Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-05-16
Alaskan boundary Dispute

Since October 20. 1882, n temporary
agreement has existed between the
United States and Great Britain in re-
gard to the boundary line between the
territory OF Alaska and Canada i'll the
region about the head OF Lynn canal
aud Of the Dalton trail, this locality
being the main approach to the
Klondike. According to the National
Land List at the point named Is the
deepest sea ~indentation on the coast al
Alaska, and since the gold discoveries
the Canadian government has set up a
claim that the head OF the inlet il within
its territory. The temporary agreement,
or modus vivendi provided that -the
government OF the United States will
at once appoint at officer or
citicarr 10 avt with those Ia he
named by the government Of her
Britannia majesty to mark the tem.
porary line agreed upon by the erection
OF posts. stakes or other appropriate tenn
porary marks" This step was taken to
prevent friction while both sides p:o.
ceeded to make up their evidence III the
case by winch the final settlement
should be determined. But word has
been received in Washington that an
official Canadian surveying party has
arbitrarily removed an old monument
erected by Russia to mark the Alaskan
boundary. President Roosevelt, acting
with commendable promptness. has
appointed an army and Il navy officer as
q commission to ascertain the facts con
corning the seriods charge.
Under the temporary arrangement
Canada has no tIdewater outlet from
the Klondike. but British custom ~oflicers
claim the right to collect duties at Skag-
way, a town on the American side OF the
provisional liue. The policy OF edging
along toward an Alaskan seaport, in
violation Of the temporary agreement,
has gone far enough.
The best plan no is TO act with de
oHion u regard TO 2 claim that naysr
occurred TO the Can adams until tho
the mineral wealth in the Alaskan
region became known. The original
treaty between Russia and Great Britain
made in 1925, defined tho boundaries
between Russian America md British
America, All the applicable clauses Of
that treaty were included literally III
the treaty OF 1867, between Russia mad
the United States, covering the transfer
OF Alaska to this country. That treaty
tixes the boundary along the crest of Il
mountain range parallel with and no,
more thar ten marine leagues the refrom.
This latter line, according to the
language OF tile treaty Of 1925. is to he
parallel to the winding OF the coast
In spite OF this plain language, the
Canadian government has pushed its
way to tho coast itself at Skagway and
Ia charged with destroying the original
Russian monume % coated, as the treaty
requires, at n GER ." 'ancc from the
winding OF tho con- 4 Ms entire con.
troyersy has bee, r%ngondered by
Canadian officials since the gold
discoveries in the Yukon. No doubt a
seaport for the dominion in TINT region
Is extremely desirable. But neither in
the treaties nor in any old map IN thcre
the slightest support for the idea TINT
thore can be a Canadian seaport on the
Alaskan coast, unless the United States
cedes it, which will never be done.
Canada will never got any such port by
purchase, c~essiou, %chicanory, insidious
course OF aggression or the destruction
OF old monuments. Tho Presidents
appointment OF the special commission
to investigate reported tampering with
the Russian monument has the hearty
support OF the country. Nothing can be
gained by te'arorizing with the absurd
claim the Canadian government is using
us n basis for continued encroachment.