Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-22
THE CANADIAN BOUNDARY.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

The third regular session of the inter
national Joint commission will open in
Ottawa on the first Tuesday In October.
This commission has been called THE
Hague tribunal in America" It's duties
are to take up matters Of dispute relat-
ing to the water boundaries between the
United States and Canada with q view to
settling them amicably and fairly. The
commission was authorized by treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain signed In Washington in 1909.
The treaty provided that a commission
should be established consisting OF six
members. three to be appointed by the
President Of the United States and three
by the British king. Its sessions are to
be held alternately In Washington and
Ottawa, and its expenses are to be borne
equally by the two nations.
One Of the first matters referred to the
joint commission was a study Of the
boundary waters between the two coun-
tries. especially those Immediately west
OF the great lakes. Here q table-land
| composes the northern part of Minnesota
and the western part OF Ontario extend
ing more than a hundred miles on each
side OF the boundary. This table-and is
system of this continent. If not Of the
whole world. The land contains over
1900 lakes, which are sources or reser-
Voirs Tor q perfect network or small
rivers. All OF these are tributaries to
the st. Louis river. the principal tribu-
tary Of Lake Superior. and also for the
Mississippi. the Red River Of the North
and Rainy river This last is the chief
inlet to the famous Lake OF the Woods,
that has been so long the subject OF in
ternational dispute. The waters of these
small lakes and their outlets now In all
directions. A poetic Traveller, observing
the varied courses Of the streams. re-
marked: THE CULVER OF a birds wing in
this country decides whether a snowflake
adds Its mite OF moisture to the great
river flowing to the Gulf of Mexico. to
the northern rivers emptying into Hud-
eastward to the Atlantic" 1t Is doubtful
II such complex water system can be
found in any other part of the world.
Only an Indian starting his canoe in
one Of these little lakes could tell whether
its outlet would take him to the north
or to the south
Because OF this peculiar land forma-
ton. waters which rise and flow upon
one side OF the
Streams Are Fed boundary may
Both Sides of Line. oe IT'D. .r,ou's srste 70
belonging equally to the other side, and
therefore not to be disturbed without the
consent OF the government OF the other
nation. Lake Superior ia 600 feet above
sea level. This Is the lowest part of
this water system. The Lake of the
Woods IS 1000 feet above sea level, a
rise Of 400 feet. Yet larger proper
ton of the waters of the region flow to
the Lake OF the Woods than toward
Lake Superior.
The st. Louis river flows into Lake SUI
perior and furnishes the water power
for the city OF Duluth. Several years
water power by connecting the st. Louis
river with Birch lake. small body of
water in the northern part OF Mime
sofa. But Birch lake was the source of
stream which was @ tributary to Rainy
river. the boundary water between Min
nesota and Ontario. The utilization OF
this water by Duluth might, therefore,
interfere with the navigation and other
an Injunction was issued to restrain the
state of Minnesota from tapping a lake
within Its own borders to supply the
water needs Of town in that state.
Upon the other side. the city of Win
nipeg. with q population Of over 200 O00.
had the permission of the Canadian gov
eminent to locate municipal water
power plant upon the Winnipeg river,
which is an outlet Of the Lake of the
Woods. This plant supplies the power
to light the city, the motive power for
the street railways and other public in
terests and is seemingly essential to the
citys development. The citizens Of the
United States had just cause for COM
plant because this utilization OF bound
airy waters affects the supply of water
which they were equally entitled to.
These two great cities OF the northwest.
one In the United States and one in
Annnricq mill
apart. Yet they are contrasting for the
use OF water from the same system, and
any advantage given to one will be at
the expense of the other.
The adjustment of such water prob
lens with due regard to the interests
of each party might be complex
problem even If all were under one ma
tiona1 jurisdiction. When they come
justment seems hopeless. A complaint
upon the part of an American citizen
came first to Washington, then was
forwarded to London, then to Ottawa
around the circuit again. The Cana
dian complaint took the opposite
course but the result was hopeless to
both. No one was to blame, because
no one had any definite knowledge or
authority to investigate the matter
fully. Each government was thou
sands of miles away from the seat Of
complaint.
The appointment Of this joint COM
mission is great advance in the So
luton Of all
AnYions In Devotion problems which
;, may come up for
VIC WSte1 1VWei. o t h nations.
The residents on each side Of the bound
airy are anxious to develop their COM
mon water power to their own adj
vantage, each under the authority of
it's own government. ,The fountain
head which supplies all boundary
waters must be regarded as interna-
tionaL whether it Is located upon ono