
with this subjec. to have an intelligent
opinion thereon"