Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1903-11-12
THE ALASKA BOUNDARY
Colonel w. T. Clough's Defini.
ton of the Decision.
KEY TO THE KLoNDIKE GAINED,

Great Northern Railways Vice Pres
ident Says That the United stntes
Now Controls All Approaches BY
Sen to Alaska md All British
North America North OF $40 De-
Erecs North In itude.
Colonel w. L. Clough, vice president
Of the Great Northern railway and also
OF the Northern Securities company.
was asked recently by u reporter of the
New York Commercial Advertiser how
the Alaskan boundary decision would
affect American railroad and CONNER
cial interests. He said: The decision
of the Alaska boundary commission
gives the United States government
control of the approaches by sea TO the
entire British Klondike region and all
that part of British North America ly
ing north of 5i.4U degrees north lati-
tude. Naturally American carriers will
have greater advantage in handling
business into the general Alaskan re-
gions.
This decision merely confirms the
things that have existed for forty
years. with some changes of compara-
lively little Importance. British maps
for the past forty years have preserved
the same Alaskan boundary line prac-
ffraltt. IL Il This bat o,-x-
line runs from 54.40 degrees north lat
itude and skirts along the coast above
the heads of all the ocean inlets. SO that
from $40 degrees north all water en-
frances into the country extend through
American territory. II was the conten-
ton of the American representatives
before the board of arbitration that the
main purpose of the original concession
of that strip of ground to Russin was
to cut of the access of British North
America north of 54.40 to the Pacific
ocean. and that purpose was establish
majority Of the board.
Doubtless arrangements will be
made for goods TO pass over this strip
OF United States territory to and from
points i'm British North America In
bond. the same as goods now pass
through the United States In going to
and from Canada and other foreign
countries The principal port of en-
trance into the Klondike gold region II
Skaguay. and there are existing ar
engagements for passing goods IN bond
through United States territory One,
OF the advantages that the American
carriers will derive from the definite
settlement Of this boundary question
will be the advantage that must nat
urally exist from having both end. o;
transit controlled by the United es
government The Canadian contention
was for boundary line that would
cut across the deep inlets between their
mouths and their heads SO as to leave
the heads in British territory. This
important point the Canadians lost
THE western terminus of the pro-
jected Grand Trunk Pacific railway
will be at Port Simpson. which is at
the mouth of Portland channel the
boundary water between British North
America and Alaska. Two islands In
the mouth of the entrance TO Port
Simpson were awarded to the United
States by the Alaskan commission
against the protests of the Canadians,
who claimed that il would be a menace
to the western terminus of Canadian
transcontinental railway line to have
this channel commanded in military
sense by territory in possession Of an
other government.
practically this Alaskan boundary
decision makes more secure existing
American projects. do not expect
that il will cause any additional rail
way construction by American inter
ests; not right away at any rate.
Quite naturally the local development
Of Alaska will be stimulated. All of
that region along the north Pacific
coast has fine. mild climate The
mean temperature of Sitka and Phila
delphia are nearly the same. that of |
Sitka being more equable. owing to its |
location on the ocean. The inlet region |
Of which the United States has been |
awarded absolute control is covered by |
forests. and presume that |
minerals will Re found there In great |
abundance. The fisheries. too. are rich. |
In fact. the territory conceded to US Is
very valuable in itself.
The only railroad now in Alaska is
owned by American capital. but is in
no way connected with Great Northern
Or Northern Pacific interests. This is
only short line. however. connecting
the Lynn canal with the Lewes river.
which lends IN Dawson