The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-03-31
ANOTHER DANGER.

In another column will be found the substance of dispatch from Washing ton that the High Joint Commission Is Co be assembled shortly and that again Canada will make another effort to ob- tain an outlet for her British Columbia and Yukon Territory possessions by way Of Lynn Canal. Now it Is stated that her objective point is Pyramid Harbor, and that she Is asking this to be conceded to her with a narrow strip 10 the international boundary.
 it Is the same contention as before, when Canada demanded Skagway or Dyea. She never expected to get either, and held Pyramid Harbor as the ground upon which she could com promise: the port that she would ae cspt it the other ports were refused to her.
 There is no more reason today than there was last summer that any conces. sion at all should be made to her, but there are -nore probabilities that it may be made than ever threatened before. The demands of Canada were at that time virtually turned down by the British commissioners themselves
 Since then the situation has changed. The Boer war proved to be no mere au. tumn maneuvre sort of a picnic but something intensely serious. Britain was actually in need of soldiers and had 70 call ou her colonies. The Canadian conting, nc particularly distinguished themselves for bravery. and Canada is thus in a position to ask favors from the grateful mother country, What she asks for Is Pyramid Harbor.
 The chances in her favor of at length obtaining this concession are found in the controversy in which the United States and Great Britain are now in vo.ved in regard to the fortincation Of the Nicaragua Canal. This it might have been possible Co agree upon by the ordinary diplomatic course, and there fore when Great Britain proposes that it shall be referred Co the High Joint commission. which was appointed pri- marily Co determine the boundary question. the course taken Is exceed ingly significant. It needs no geeat amount of acumen Co read between lines SO broadly written. lt means that Great Brithn has something to ask in return for her acQuiescence iu the Mic aragua Canal project, and that this something has to do very largely with the Alaska boundary question.
 Now all that our senators know Of Pyramid Harbor is that there is such a place on the map ot Alaska. and that it is not of sufficient importance even to maintain a post office there. What harm, therefore. would it do; to grant it a- a entrance to tide water for the Canadians: They do not know that it will ruin this port entirely and Cover nor Brady will never make any sugges- ton beyond that of running the bound ary line 90 as to save Co him the Indian village Of Klukwan. It seems neces> sary therefore, that the representatives Of the people of this port, the chamber Of commerce, should Immediately in- form senators and the American mem bers of the High Joint Commission of the amount of business done st this port: Of the amount invested in build- ing up the trade we have; Of the value of the investments ccntered here. and of the loss that would be entailed upon American citizens and upon Alaska by the granting to Canada Of any port on Lynn Canal. and especially one in such immediate proximity Co the port of Skagway, now the only gateway both Co the Canadian possessions beyon the boundary line and those of the United states. And whatever is done should be done quickly; for the Nicaragua Canal project Is now in high favor all over the United states and statesmen will not appreciate the value of the pro posed concession Co obtain Great Brit aims approval unless they are properly and fully informed in regard tOit. The danger that menaces Skagw avs inter- es,s this time is a real one.