The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-13
CANADA RANK CLAIM
Mrs. Frederick Schwatka Has
an Opinion on It.
PART OF THE WAR OF TRADE
important Incident in the Race
for Oriental Commerce.

tide-water port in Alaska is one of greai
interest to all American citizens. Thai
their alleged rights to such port car
| even be considered at all is rather un'
usual. II Is even claimed by some papers
In mir own country that this terminus
Is necessary to develop the interior OF
| British Columbia by means OF railway
lines. vet to be constructed, having tins
| northern tide-water terminus, with the
other end tapping the Canadian PacihC
railway. Before entering into discus
sion of the far-seeing policy Of the Cana
| dian government in seeking control OF
| this most desirable open all winter port
| let me say a few words about this un-
excelled garden spot Of southwestern
| Alaska
Lynn Canal, the port so greatly desired
by the Canadians, Is the northernmost
point of the inland passage the great
saltwater journey enjoyed by tourists In
visiting Alaska 1t Is divided into two
parts by a long, narrow tongue of land,
called Seduction, or Chilkoot peninsula
The southern half Of this long reach Of
the sea is known as Pyramid harbOr, 90
called from small island Of that shape
in fits center In this harbOr and along
it's southern or main shores live the Chill
koot Indians, formerly the most powerful
and aggressive natives of southeastern
Alaska. The northern half Of Lynn
Canal Is called Chillkoot Inlet. from the
Chllkoot Indians. who lived here. and. as
Ihave said, is divided from the southern
half by the long, beautiful peninsula OF
the same name. This peninsula is about
five miles in length, and from one to one
and q half in breadth. 1t Is the most
level and fertile land in this part of the
country, and will be used for raising all
the harder vegetables for this portion of
the territory when the population so war
rants. On the northern side of this same
peninsula lies the now famous Chilkoot
Inlet, the entrance to both Dyea and.
Skaguay, as these are reached by pSr-
ing up tts length. Dyea on the left and
Skaguay to the right. Again crossing the
peninsula. where grasses and flowers
grow as luxuriantly as in Oregon, and
passing to the head Of Pyramid harbor,
or Lynn Canal, the Chilkat river empties,
and about fifteen miles above tidewater
is the main Chilkat village. Alockwohn.
Also the point OF land so desirable in the
eyes of the Canadians. 49,.
In 1885 Mr.. G. c.. Hanus, before a sem
ate committee. speaks Of 1t in this wise:
'T have been up to Chilkat," meaning
Klockwohn. ST was sent up theraaduring
some trouoble-and there / saw the grass
growing an dtrees and everything in a
fiourishing condition. It looked more like
scene in some southern country than q
country so far north as Alaska" These
words but family outline the true con-
dition of this most desirable portion Of
our nearest colony. The Chilkat Indians,
like almost savages, knew a good thing
in the selection Of a fine natural site, and
the advantages to be gained from such
position. In fact, It is the key to the
whole southeastern portion. To part with
It would be a great wrong. and would
bring on the heads of the American peo-
pie the reproaches of posterity. The policy
OF the country has been to advance, and
only the meanest and smallest governs
ment would consider for one moment
yielding its rights to this rich land.
In calling this a rich land speak ad-
visedly. In 1890 and 1891 the late Mr.
Glare was greatly interested in an at
tempt to open the trail now known as
the dalton trail" bringing from Oregon
as a nexperiment, q pack train OF about
twenty ponies and placing them here to
be used for pacing for miners entering
the Yukon basin. AS early as that date
he said the country was extremely rich
in mineral and only needed a larger
population to force people to open their
eyes to its true condition. It has never
been prospected. for the Chlkat Indians
jealOsuly guarded it in the past. A level,
well tmbered country where grasses
grow luxuriously and where all the har-
der vegetables can be raised to support
a considerable population. where fish
abound in the vast harbor, and where
undoubted mineral wealth exists Is not a
land to be lightly parted with.
There l, however. another consideration
looking to the near future that possibly
In the eyesmay make this point still more
desirable m the eyes Of the far-seeIng
Canadians. The Russian government is
at present straIning every nerve to COM
plete the Srans-Siberian railway by 1909
or 1901, which will then give an alI-rail
communication across Asia with Europe
1t will then be desirable to place a line
of steamships at the most northwesteriy
pert which would have an open all-win-
ter harbor with suitable terminus for a
railway
The bridging of Boring Strait TO con-
meet with a Trans-Siberian railway Is
simply out of question by any known
methods, and besides the Russians have
secured a more desirable southern ter
minus for their road A ferry across
Behring'S Strait is also out of the ques-
ton. as a grinding ice pack surges back
and forth through the strait the greater
part of the year. This being the case. a
harbor blocked by Ice even part of the
year. and having a railway terminating
on II. would be greatly handicapped.
Keeping this in mind in reference TO
Bering sea coast ii may be said that no
harbor exists there. for above Bristol bay
! all harbOrs are closed by ice during the
winter St. Michael's Is icebound for a
number OF months each year. The re-
giOn about Bristol bay Is one OF dense
fogS- The terminus fer such a railway
could only be on the Pacific coast OF the
Akutan Pass. which Is the first pass be-
tween Alaska peninsula and the Aleutiaa
islands.
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