The Alaskan Boundary

Washington, Aug. 2. - The claim oí Great Britaiu to a big share of Alaska promises to oecupy a large amount oL public attention íor some time to come, if, indeed, it does not become a vital Question and give rise to diplomatic complications bctween United States and England. The claim is regarded by government officials here as preposterous. The senate', before which the boundary question was brought as the outcome of a treaty negotiated by Secretary Olney and Sir Julián Pauncefote, did not place itself on record in the matter, however. Before a vote was taken congress adjourned, so that the location of the divisional line, which lias been in dispute, since 18S4, is no any period in the last thirteen years. any period in te last thirteen years. Gen. Duffield, superintendent of the coast and geodetic survey, was a member of the boundary commission. The survey authorized by it has recently been deemed official and correct by both countries. "In substance these determinations throw the gold diggings at the mouth of Forty-Mile creek within the territory of the United States. The whok valley. of Birch creek, another most valuable gold producing part of the country, is also in the United States. Most of the gold is to the west of the crossing of the 141st meridian at FortyMile creek. If we produce the 141st merdian on a chart the mouth of Miller's creek, a tributary of Sixty-Mile creek and a valuable gold región, is flve miles west in a direct line or seven miles aceording to the winding of the stream- all within the territory of the United States. In substance, the only places in the Yukon región where gold in quantity has been found are therefore all to the west of the boundary line between Canada and the United States." It can readily be seen that the claim of the United States is directly opposed to that of the Canadians. It is true that the arbitration of the 141st meridan was favored by the United States surveyors but some of them were angered at the claims of the English with regard to Lynn creek and the whole southeastern boundary and expressed the belief that the United States would refuse to arbítrate the claims of thii portion of the boundary.