The Nome daily nugget., 1911-07-25
Special Correspondence.)

SPOKANE, Wash, July 3-Mine owners and operators in the north and south districts of Alaska and in the province of British Columbia and northern Idaho believe that the pur- chase of the territory from the United States by the Dominion of Canada Is the only solution of the problem pre- scented in the northland by the rules of the Federal Forest Service, according to A B. Mackenzie of Rossland, B. C., who has important holdings in the province and territory, who said in an interview in Spokane. discussing the subject:
 "The proposal first mooted by the people of Alaska, who are dissatisfied with the government which the United States has accorded the territory, that Alaska should secede from the Union and become part of the Dominion of Canada, has assumed a serious phase
 "An agitation now has sprung up in the province of British Columbia, fomented by Alaska people, for the purchase of Alaska from the United States by the Dominion government, with the view to creating a new prov ince out of it. So far as I have been able to learn during my numerous trips to the northern part of British Colum- bia, which included visits to various points in southern Alaska, the senti- ment of the people of both countries is almost unanimously in favor of such action.
 "A glance at the map will show the absurdity of the present division be- tween British Columbia and Alaska. Those who have to do business in either country experience its incon- venience daily. Take the town of Stewart in the province of British Columbia, for instance It is almost on the boundary line and in locating the mines which are tributary to it the prospectors are often in doubt as to which side of the boundary line they are on.
 However. this is one of the least of their troubles. Once it is determined that they are in British Columbia they know exactly what their rights are. IT 1t should transpire that the property they desire to locate is in Alaska they are entirely at sea when it comes to determining their rights.
 "I know men up there who have spent years of time and thousands of dollars in the development of mines in the southern part of Alaska who are prevented from operating them by rules of the Forestry Department. which controls the ground intervening between their holdings and the sea their only means of transportation to a smelter.
 There Is no disposition on the part of the Canadian people 10 despoil the United States. If We can not get Alaska by treaty we do not want it at all We simply think that We are capable of bringing about quicker and more satisfactory development of Alaskan resources than are the people of the United States"
 F.. P. Spalding. general manager of the Monarch Mining Company. operat- ing near Murray, Idaho. said the operators fin various parts of the Northwest fully agree with MT Mac kenzie's contentious. adding:
 ''I mined for several years in Atlin. which is SO close to the Alaska boun- diary line that We were uncertain for a long time as to whether our claims really lay in British Columbia. I found the boundary line a serious handicap in the development of my property ard I wished frequently for it's abolition.
 Since then have met a great many of my old associates. who have been devoting their best energies to the de- velopment of Alaska. Every one of them now is absolutely discouraged