The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-26


ION which boundary dispute hinges
matte agreement admitting of recip-
rocal concessions. which would satisfy
neither side.
Not least important Of the things to
be settled by the Alaskan boundary
commission is the nationality of Skag-
uay and Dyea. which are in the dis
puted territory. Under the modus vi
vendi provided by the last boundary
commission these towns and immedi-
ate adjacent territory are temporarily
held by the United States, but it is not
only desirable, but necessary, that their
permanent status should be definitely
defined.
The dispute, SO Ear as they are con-
cerned. centers on the geographical
which they are located. The United
States authorities claim that this so
called canal is a great arm Of the sea
and that under the terms of our trea-
ties with both Russia and Great Brit
ain the boundary should be thirty
The Canadian contention is that the
canal Is territorial water. that the real
coast line runs ACROSS its entrance from
headland to. headland and that the
boundary should he thirty knots from
this entrance. AS Skaguay. at the head
of the Lynn canal. Is from sixty-fve to
seventy miles from the entrance, it
would become a Canadian town If this
latter Interpretation were allowed.
Nevertheless Canadian vessels could
not reach the port without passing
through about thirty miles of United
States water.
Both Skaguay ard Dyea are mainly
peopled by citizens of the United
States, to which government they are
intensely loyal. This has been dem-
onstrated on more than one occasion,
and more than once this loyalty has
come near precipftatfng quarrel that
might have led to serious international
complications. They are bitterly OPP
posed to Canada and all things Cana
dian, particularly the Canadian con-
stabulary and customs officials. They
have felt and suffered under what they
call the oppressive mining laws and
customs duties Of the Dominion.
When the rich Atlin district, just
across the old boundary line. was dis
covered by Americans, Skaguay had a
''beat" ON the strike. The American
citizens of the town hustled across the
White pass and staked out the best
claims. By every sort of miners right
and justice, they declared, they owned
these claims. Then came the Canadian
officials and insisted that they must he
come subjects of the British crown or
give up their claims. This in the main
they refused to do and came back to
Skaguay and devoted their energies to
building up an American town. They
stocked their stores so thoroughly that
much OF the valuable Quitting trade of
the interior came to them. They of,
fered no erd of spending opportunities
to klondikers who came out with gold.
en- fortunes. They prospered and be,
gan to consider building up a perma.
nent city. Then again came the Cana
dams and laid claim to the town, but
the Americans kept on doing business
and making money, though they were
not so eager about the permanency OF
the city.
eff the Canadians get Skaguay,'
they declared, "we'l1 move the city
And doubtless they would have tried
to do so, as there are plenty of har
boIs and town sites on the Lynn cana
In water that is unquestionably Ameri
can where they could build up ar
American city. .
Skaguay stands for an American
Alaska, and every mile of it can posi-
bly, be secured to the stars and stripes