The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-30


ADn (which boundary dispute hages2
elatic agreement admitting . recftD
| roca7 concessions @hit@ N@al0 satsfy
aeither side.
Not least imponRane as De Gags On
De settled by che Alaskan boundary
commission is she aationality of Skag-
uay and Isyea, which are ip the ais
puted territory Gnder The nodus sA
vendi provided &y che last boundary
commission these towns and bnmedi-
ate adjacent territory are temporarily
held by the United States. but IL is cot
only desirable, but necessary. that their
permanent status should be definitely
defined.
The dispute. SO far as they arc con-
cerned, centers on the geographical
classification of The Lynn canal, upon
which they are located. The United
States authorities claim that this so
called canal is a great arm of the sea
and that under the terms of our trea-
ties with both Russia and Great Brit
ain the boundary should be thirty
knots inland from it's innermost shores.
The Canadian contention is that che
canal is territorial water. shae the real
coast line runs across it's entra nee from
headland to headland and that the
boundary should be thirty knots from
this entrance. As Skaguay. at the Aead
or the Lynn canal. is from sixty-fve to
seventy miles from she entrance. it
would become Canadian town q this
latter Interpretation were allowed.
Nevertheless Canadian vessels could
not reach che port without passing
through about thirty miles Of Omitted
States water.
Both Skaguay and Dyes are snainB
peopled by citizens of the United !
States. to which government they are
intensely loyal. Ehis has been dem.
onstrated on more than one occasions
and more than once this 9byalty has
come near precipitating a quarrel that
might have led to serious international
complications. They are Bitterly ep-
posed to Ganada and an things Cana
dian, particularly the Canadian con-
stabulary and customs officials. they
have felt and suffered under what theS
call the oppressive mining laws and
customs duties of the Dominion.
When the rich Atlin district. tust
across the old boundary line, was dis
covered by Americans. Skaguay had
beat on the strike. The American
citizens Of the town hustled across the
White pass and staked out the best
claims. BY every sort of miners right
IND justice, they declared, they owned
hese claims. Then came the Canadian
officials and insisted that they must be-
come subjects of the British crown or
i've up their claims. This in the main
hey refused to do and came back to
Skaguay and devoted their energies to
building up an American town. They
tocked their stores so thoroughly that
much of the valuable outftting trade of
ne interior came to them. They Of
cred no end Of spending opportunities
klondikers who came out with gold
n fortunes. They prospered and be-
AN to consider building up a perma-
ent city. Then again came the Cana
lans and laid claim to the town. but
ne Americans kept on doing business
nd making money. though they were
OF SO eager about the permanency of
he city.
IF the Canadians get Skaguay."
hey declared, well move the CITY," .
md doubtless they would have tried
do so. as there are plenty of har
ofs and town sites on the Lynn canal {
water that is unquestionably Ameri- ,
an where they could build up an =
city.
Skaguay stands for an American !
laska, and every mile of it can posi- E
II be secured to the stars and stripes ,