Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
MELTING GLACIER
MAY GIVE SEAWAy
British Columbia Planned to
Buy Harbor From U. S.
Nature Now Helps.
VANCOUVER. British Columbia 0pl.--

VANCOUVER, British Columbia OPP
Northern British Columbia may eventu-
alIy get harbor on the Pacific ocean
as the gift of Nature, even though pro-
posals to purchase one from the United
States come to naught.
Most of the supplies for the rich but
locked Canadian mining fields in
the Yukon must now pass through
Skagway CT other American ports and
be subject to United States customs
regulations. Ore must come back
through American outlets for shipment
The Provisional Legislature adopted
resolution favoring the breaking of this
barrier by acquisition from the United
States of the Alaskan Panhandle, but
the movement has failed to evoke SYM
pathy at Washington.
Meanwhile the melting of glacial Ice
at the head of Glacier Bay is gradually
opening up a free-water channel, ana
already there is a small amount OF
navigable water inside Canadian terri
tory and the Panhandle Of Alaska has
been cut in two.
Inlet Now Valueless.
For the present and perhaps for many
years to come the Canadians Will not
be able to use this inlet as a harbor.
Until the ice has withdrawn ccnSid-
cradle distance and trails can be opened
up into the interior it will be practically
valueless. Back of Tarr Inlet, the far
thest north portion of Glacier Bay, are
glaciers of tremendous proportions and
roads to the interior would have to
cross immense moving ice fields,
Since Capt. George Vancouver first
saw the region, in 1894, the ice has re-
coded 50 miles, shrinking at the rate OF
knIr l. will
1912. Since that time extension of open
water northward has been slower, but
Canadians are watching the opening OF
q ship channel In Glacier Bay with in
terest.
A thorough survey of the region was
ordered. j. p Forde, district engineer
for the department of public works OF
Canada, upon the completion of his
survey. recommended that further re-
cession of the ice be studied closely.
During the debate in the Legislature
over the resolution introduced by II. F.
Kergin. member from Atlin, to bring
about acquisition of the Panhandle, it
was suggested that British Columbia
could well afford to pay S7,200,0C0 for
this strip Of land about 40 miles wide
and 800 miles long. This sum would be
equivalent to the entire amount the
OAI4tCQ 1enbCS EcSAd ANNAooASh Ava SAA~ "A@bAS
of Alaska.
Heavily Timbered.
American residents of this portion of
Alaska. however, say 1t offers the most
promising prospects of Americas north
ern holdings. Immense stands of tim
Der, much Of 1t pulp wood, clothe the
rugged shores of the Panhandle, fur
nishing a potential paper supply big
enough to keep the newspapers of the
United States In paper for years. The
fishing industry is large and the sal
mon and halibut banks off the coast are
among the finest In the world
An alternative proposal of the British
Columbians, If the United States viii
not part with all of the Panhandle. is
to acquire Skagway. front door of the
Yukon, or have 1t set aside as an inter-
national port. This also has failed to
arouse serious consideration at Wash
ington.
Skagway was once a FOSTERING city
u $4,000 during the gold rush, but II
has dwindled to town Of few hun
/ fred people. A narrow gauge railroad
which clings TO the precipitous noun.
tain sides TO cross White Pass into the
Yukon, is the principal source of in
come for residents Of Skagway.