New-York tribune., 1903-04-05

vessels could not reach the port without passing
through thirty-Tnie stretch of United States
water.
No one who has made the Alaskan trip can
doubt the Americanism of Skagway and Dyea
Lhey are bitterly opposed TO Canada and things
OahadIan They have felt and suffered under
nat they call the oppressive mining laws
ana customs duties of the Dominion
When the rich AtIin district just across the
old boundary line, was discovered by Americans,
! 9kagway had beat the strike. The Amer
Ican citizens of the town hustled across the
W White Pass and staked out the best claims.
BY every sort Of miners right and justice. they
declared, they owned these claims.
Then came Canadian officials, and this was
their edlct: Canada for Canadians. Become
subjects Of the crown or lose your claims"
What answer cid the American miners make?
In almost every case it was something like this:
Give up our citizenship in the grandest coun-
try that ever was? Not your life! There is
no mess Of pottaSe golden enough 10. that"
1t was the sort of patriotism that COUNTS the
kind that costs. and costs the Individual
Then they went back to Skagway and devoted
their energies to building up an American city.
They stocked their stores so thoroughly that
much of the valuable Quitting trade Of the
interior came TO them. They offered end
OF spending opportunities to KlondiEers who
came out with golden fortunes They pros
pered, and began to consider building up q per-
manent city.
Canada forced the boundary issue and laid
claim to the town. The Americans kept
doing business and making money. but they
were not so eager about the perTnanency of ths
city
If Canada gets Skagway weH move the
city, the spirit that prevailed. Doubtless
they would have tried to 90 SO, for there
harbors and town sites on Lynn Canal in water
that is unquestionably American.
Skagway has forged away ahead of Dyea
since the White Pass and Yukon Railroad was
completed across the mountains and Skagway
stands for American Alaska and every miIs
Of it that possibly be secured TO the flag
When the mounted police, during the secoL
squirt of the rush TO Dawson, moved their
toms headquarters from Lake Bennett TO th
summit Of White Pass, they raised q Brit.d
flag. 1t speedily torn down By raidiH
party from Skagway
Again the mounted policemen raised their
flag and stationed a guard to defend it. Again
a determined party set out from Skagway to
pull it down There probably would have been
bIoodshed if it had not been for the energetic
efforts Of some Americans of prominence. The
Skagway party went on to the summit. planted
a higher dagpoe q few feet nearer the sea than
was the British flag, and swung out the stars
and Stripes. The two noated there all oI- sum
mer undisturbed.
Skagway has passed through several stages
AT the beginning of the hIondike rush it
dumping place for those who could not find
room to cross the ChiIcoot Pass back Of Dyea-
A Minnea polls man put a wagon road across
White Pass, and Skagway became city OF
tents. After that it was a rough lumber town.
with every other roof of tent cloth Now it has
settled down to houses and stores like those OF
ordinary Western towns.
Skagway had a railroad before it out
of condensed milk days. The locomotive had
a cowcatcher, which was not unusual. but it
attracted the attention of a tourist from the
States, who. though a woman. had 4 of
humor.
Can you tell me-" she asked the superin-