The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-10
SENATOR FAIRBANKS :
TALKS 0UARDEDLY
OF HIS ALASKA TRIP.


/ lAIO1QA, any - M COktSk. SA&>~bsAS>A
steamed into the hzrbor and tied up at
the buoy fen minutes past noon. bring
ing the Fairbanks party from Alaska Col
c. w. Gfigss and . number Of prominent
citizens were At the wharf 10 welcome the
party az soon as they came ashore In the
ships launch.
Senator and Mrs Fairbanks came ashore
with Senator Foster. butte did not remain
long. and did not leave the wharf. After
chatting for = few moments with the
friends who had gathered to meet the
party they were driven to the residence Of
Col Grisss. The McCulloch soon departed
for Seattle.
I'VE had q very pleasant TRIP" said
Senator Fairbanks. "and learned great
deal about the country and its interests
We visited all the principal cities and
places Of interest. went up the 6kagway
railroad ~ far ~ 1t was completed. and
also visited some OF the gold mines.
"Skagway Is a town Of a good deal Of
Importance. As the terminus Of the steam
ship route. where the transfer Is made
fron the steamship 10 the railroad. 1t will
become large town. / was much sur
prised IT the present importance OF the
city and the magnitude Of its business in
terests-
Juneau Is a remarkably good town fer
business, and appears to be making .
steady and somew hat rapid growth.
I'VE visited the old capital. Sitka, and
while IL Is not In line for the great trade
that has grown up In that country in the
past two years, yet Sitka has some con-
siderable commerce. and historically is
mast interesting place.
Alaska Is a great country. and I am
rather invlined to believe the greatness
and Importance of it has not been fully
realized. Alaska has many important in
terests. Her gold mines and her fisheries
are the most important.
VIII Not Discuss boundary.
I'VE have secured all the Information
possible regarding the country and its re-
sources. and particularly as bearing upon
the question of the settlement OF the in
ternational boundary. about which 1t would
now hardly be proper for me to make any
comment.
We had most enjoyable time, and saw
the country pretty thoroughly Tonight /
shall have to go to Portland. and from
there to Spokane and thence East. / ex-
pect to stop over day at st. Paul and
Minneapolis. and then proceed at once TO
Washington.
Il should be delighted to stay longer here
and enjoy this fine weather but l find
that my time will not permit me ia stop
However. hope to have an opportunity 10
visit this country again. when I have more
time at my disposal. The Sound country
here IL bound to become one OF the most
important business centers OF the world.
and with the increase In the trade with
the countries tributary to the Pacific ocean
this region win be prosperous"
Senator and Mrs Foster enjoyed the trim
immensely. Mrs. Foster is greatly .m-
proved in health. Among the souvenirs
which she highly prizes is ten-pound
Spanish she'll that recalls the battle of Ma
Mia Bay; numerous Spanish buttons and
epauiets; and dozens OF Alaska keepsakes
including gold nugget worth about sss
Il believe Senator Fairbanks win deal
fairly and to our satisfaction In the Alas
Ia boundary question: Senator Foster
said He is very bright man ana has
been diiigent In looking into every phase
OF the boundary question. Personally I
am opposed to yielding an inch of our ter
ritory."
Senator Foster courteousiy declined to
give any opinion regarding Senator Fair
banks views. He considers the chairman
OF The United States high commission
sniiy competent TO represent this Country
fairly and satisfactorily, but he VIII ven
fure no limitations az 10 what ths, r4s,,,,
VIII be. He shows. however that there
are several questions regarding the ba,n-
dairy matter that are a trife hazy. sha.
there may be a question when. In the Ian.
guage OF the treaty, the boundary should
In justice, be drawn. where the noun
tain range does not place the boundary
three leagues inland il may b., lot1tsd
nearer the shore. but In Senator Fosters
opinion. the White Pass is looked unon nv
the skagwaypyea people as the na,ura,
watershed. and. IL may be infsrre. the
boundary lire
Woaid Not Yield an Inch.
Personally" he said. Il am opposed 10
Yielding an inch q United States territory.
A careful investigation however. Demon
strated that there may be different con-
struciions placed upon the treaties In.
Nolved as regards channels the situation
Ct lesser islands and the like But in the
main, the United States IS plainly given
strip Of territory. north Of Portland
canal or thereahouss. ten marine leagues
inland. sycers wke-e a we'll defined noun
tain range places the boundary nearer the
coast. This strip runs up % Mount ST.
Elias. Many contend az the Passes tia,
che watershed back OF Skagway and ny.a
is the dividing line. On the one side are
the headvasers Of the yukon, and on the
other the streams flowing into Lynn canal
are formed. Between these two districts
there is chain 81 mountains. thus, In the
oplnson OK some, bringing the boundary
lire some eighteen miles nearer the coast
This seems 10 be u fair expression of
the American view Of the boundary a,,es-
ton, BY this construction OF the treaty
!; IS held England viii receive tire benefit
of every paint that can be fairly and hos-
estiy granted. On the other hand how
ever. the CanaasaTs aud many Engfsasnen
husd THAI the herntary shaufd be drawn
thirty MILES. OF ten marine lea gy4es inland
from tho heaaiaada Bv such cnnssruc-
ton OF course Lynn canal would ~ & -