The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-11-07
Boundary Commission Did
Not Locate Entire Line
1879 MILES OF COAST UNSETTLED
Is Located Between Rates Needle anc
the Devils Paw-ls a Barren
Waste of Territory.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.-Contrary
to the general understanding, it de-
veloped in Washington that the Alas
kan boundary commission, recently in
session in London, did not finally 10
cate the entire boundary line between
British and American territory, but
that stretch Of over 1879 miles be-
tween Hates Needle and Devils Paw,
two prominent peaks lying southeast
of Skagway, is yet to be definitely
located. Because of the failure of the
commission to determine the location
Of this line, the joint surveying COM
mission that will be charged with
marking off the boundary as recently
determined will be unable to operate
over this stretch Of territory, which is
about one-fourth of the entire length
Of boundary that has been SO long in
dispute.
1t so happens that the country lying
between Hates - ills Paw
is desolate. >>,t.1less
mountain sntW -
minatioy. / e ~-~'. -,-t5A
bound7~ -n-re3o. = o.. - 80
impor .,l-, :.
velope >:-"--.
discove ere n--'i t-5.
of the i --c'~-2
over S, ~..~ ~ -, sun
discover - .-'
The boz IN 3. t
have before 70 nable
it to fix this port the boundary
with any degree of satisfaction. The
charts prepared in 1893, after the in
ternational provisional survey, omit
tual surveys had been made Of this
stretch of about 140 miles of the bOun-
dairy. With no data on which to work
the commission concluded that it had
no authority for marking a boundary
line between Hates Needle and Devils
Paw.
1t will be necessary for this govern
ment and Great Britain to enter into
further treaty negotiations before
this gap in the boundary can be filled.
Such a treaty would require ratifica
ton by the same. The international
survey commission, soon to be ap-
pointed, unlike the tribunal that sat
in London, has no legal authority and
will only mark that part of the line
laid down by the commission in Lon
don. 1t is said that at least one of
the British commissioners would have
been willing to finally settle the
boundary question during the recent
sessions by drawing a straight line
from Hates Needle to Devils Paw, but
in the absence Of reliable data the
American commissioners would not
consent, for fear they might be giving
territory rightfully the property of the
United States.
Ex-senator Turner, of Washington.
who was a member of the commission
that met in London, has paid his re-
spects to President Roosevelt. Speak
ing Of the award Senator Turner said:
1T was a just and honorable verdict,
one that accorded with the rights of
both countries. AS to the Portland
canal, that is a matter commented
upon a great deal and not yet under
stood. l prefer not to talk upon the
subject because of my position as a
member of the tribunal. However,
you may quote me thus far: The re-
suit attained on the Portland canal
particularly that portion which di-
vides the four islands between the
two countries, has been treated by the
Canadian press as if it were a COM
promise. This view is not correct. The
result was attained by strictly judicial
process, and when better understood
it will be seen to be we'll founded in
law
QOML