The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-09
Canada and Hudson Bay.

Sir wired Laurler is taxing time
by the forelock'' and formally an
nouncing that Canada takes formal |
possession of the waters of Hudson
bay as an Enclosed sea, subject to the
authority of the Dominion govern
ment and it's customs dues, etc.
1t is possible that no power will |
strongly dispute the Canadian claim.
In English biographies the Dominion
of Canada isrydescribed as. the upper
portion Of the North American con-
tinent, except Alaska and the portion
of Labrador that belongs to New
foundland, an independent colony.
The rights of the old Hudson Bay
company over a vast portion of the
British possessions were transferred
to the British government in 1869 for
I $1,500,000 and in 1870, they were
formally incorporated in the Dominion
of Canada, and, in 1880, an order in
council annexed to Great Britain all
British possessions, other than
Newfoundland, as were not previously
included in the Dominion. This legal
inclusion of territory took in the
present territory of Franklin within
the Arctic circle, including all the
waterways from the north to Fox
channel, which enters into Hudson
bay and Hudson strait, which gives
access to Hudson bay from the Allan
tic. A body of water inclosed by the
territory of the same nation, with the
outlets to the high seas, is generally
recognized as subject to the jurisdic-
ton of the Enclosing nation
The Canadian government Is TAX
ing this step with the idea of provid-
ing against any possible American APP
proach to these waters. Since our
government asserted and, thru intel
ligent arbitration, made good it's claim
In the Alaskan boundary contention,
the Dominion wants to make assur-
ace doubly sure as to Hudson Bay
waters, for which, however, no
covetous desires exist in the United
States. The Dominion is welcome to
the quiet possession of it's 3,653,94s
square miles of territory north Of
Uncle Sans dominions.
1t is interesting to know, however,
~ that the Dominion government is talk
ing steps to develop the resources of
the Hudson Bay country. Sir Wilfred
Laurier, commenting upon the action
of his government, states that the
time has come when Dominion inter-
ests In Hudson Bay waters can no
longer be neglected and foreign
whalers and fishermen are taking too
great liberties there, which must be
: cut short by active steps on the part
J of the Dominion government to assert
It's authority.
Gov. Noodle, in his report Of the
operations Of the government expedi-
ton sent last year to investigate con-
ditions in that region. asserts that, in
his opinion, the Hudson Bay route
to the Atlantic is perfectly feasible
as commercial proposition There
is a difference of opinion upon this
subject. The old Hudson Bay com
pany used to carry on large portion
of it's fur business and store supply
traffic from and to London thru the
Hudson strait, its principal depot be.
ing York Factory on the shores Of the
bay Experience showed that the
strait, which is in so degrees NORTH
latitude, was blocked by ice except fol
g two months in the year and, durins
those two months, there is more OF
less obstruction by floating ice.
In latter years, since the discover.
that there's large body of good farm
ing and grazing land in the Canadian
northwest, which is attracting large
immigration, interest in the possibili
ties of the Hudson Bay route has in.
creased and further investigation ha.