The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-21

poItdnl StdtcWentS concerning the Alas-
kan boundry line situation are given In
official correspondence now on file In
the state and interior departmentswhich
has never before been made public. The
controversy between the miners on
either side OF the line has within the
past week led up 10 a number OF casual
ties.
Governor Brady OF Alaska, as long ago
as the latter part Of February called at
tention TO the threatening condition OF
affairs. On Feb 2l Governor Brady,
who was here. had a conference with
both Secretary Bliss, who was then just
leaving the cabinet and Secretary Hay,
in which he urged that the aggressive
acts of the Canadians be promptly met.
He submitted formal note OF warning
or the impending trouble, and the pos
sibility OF bloodshed. The note was con-
sidered at the next cabinet meeting.
On Feb. %, the archives show, the gov
ernor submitted a formal communica-
ton 10 the secretary OF the interior. I'm
which he speaks of the bitter feeling
along the line that makes the presence OF
troops, In his opinion. Imperative. and
among other things says:
THE Canadians, from our way OF
looking at matters, have constantly
shown a spirit of aggression so far az
the boundary line is concerned. This is
shown In three instances. There IL a
point upon the Stickine river which for
years has been regarded as upon the
boundary line. Thousands of miners
have passed up and down the river, mer-
chants have done an immense business
and this was always recognized as the
boundary line. An American citizen is
operating a quartz ledge six miles below
the recognized boundary The Canadian
officials have gone down six miles below
him, thus making a gap of IL miles.
They compel him To pay duties upon his
supplies which he carries in TO operate
this ledge
Last year I'm February, an order went
out TO the customs officials OF the mount
ed police To move from the recognized
stations on the boundary lines TO the
summit OF the passes. our people had
no notification of such intention. but
they made the move, and some OF our
citizens We're at that time in favor OF
going up and compelling them to move
back by force. but when 1 was sounded
upon IL. or course l premptorily forbade
any such act. | took the trip to the
summit OF Chlcoot pass. and found the
British flag dying there. and the customs
officials collecting duties from all who
had their goods piled up there upon the
snow. asked the officer i'm charge by
what authority he had moved from the
lake 10 the summit. and he replied by
the command OF his superior officer.
Now our costoms officials at Skaguay
have not recognized these lines, so far
as sending conveys over with British
goods The conveys get compensation
from the persons they convoy so far as
Log Cabin. the point from which the
British moved TO the summit OF the
White pass-
Recently the news has reached US
here that two conveys were imprisoned
for undertaking TO continue TO convoy
as far as Log Cabin for two days. Late
last autumn, the gold diggings were dis
covered on a creek called Porcupine
creek. which is a tributary 10 the Chill
cat river, which is upon the third trail.
viz: the Dalton or Chilcat trail These
discoveries are proving TO be- very rich.
and they are very close to the emile
limit. where. also. We have regarded
the boundary line. The claims have
been worked during the winter. and the
people are satisfied of their richness. and
many men have gone in with stocks of
goods, and propose to start i'm business
with the prospects of a lively mining
season. This immigration has been
extensive. from the fact that few
weeks ago the parliament of British Co
lumbia passed an alien act. which would
throw srt OF the intended immigration
into the Atlin country into the Porcupine
district instead. The same aggressive
ness which has been shown upon the
Stickine and the passes would impel the
Canadians to move down and claim this
country as belonging 10 them.
81 think I know the temper OF our
people, and feel sure in saying that if
such a step Is attempted on the part of
the Canadians conflict will ensue. This
danger is so imminent that deem IL
wise that our troops in Alaska be ordered
10 take possession on these lines, and
maintain our sovereignty over the soil
which We claim. see no other step for
us 10 take if we want to avoid a CON
flict with Great Britain. 7 regard the
Porcupine district especially as the point
of danger"
secretary ray on req. 70 wrote 10 the
interior department in which he adverts
TO the boundary negotiations. Among
other things he says:
I'm the whole district OF the coast
boundary line between Prince of Wales
island and Mount ST. Elias there are
but two localities In which boundary
has been Professionally established. pend
ing the eventual determination OF the
entire question OF that frontier. namely.
OF the StiC5sinc river and at the passes
north OF Dyea and Skaguay."
Continuing. Secretary Hay says:
THE location OF the so o-called PAN
handle boundary line between Alaska
and the British northwest territory IS
now under negotiation. without agree
ment so far. Until the two governments
shall reach an accord ss TO the definite
boundary, II would appear that the point
Professionally located on the Stlckine
river should be respected by both gov
ernments az modus vivondi without