Evening journal., 1903-10-20
TIE BOUNDARY DECISION.

The reports from. London indicating
that the Alaskan Boundary commis-
sion has reached an agreement giving
the United states substantially every
thing she has claimed, has been re-
ceived with great disgust by Canada,
and the press of that country is in an
ugly mood; yet the decision means
that Lord Alverstone decided that II
was better for the empire to get along
without the strip Of territory than to
attempt to steal It under diplomatic
forms.
A good atlas of North America win
be useful in studying the case. Going
back to the time when Russia held
Alaska we notice that there is a
straight line from north to south di-
vidng the main body OF Alaska from
Canada, but that when it nears the
coast it swerves 10 the east ana takes
I'm "a strip of coast line TO the west Of
the Dominion. extending south to the
Portland Channel almost halfway
down the coast to the United States.
This strip embraces most that at pres
ent is valuable in Alaska. 1t contains
network Of fine waterways. offer
ing to future commerce some Of the
best harbors in the wcrld. II also en-
braces the rich gold fields recently dis
covered. and the towns that have
sprung up in consequence.
This line. excluding Canada from all
the headwaters of the various streams,
was officially established in a. treaty
between Russia and England, and the
map makers OF the world have follow
ed II. IN presenting their side OF the
case the American counsel nave Of
fered in evidence am atlas, made up
Of the maps prepared by the geograph-
ers Of all countries, including those Of
fcially appointed by England and
Canada. They an agroc, and there
was no disposition 20 question this
boundary line until gold was discov-
cred in Alaska. Then the Canadian
authorities began TO regret that khe
old line had beeh established. and from
regret they proceeded to question. and
finally they claimed considerable pari
q 4. s. ,fe.r1-' -'r'rs' -------'n 49, - .-------
of the territory.
Canada wanted two things n larg
slice Of the gold-producing territor,
and access to an the headwaters o
AZ. .t........ ,...4 ,.i.a,..,.l. .,,t.rt,,.~ fi
ocean, She not only wanted the gold
but she wished to control the com
merce OF the territory Hence, IL any
one viii follow the proposed boundar,
line which was insisted upon by Can
ada he win be given occasion to smile
1t drops suddenly to the south and thei
runs TO the east and takes in all o
the gold-producing territory. Then
passes to the south and continues Il
the Portland Channel taking ia all tn
headwaters IN its passage. 1t was al
audacious scheme. ana evidently !
was thought that by claiming so mucl
a board Of arbitration would give Can
ada something substantial.
Yet it is said that the commissio
re-establishes the original boundar
line throughout. giving Canada onl
the Portland Channel which is N
southern boundary of our territory. A
that marked our limit it was pract
cally hers anyway, and thus we ha,
commission that has followed stri,
N.,1ustice and hasn't sought to comprc
mise simply because there was cor
test. The decision win mean more
the future than at present we can e.
innate. That strip Of territory h,
immense possibilities. 1t is fertile an
adapted to agriculture. All the con
merce Of the world could ride in /
harbors. It is producing much OF Il
gold OF the world and is justifying Il
foresight which resulted in its pu
chase.