The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-25

Special Correspondence Post-Intelligencer.
SKAGWAY. Aug. l6-The report is
brought from Haines by 5. Weitzmann,
merchant of that place. now in Skag-
way, that the Canadian authorities intend
to soon move the customs house on the
Dalton trail from its present location TO
the mouth of the Kiaheena river This
would mean the moving of the station
eighteen miles nearer tidewater on Lynn
canal. and TO the point of nearest APP
proach of the provisional boundary on
that trail to tidewater on the canal
IL would also mean the establishment
Of the customs house at the entrance to
the American mining camp known as
the Poreupine district Under the Gus
tomary rule then, all goods going into the
Porcupine would have 10 pass through
Canadian territory and be subject to duty,
or would have TO be carried in bond.
Il have it,, said Weitzmann, while in
Skagway today, that Gold Commissioner
Graham, of the Atlin district. is soon TO
pass through Skagway, en- route 10 the
Porcupine, to have the customs house
moved to the mouth of the Klaheena. The
mean payment OF duties or shipping in
bond In connection with all goods for the
Porcupine district, including the city OF
Porcupine.
1T will not affect the merchants at
Haines. but the miners and others taking
goods into the district will have to pay.
Al present the customs house Is at Pleas.
ant camp. a Northwest mounted police
post on the trail on the original boundary,
seven miles back OF porcupne.
THE goods now go up the river by
canoes handled by the Indians. The heavy
freighting is done up the river in the win
ter over the ice. The train now following
up the river Is the only one possible 20
be built into the country from the coast,
and this trail winds back and forth sew
eral times across the Klaheena river,
now on the american side, now, on the
Canadian. The Canadians. therefore,
have control. for the stream proper is all
on the Canadian side. The boundary line
follows tho southern bank Of the Kla-
heena, and the Porcuplne district Is con-
tiguous to and south of the southern side
Of the river.
1T has been said that a trail could be
built into the Porcupine country which
would be wholly in American territory,
but | say 1t cannot. because the kla-
heena river furnishes tho only entrance
through mountainous country The
mountains on the American side OF the
stream are too high FOR one to even think
Of building trail over them.
Glacier creek, In which the Americans
have claims, and which, by the recen,
British side Is being worked on several
claims. Christmas creek, n tributary 70
Glacier, also on the British side, Is also
being worked 70 some extent. In the
Porcupine district proper. on the Ameri-
can side. Mckinley, Calhoun and Nugget
creeks are the best payers. and some arc
Porcupine district, and, what is more not
able. all are at work"
Mr.. Weitzmann, aside from telling OF the
aggression OF the Canadians on the bound.
airy. also gives valuable report ms "a
what the Russians, from whom the United
States bought Alaska, maintained as the
boundary on tho Dalton trail In regard
| TO this matter Mr.. Weitzmann says:
"The present provisional boundary runs
only four miles from tidewater. which
backs up the Chilkat river. The boundary
In Russian days was at the summit OF the
trail. far back. This ! got this year from
some of the oldest Indians living In
| Haines and Kluckwan. who were there
| In the time of the Russians They re-
member well the Russians. and at times
| had trouble with the cars people. which
| they also remember.
This summit at which tho Russian
soldiers were. should mark the boundar,
| today between tho United States and
| Canada. Sixteen miles back from Kluclx.
wan are old huts. or cabins, In which the
Russians lived. and other evidences oil
| Russians in the district stll remain AZ
| kluckwan Is q Russian graveyard, and
| over the graves wooden memorial pieces
| bearing words In the Russian Language
| The graves of Russians are common there
Another thing at klnckwan stlll IN ev.
| dence IS the cann0ns left there by the
Russians"