The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-07-31
SUNDAY SOCIAL.
MR. GRAVES ON BONDING.

The yoplv point made by President Graves, of the White Pass x Yukon route, against the suspension of the bonding priv iiegs Is that it would promote the construe- tion of an all Canadian railway, and thus divert considerable portion of the Yukon traffic from this route. This, he truly says, no Skagwayan wants.
 The; fact that Seattle would reach out for the Yukon trade in competition with SkagMav counts for snaught. All themer- chants of this city desire is an opportunity to compete on an even basis with those of other points, Our geographical position is all the advantage needed.
 The fact that most of the goods now be- ing shipped through this port from Victo- ria and Vancouver may be American goods, and are shipped that way, and handled by Canadian wholesalers, because of discrim. mating Canadian regulations, rather than being defense for existing conditions, is one of the urgent arguments used bv Amer. lean merchants and American shipping In terests for the change asked for. The geo graphical. political and physical situation has ordained that Skagwav merchants and American shipping companies should han de those goods and reap the attending profit, and the only reason that it is other wise Is on account of the extremely liberal American and the stringent Canadian cus- toms regulations.
 Mr. Graves statement that Canada gave the United States the right to ship goods from Bennett to the American Yukon points is only partly true. On paper we have the right, but, in fact. It is hedged about by 80 many restrictions that our peo- pie find Ii unproftable to avail themselves of While we permit Canadians to give individual bonds, thev- require in all in stances deposit of cash equivalent to the duty and thls Is only gotten back after great delay. But this is not all; they dc not permit liquors to go through under any circumstance, while Americans have per. mitted the shipment of Canadian liquors through their territory for years. These things, together with the fact that Amer jeans can purchase American goods al Dawson, get an American consuPs certif- cate that they are American goods to be re- enteredin the United States, and then get them back into American territory, duty free, have deprived our merchants of even the trade on the American Yukon.
 Now as to the all Canadian railway. It is known that the present Canadian gov eminent Is already committed to the con struetion of a line to the Yukon to be all within Canadian territory. and such line will surely be built If conditions remain as they are. The uncertainty of the situ. alton 50 long as the transportation Is partly within American territory will induce the Canadiansmanufaeturers and producers to urge thls.p
 Butit will cost S2o, ooo. GOO and take four or five wears time at the very best to build railroad from the Yukon to Port Simpson or to a connection with the Cana dian Pacific. If the bonding privilege were suspended and it became evident that Americans were in position to control the entire trafhcof the Yukon for four or five years, the Canadian government would then agree to an adjustment so that all parties would have an absolutely equal chshce for the Yukon trade, and they would consentto make the. understanding permanent. Such an agreement would ob- viate the incentive for an all Canadian route and insure the stabllItyof Skagway for all time. and at the same time guaran- tee the White Pass x Yukon route profit able business forever.