The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-07-13

The Trite Facts About the Alaska
boundary Line.

These, in nutshell, are the essential
facts about the Alaska boundary dispute:
The boundary was defined in tn. treaty
of 1867, by which the United States pur-
chased Alaska from Russia, in the terms
used in the previous treaty between Great
Britain and Russia By that definition
the line runs from the sOuthernmost point
of Prince of Wales island in latitude 54 40
up Portland channel to the 56th parallel
of latitude, thence along "the summit of
the mountains parallel to the coast to the
141st meridian of west longitude thence
along that meridian to the frozen sea-
Two added sections said:
First-That Prince of Wales island should
belong to the United States.
Seccnd-That when the summit of the
mountains should be more than ten marine
leagues from the ocean the line should
run parallel with the sea and not more
than ten leagues away from it. In 1867
and for some years thereafter every map
Russian, British and Canadian, we'll
as American-showed the boundary as it is
now claimed by the United States.
Previous to 1867 the Hudson Bay Co. had
conceded the boundary as claimed by the
United States by leasing from Russia the
coast lands within it.
Sine years after the treaty of 1867 Can
adam officials discovered that there are
two Prince of Wales islands, a big one
and little one.
land channel, was evidently the one meant
in the treaty.
The Canadians claimed that the larger
island to the westward, whose southern point
also comes down to latitude $40, was the
one meant. To reconcile this with the Ian
guage of the treaty they claim that the lines
pass northward. not Though Portland chan
mel at all, but through Clarence straight,
Boehm channel and Burroughs bay.
This line would cut off many islands
sold by Russia to the United States.
Canada also claims that the mountain
summit of the treaty means the low hills
next the coast; so that the 30mile
line is to be measured, not from the main
land coast, but from the outer line of the
islands along the coast.
From Mount st. Elias northward there
is no dispute about the line. 1t only needs
surveying
In other words the Canadian claim is
that the treaty when Il says Portland chan
nell does not mean Portland channel; that
when it says ocean, it means sounds
or land locked bays, and that all maps ex-
cept Canadian maps absurd.
The Canadian line leaF@ everywhere on
ly narrow strip of. and conceded to the
United States. 1t OUTS hcross deep har-
bors from headland to headland.
There are three arguments for the Can
adam claim. They are, in the order of
their Importance:
First-Canada wants the disputed strip.
Secnd-Great Britainss feet on the Pa
c eific is stronger thap, that of the United
Third-Alaska can't be reached by land.
When the United States wished to sub
init the question to arbitration Canada
on condition that her claim to
Dyea and Skaguay be arbitrated, and that
In any even one port on tide water be con-
coded to her.
A Canadian tide water port would be
peculiar outcome of a 30-mile- from the
coast-]1ne; the United States refused. The
recent conference was a failure.
Great Britain is apparently willing to ar
bitrate the question of the boundary. Can
ada is not.
The matter has gone so far now that any |
decision would probably be in the nature |
Of a compromise. The Dominion is will |
ing to risk compromised the most i'm |
portant point, seaport in the Klondike |
region, is conceded her beforehand.-New |
York World