The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-12-25
THE ALASKAN
BOUNDARY COMMISSION.

The Alaskan boundary commission
determines the status OF some 90, 900
square miles OF territory and some
10000 human beings. OF the territory
the United States gained some ] 5, 900
square miles. OF the men, women
and children who had oeen on the
fence for SO many years, the United
States was awarded about all.
This victory cost the government
about $3.50, 600 $50, 600 for the ex-
pense Of surveying the boundary;
s:sa 600 In fees, hotel bills, ETC., of
our commissioners In London. In
Grants administration an estimate
made by officials placed the probable
cost Of surveying and marking the
line at 81, 500. 900.
SkaRway and Dyea are what Cana
da most desired. Skagway is the me-
tropolis OF southeastern Alaska. II
can boast Of near thrice The pOpula-
ticn Of Sitka itself, and is exceeded
In the entire territory BY only one
other city, Nome, the great gold town
to the far north, ON Bering sea.
Skagway boasted Of 3ll7 inhnbitants
Id 1900, but the number is today
near 5000. The town Is now the only
railroad terminus Ia Russian Amerl-
ca. In the early Klondike times men
pressing on to the rich gold fields
died along Chilkoot pass, to which
DYea was the key. In 1898 an aerial
railway was constructed over the
Chilkoot pass to Lake Linderinan,
and this unique enterprise shortened,
from month to day. the time be-
tween tidewater and the Yukon head
waters. A year later the tirst section
OF track 10 the first railroad OF Alaska
was laid at Skagway. This now ex-
tends northward Ill miles to White
Horse, on q branch Of the Upper Yu.
kon, crossing the newly determined
boundary at the White pass. The
pushing Of these transportation lines
made Canada's mouth water lnoreland
more. Canada claimed not only the
whole railway, with both termini,
! but the region for 40 miles to the
south, as suggested. AS it is. the
United States has the southern term
mus and the road for 20l miles north
ward. The remaining 903 miles are
! within Canadian territory now. So
this is why Canada bankers for Skag-
way, the port of entry to the Upper
! YukeH and the Klondike.
Leaving Skagway ut $3.50 a. NJ.
ALASKA tIme--on hour slower than
Pacific tinie), the regular morning
train makes q winding accent, over
steep grades along the rugged sides VI
the mountains and within an hour
and 55 minutes reaches the boundary
line ut the summit OF the Coast range
where the altitude IL 1885 feet-tht
highest point between Skagway and
St. Michael. In American terrlttr,
the tourist sees no cultivated land ex'
cept few acres in the Skagway val.
ley near the town. -Four stations
Boulder, Clifton, Glacier and Whit,
Pass-are passed before the boundar,
Is reached. Each Of these Is small
settlement OF few houses. Leaving
the new boundary at IL a. M, thu
train reaches White Horse, the north
ern terminus Of the railway, at 4;30
D. m., after passing Is stations ID
British territory.
| From White Horse to Dawson tht
trip 10 winter Is made Ia '.stages, =
drawn by four horses, which leave
twice a week, sometimes Oftener,
travel permitting. The fare from
White Horse tODaWsOn averages from
$50 to si5O, including 25 pounds Of
baggage. In summer the river lOats
will carry you the same distance fol
about $75. including board.
| On the railroad line the freight
rate is one tenth of what it was In
the days Of travel over Chilkoot pass
| Its easy TO comprehend the i'm
portsmce OF this long disputed striE
of territory, which stands as the key
to the new trade artery leading inx
Canada's Yukon territory, Besides
those mentioned ab0yc-Skagway
Dyea and the nearby railway statlOn'
the only settlements within tn,
belt claimed BY Canada, but awardet
to the United States, are Haines
J Mission, Chilkoot, Chilkat, Pyramit
Harbor, Klukwan and Seward. Th
largest Of these -Chilko0t-has pop
ulati0n uf only $50. But no -ldcscrip
! ron NJ southeastern Alaska eau we,