The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07


continue their practices. If we fail to
do all that in us lies to stamp out cor
ruption we can not escape our share or
responsibility for the guilt The first
is unflinching enforcement of the law
and the cutting out Of corruption.
Alaskan Boundary.
For several years past the rapid de-
velopment of Alaska and the estab- |
lishment of growing American interests
IN regions heretofore unSurveyed and
imperfectly known brought into pronni-
nence the urgent necessity of a practi-
cal demarcatiOn Of the boundaries be-
tween the jurisdictions of the United
States and Great Britain. Although the
treaty OF 1925 between Great Britain
and Russia, the provisions of which
We're copied in the treaty Of 1867, where
by Russia conveyed Alaska to the Unit
ed States, was positive as to the con-
troll, first by Russia and later by the
United States, of a strip of territory
along the continental mainland from
the western shore of Portland canal to
Mount st. Elias, following and sur
rounding the indentationS of the coast
and including the islands to the west
ward, its description of the landward
margin of the strip was indefinite, rest
ing on the supposed existence of a con-
unuous ridge or range of mountains
Sklrting the coast. as figured in the
charts of the early navigatOrs- 1t had
at no time been possible for either par
~ III interest 10 lay QOWu, uHQ6I the
authority Of the treaty, line so obvi
ously exact according to it's provisions
as to command the assent of the other. |
For nearly three-fourths of a century
the absence of tangible local interests
demanding the exercise of positive
jurisdiction either side of the border
left the question dormant. In 1878
questions of revenue administration on
the Stikine river led to the establish |
ment of a provisional denarcation,
crossing the channel between two high
peaks on either side about twenty-four
miles above the river mouth. In 1899
similar questions growing out of the
extraordinary development of mining
interests in the region about the head
Of Lynn canal brought about tempo
rary modus vivendi, by which con-
watershed divides of the White and
Chill1oot passes and to the north of
Klukwan, on the Klehini river. These
partial and tentative adjustments could
not, i'm the very nature of things, be
satisfactory or lasting. A permanent
disposition of the matter became i'm
perative.
After unavaiIing attempts ito reach |
an understanding through a joint high
commission, followed by prolonged ne
gOtiations, conducted in an amicable
spirit, a convention between the United
States and Great Britain was signed |
January "a, 1903 providing for an exam |
ination of the subject by a mixed tri- |
bunal of six members, three on side, |
with a view to it's final disposition |
Ratifications were exchanged on March
last, whereupon the two governments
appointed their respective members. |
Those on behalf of the United States
were Elihu Root, secretary of war
Henry Cabot Lodge, a senator of the
United States, and George Turner, an
ex-senator of the United States, while
durable Lord Alverstone, lord chief jus
tice of England, Sir Louis Amable
Jette, K. c. M. G., retired judge of the
supreme court of Quebec, and A. 3.
tribunal met in London on September 8, !
under the presidency of Lord Alver-
stone. The proceedings We're expedi-
tiOuS, and marked by a friendly and
conscientious spirit. The respective
cases, counter cases, and arguments
presented the issues clearly and fully.
On the goth of October a majority of
the tribunal reached and signed an
agreement on all the questions submit
ted by the terms of the convention. BY
this award the right of the United
States to the control of a continuous
strip or border of the mainland shore,
skirting all the Underwater inlets and
sinuosities of the coast, is confirmed;
the entrance to Portland canal (con-
corning which legitimate doubt ap-
peared) is defined as passing by Ton
gass inlet and to the northwestward
of Wales and Pearse islands; a line is
Drawn from the hedO OF portland canal
to the Seth degree of north latitude; and
the interior border line of the strip Is
fixed by lines connecting certain noun
tain SUBMITS lying between Portland
canal and Mount st. Elias, and rum
ming along the crest of the divide sep
arating the coast slope from the in
land watershed at the only part of the
frontier where the drainage ridge ap-
proaches the coast within the distance
of ten. marine leagues stipulated by the
fxya a "a az Of he fritz
around the heads of Lynn canal and
it's branches.
What We Received.
While the line so traced follows the
provisional demarcation of 1878 at the
crossing of the Stikine river, and that
of 1899 at the SUBMITS of the White and
ChilkOot passes, it runs much farther
inland from the Klehini than the tenn
porary line of the later modus vivendi,
and leaves the entire mining district OF
the Porcupine river and Glacier creek
within the Jurisdiction of the United
States.
The result is satisfactory in every
way. 1t is of great material advantage
to our people in the far Northwest. Tt
has removed from the field of discussion
and possible danger a question liable to
become more acutely accentuated with
each passing year. Finally, it has fur
nished a signal proof of the fairness
and good will with which two friendly
nations can approach and determine is
sues involving national sovereignty and
by their nature incapable of submits
sion to a third power for adjudication.
The award is se1f-executing on the
vital points. To make it effective as
regards the others it only remains for
the two governments to appoint, each
on its own behalf. one or more scientific
experts, who shall, with all convenient
speed, proceed together to lay down
the boundary line in accordance with
the decision of the majority of the tri-
bunal. I recommend that the congress
make adequate provision for the APP
pointment, compensation, and expenses
"WOrth Its Weight in Gold. "
DIR. RADwAY & co. New York: