The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-17
JeT WATCH THAT BOUNDARY.
Amrfcans Need TO Keep an Eye on
the Alaskan Dispute.


Arricans should not lose sight OF the
factshat the question Of the Alaska boun-
daryfrom Portland channel to Mount st.
Ella. over 800 statute miles in A straight
line still remains 10 be settled
Eyrybody knows that we succeeded TO
the tights Of Russia under the treaty Of
1875 n which the boundary between her
possessions and those of Great britain
was lefined The treaty makers, using
the darts Of Vancouver, which showed a
continuous range of mountains back of
the past, agreed that the boundary
shouk follow the summit of the noun
tnins situated parallel to the coast as far
as tn point OF intersection of the l4lst
degree OF west longitude Mount 81.
EnasY' and thence follow that meridian
to theArctic ocean. II happens. however,
that tere is no such mountain range.
But the treaty provided further that
whenser the summit Of the mountains
provet to be more than ten marine
Leagues or thirty nautical miles from the
coast he boundary should be formed by
a line parallel to the winding of the
coast md never more than ten marine
league from it, The American case is
simply that as the mountain range does
not exist, and. therefore, cannot be
made line of demarcation. II is neces-
sary 0 fall back upon the modifying
clause in the treaty and fix the line at
ten Marine leagues from the coast.
The Canadians insist upon running the
line oter the tops of isolated mountains
irreguarly scattered along the coast fer
the mist part. less than ten miles from
II and very far from parallel with its
windirgs. This arrangement would give
us only the western sea foot of the
mountkins. 1t would also cut off the
continuity Of our coast line, for II would
leave tie more important estuaries, bays
and hgbors In Canadian territory. This
claim $ contrary both to the spirit and
letter n the treaty. 1t was never adj
vanced by Great Britain In her dealings
either with Russia or this country until
after the discovery OF the Klondike gold.
In his recent address before the Amer
lean Geographical Society, President r.
c. Mendenhall of the Worcester Poly
technic Institute expressed regret that
the DEPARTMENT of State consented to the
Temporary arrangement OF last Octo-
Der. IL his opinion Ii would have been
safer aad better If the United States had
stood suuarely by its case in every par
ticuiar.
Mr.. Nendenhall directed the survey
which proved the nonesistenoe OF Van
couvers mountains, and he Is our lead
ing authority on the topography of that
region He is not in favor of submitting
the question to arbitration, for the re-
suit would be a compromise, regardless
OF our real rights, and these are so clear
that no concession ought to be made"
The fact Is that the best English maps
show the boundary In agreement with
the Amer ican claims No Canadian map
showed any other line than that which
we claim until after the gold discoveries.
Not a few American enterprises were be-
gun In the now disputed territory without
Il word of protest Americans and not
Canadians settled in that region. This
nation desires to do exact justice TO 9th
ers. but Il is not willing to sacrifice one
title Of its rights.--New York Sun.