IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // /w/ / wc8t point of tho Island of St. Lawrence and the south-east point of Cape Choukotaki, to the meridian of 1 7'-° west longitude ; thenee, from the inttirxection of that meridian, in a south-westerly direetion, so as to pass midway iMjtween the IsUtnd of Attou and the Copper Island of the Konnandor«ki e«uplet or group in the North Pacific Ocean, to the tncridian of 103° west longitude, so oh to include in the U^ritory conveyed the whole of tho Aleutian Islands east of that meridian." In his Annual Miwsjigo to Congress of the 2nd Deceuilier, 1872, President Orant, after reicrring to the then recent settlement of the San Jiuin Island dispute, said : — "Experience of tho difQculties attending the determination of our admitted line of boundary, after the occupation of the territory and its seltlemont by those owing allegiance to the respective Governments, ])oints to tho importance of establishing, by natural objects or other monuments, tlio actual line between the territory accpiired by purchase from Russia, and the adjoining jx)s.se8sions of ller Britannic Majesty. The region is now so sparsely occupied, that no conHicting interests of individuals or of jurisdiction are likely to interfere to the delay or embarrassment of the actual location of tho line. If deferred until population shall enU'.r and occupy the territory, some trivial contest of ncighbouri may again array the two Governments in antagonism. I therefore recommend the api>ointment of a Commission, t,o act jointly with one that may be appointed on the part of Great Britain to determine the line between our territory of Alaska and the coterminous possessions of Great Britain." An estimate of the probable cost and time of a survey of the Alaskan Iwundary- line then made on behalf of the United States' Government fixed the cost at about 1,500,000 dollars, and the time required as nine years in the field, and at least one year more for mapping the results. The suggestion was not then acted upon by Congress. In January 1886 Mr. Phelps, the United States' Minister in London, by instruc- tions of his Government, propo.sed a Mixed Commission to survey and designate the boundary-line in question, so as to alToid a basis for its establishment by Convention or otherwise. The condition of increasing Settlements apprehended by President Grant had. it was argued, assumed marked proportions: recent explorations had proved that the geographieel features of the country were wrongly described in the Treaties, and it was practically impossible to determine a Iwundary in accordance with them. The (lovemment of Canada 'vns consulted, and on the 19th March 1880, Her Majesty's Minister at Washington laid before the United States' Government the follomng Memorandum : — " Mr. Phelps' proposal was for the appointment of a Joint Commission. "The Dominion Government, however, while expressing its general agreement to a preliminary survey, has not expressed its assent to such a Commission. They consider that a preliminary survey, such as was suggested in the Prcsidt^nt's Message to Congress, is preferable to a formally constituted Joint Commission, which would involve a large expenditure of public money, and lead, perhaps, to interminable discussions. They are of opinion that the survey which they are prepared to agree to would enable the two Governments to establish a satisfactory basis for the delimitation of the frontier, and demonstrate whether tlie conditions of the Convention of 1825 are applicable to the now more or less known features of tho country." This Memorandum was submitted to the Governor-General of Canada, who stated tlmt it " expresses exactly the views of my Government in regard to this matter ; " and on the 3rd April tho United States' Government was informed that " ller Majesty's Government agree in principle to this preliminary investigation of the boundary, but that such Agreement must not bo understood necessarily to imply flie appointment of a Joint Commission." On tho 17th May, 1886, President ( leveland submitted a Message to the Senate and House of Representatives, recommending an appropriation of 100,000 dollars " for a preliminary survey of the boundary-line in question by ofllcers of the United States." Congress, howoTcr, refused tliis kppropritMiouf • • Tho matter appears to have i^f^'d tijl December 1888,' when Mr. Phelps informed Lord Salisbury that as Congress hild at last made the requisite appropriation of funds. T^' y between it of Capo Koction of Island of liie North UTritory pnt Grant, said : — nitted line lose owinif tnhliMliing, ao(|uin)il Majesty. ividiiaU or tlie actual territory, itn^nisni. one that itwcen our boundary- •t at about least one )y instruc ii^nate the k)uventioii ant had. it 1 that the ies, and it 1880, Her iinuiit the "cempnt to on. They i Mtissas^c ieh would erminable o agree to limitation f 1826 are rlio stilted er ; " and l^fiijesty's idary, but utment of he Senate liars " for e United his Oovemmont proposed to " send out an expedition for the surrey of the locality of the linn in question, and the afcortainment of the facts and data necessary to its ' delimitation ' in accordance with the spirit of the existing Treaties in re^^ard to it between (Jreat Britain and Russia and between the United States and llussin," and requested that a surreyini; party might be sent out on the part of Ilcr Majesty's Government to participate in the survey. Proposals as to the time and manner of the survey were made in a letter from the Superintendent of the United States' Coast and Geodetic Survey, of which a copy accompanied Mr. I'heliw' note. This proposal was communicated to the Govcmor-Gencral of Canada, but no Confiiimiiai I'tprr, answer hiis yet lieen returned by him. No 8774. p. is It nmy be useful to add that in 1880 Colonel Cameron, ILA., who had been ^"J,*il,""°*,'8«u previously employed in defining the eastern boundary of British Columbia, was selected "> f . as British Commissioner. lie wrote several valuable Memoranda on the subject which will bo found at pp. 41, 14, 45, 48, 03, 05, and 07 of the Confidential Paper Ko 6430 on the subject. In them, he dwelt on the geographical features of the proposals, on the inaccuracy of the Maps, and the importance of guarding ourselves against a committal to them. We consequently informed the United States' Govern- ment that wo disavowed the line laid down in the Map alluded to by Mr. Bayard in the To Mr. riiripi. statement of the 20th November, 1885, on which Mr. Phelps' application of January Augmt 'J7, ibse. 1880, before alluded to, was based. An interesting Report on the history and resources of .^Jaska, compiled by Sir L. West, from official American resources, will be found at p. 70 of the same correspondence. (Signed) CLEMENT LI. HILL. Foreign Office, February 14, 1890. Na 2. Sir J. Pauncefole to the Marquis of Salisbury, — {Received February 17.) (No. 13 ) My Lord, ^ Washington, February 0, 1890. WITH reference to previous coriespondence on the subject of the Alaska boundary, I have the honour to forward herewith a message from the President of the United States, transmitting a Report on the boundary-line between Alaska and British Columbia. I have, &c. (Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. No. 3. Colonial Office to Foreign Office. — {Received April 22.) Sir, Downing Street, April 21, 1890. WITH reference to jrour letter of the 18th February laat,* I am direotid by Lord Kniitsfoi-d to inquire whether any action baa been taken by the "united States' Gcivornment in connection with the proposed joint survey of the iLlaskan boundary. I am also to inquire whether the Marquis of Salisbury wishes any further communication to be made to the Government of Canada on this subject, no reply having been received to the despatch addressed to Lord Stanley of Preston on the 17th December, 1888, copy of which was inclosed in the letter from this Department of the 18th December, 1888. 1 am, &c. (Signed) EDWARD WINGFIELD. informed of funds, Scmiing copy of lucloiure in No. 3. 4 • -;./,,'■; No. 4. Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Sir, " " Foreipn Office, April 2.'l, 1«90. IN reply to your letter of the 2l8t instant, I am directed by tlio Alar(]iii(i nf Salisbury to tranHmit herewitli, for the information of Lord Knutsfbrd, a copy of a despatch whicli has been addressed to llcr Majesty's Mini8t<;r at Washington,* inquirmg whether any action bos been taken by tlio United States' Government • in connection with the proposed joint survey of the Alaskan lK)undary. His Lordship would be glad to learn whether any stops have been taken by the GoTPmment of Canada in regard to it. I am, &c. (Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. No. 6. The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Paunctfote. (No. 81. Confidential.) '. Sir, Foreign Office, April 24, 1800. ON the 6th December, 1888, Mr. Phelps informed Iler Majesty's Government that his Government proposed to send out an expedition for the survey of the locality of the boundary-line between Alaska and the British possessions, and the ascertain- - ment of the facts and data necessary to its delimitation in accordance with the spirit of the existing Treaties in regard to it between Great Britain and Russia, and between the United States and llussia, and requeste■* now in progress. Two partios, hulonging to the Coast and Gcodeti(; Survey, arc now in Alaska, one upon the Ulion River and the other upon its braneh, the Porcupine River, making R\u'h u tti-niiomical nnd other obaervations ih will serve for tho h>cation of tho 1 list meridia>.. "hoso parlies are su]>])nHed to haro reaelii'd their destination some time last a.itui.'. ^nrl if they nrt fortunato in tho matter of wenther and in other respects, they .I'nj \w cxjxHite*! to return hy the latt<'r Karf of (he present year. If their work thix v' ur on tho 1 list meridian proves tj havo Den successful, it is exj)C('tocast Alaska and British Columbia will be imdcrtaken. The surv.y >>f the shore-line on this part of Alaska, upon which tho I lundary-lino depiMul , h .»lrcaily well under way." I haro, &c. (Signed) .7. BLAII^B. No. 8. Foreiun Office to AUmirnlty, Sir, Foreign Office, June 12, Ifi^O. T AM directed hy tho Marquis of Sallshury to Tcqucst tiiat you will move tho Lords Commissioners of tho Admiralty to be good enough to return to this Deitnrtracnt tho Russian Clmrt No. 1346, AdmiraKy No. A 0872, showing the land b'>un(lary of the Al.aska territory ceded to tho Unitel St'itt.-s by Russia in 1807, which was sent to the Admiralty at that time. , I .am, &c. (Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. No. 9. The Marquis of Salitbury to Mr. Gosling. (No. 151.) Sir, Foreign Office, June 13, 1890. I HAVE to k'cquest that you will cndiiavour to procure ami send to this Depart- mcnt two copies of tho Russian Admiralty Chart No. 1345, which embraces the Alaska territory ceded by Russia to the United States in 1807, and of whiirh a copy was seat homo by Sir A. Buchanan with his dpspatch No. 300 of tho 23rd October, 1807. I am, &c. (Signed) SALISBURY. No, 10. Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Sir. Foreign Office, June 1 i, 1800. WITH reference to tho letter from this Ofllcc of the 23rd April, I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit herewith, for the information of tho Secretary of State for the Colonics, copies of a despatch nud its inclosurea from Her Majesty's ' 8 Minister at Wasliington,* reporting that the survey of the Alaska boundary by the United States' Government is now in progress. I am, &c. (Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. No. 11. Mr. Gosling to the Marquis of Salisbury, — {Received July 28.) (No. 198.) My Lord, St. Petersburgh, July 22, 1890. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 151 of the 13th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith copies of the Russian Admiralty Chart No. 1345, embracing the Alaska territory ceded by Russia to the United States in 1867, which, at your Lordship's request, I applied for to the Imperial Government. I have, &c. (Signed) AUDLEY GOSLING. No. 12. The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote, (No. 164.) Sir, ■ ' ■ Foreign Office, July 31, 1890. WITH reference to your despatch No. 65 of the 2nd May last, I transmit here- with, for the use of Her Majesty's Legation, a copy of the Russian Chart No. 1345,t which was forwarded to this Office in 1867 by Her Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburgh. It will be seen that only the land boundary between the Russian and United States' territories is traced upon it. In sending it homo. Sir A. Buchanan said it " consequently shoMs the point at which, in the opinion of the Russian Government, the water boundary-line in the Portland Channel terminates ;" but he did not speak of it as being the Map which was " used by the Russian Minister at Washington when negotiating the IVeaty for the cession of Alaska to the United States in 1867," as it is described in the inclosures to your despatch above referred to. I have caused a second copy of the Map to be sent to the Colonial Office, with the above explanation, for transmission, should Lord Knutsford see lit, to Major-General Cameron. I om, &c. (Signed) SALISBURY. No. 13. Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Sir, Foreign Office, July 31, 1890. I AM directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you the correspon- dence, as marked in the margin, + relative to a Map indicating the boundary of the territory of Alaska made over by Russia to the United States in 1867, of which Major-Geucral Cameron is anxious to obtain a copy. Major-Gcneral Cameron appears to be under the impression that tliis Map was used by the Russian Minister at Washington during tlic negotiations for the transfer of Alaska. It is found, liowevcr, that Avhen Her Majesty's Ambassador at St. Peters- burgh sent it home in 18G7, his Excellency merely stated that it " shows the point at which, in the opinion of the Russian Government, the water boundary -line in the Portland Channel terminates," and did not say that it was the Map which was " used by the Russian Minister at Washington when negotiating the Treaty," as is assumed by Mr. Tupper and Major-General Cameron. A copy of the Map is inclosed herewith, and Lord Salisbury will leave it to Lord Knutsford to take such steps as he may see tit for transmitting it to the Major- Genoral, with the necessary explanations. lie has so informed Sir J. Pauncofote. I am, &c. -■■• v' (Signed) T.H.SANDERSON. • No, 7. t No. U. J No«. 6, 9, and II. *G. No. 14. Colonial Office to Foreign Office. — {Received August 23.) Sir, Downing Stree', August 22, 1890. WITH reference to your letter of the 23rd April last, relating to the Alaska Boundary survey, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before rue Marquis of Salisbury, copy of a despatch, with its inclosures, from the Governor-General of Canada on the sulijcct. Lord Knutsford would be glad to be informeil whether Lord Salisbury is of opinion that any action should be taken at the present time by Her Majesty's Govern- ment, or by the Government of Canada in reference to this matter. I am, &c. (Signed) , JOHN BEAMSTON. • -:; •■V;' -:' Inclosure 1 in No. li. Lord Stanley of Preston to Lord Knutsford. (Conlidential.) Cascnpedia Uiver, Ncii' Richmond, Province of Quebec, My Lord. Jw/y 21, 1890, WITH reference to your Lordship's despatcli of the 20tli April last, requesting to be informed whether any further steps have been taken by the Canadian Government in regard to the proposed joint survey of the Alaska Boundary, T have the honour to transmit to your Lordship copy of an approved Report of a Committee of the Privy Council, which states tliat, with the exception of sending a confidential agent to inquire .vhat sm'vcys were being carried on by the United States, no stops have been taken in this direction. I have the honour to call your Lordsliip's attention to a draft Minute of Coimcil, a copy of wlu(!li is appended to the accompanying Order in Council, prepared upon a lloport of the Minister of the Interior, dated the 25th February, 1889, which has l)cen adopted by the Privy Council of Canada as an expression of the views of the Dominion Government in relation to this question. I have, &c. (Signed) STANLEY OF PRESTON. ; Inclosurc 2 in No. 14. Certified Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency the Governor- General in Council on the 30lh June, \890. THE Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a despatch dated the 2i)th April, 1890, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, '•aving reference to previous correspondence respecting the proposed joint survey by Great Britain and the United States of the Alaska Boundary. The Minister of the Interior to whom the subject was referred states that, with the exception of sending a confidential agent to inquire what surveys were being «',arried on by the United States on the coast of i\.laska, no steps have been taken in the direction indicated. The Minister, in this relation, draws the attention of Council to a draft Minute of (Council prepared ujjon his Report of the 2r)th February, 1869, a printed copy of which is hereto attached, and he submits that the Minute in (juestion applies as moU to the case to-day as when originally prepared, and he recommends that the same ])e adopted by Council as an expression of the views of the Government of Canada in relation to this question. The Committee concuiTing in tlic above, advise that a copy hereof be forwarded, confidentially, to the Right Honourable tiio Secretary of State for the Colonies. All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency's approval. (Signed) JOHN J. McGEE, Clerk, Privy CounciL [217] 10 Inclosure 3 in No. 14. Draft Minute of Council. THE Committee of the Privy Council Imve bad imdor consideration a despatch dated 17tli Deocmbcr, 18?; 8, from tlie Right Honourablo the Secrotaiy of State for the Colonies, transmitting a proposal made by the Go^■crnment of the United States in respect to the l)ouudary of Alaska, that Her Majesty's Government should send a party to join and participate with a party about to be sent to the tcrritorj' in question by the United States " in the examination and survey, in such a manner as to reach, if possible, a joint and concurrent conclusion in respect to the facts material to he deter- mined." The object of the proposed parly is further stated to be " the survey of the locality of the line in question," tlio boundary-line, " and the ascertainment of the facts and data necessary tq its delimitation in accordance with the spi'itof llic existing Treaties in regard to it liotwccn Great Britain and lUissia, and between the United States and Russia," The Minister of Iho Interior, to whom the matter was referred, observes that throughout the correspondence which accompanies the despatch of the Colonial Secre- tary, as well as in a letter upon the subject dated the 11th December, 1888, addressed directly to the Minister of the Interior by the Superintendent of the United States' Coast and Geodetic Sun'cy, it is assumed that the boundary-line prescribed by the .Anglo-Russian Convention of 1825 is impracticable, and the object of the expedition and survey proposed by the United States is therefore clearly not the ascertainment of the facts and data necessary to the delimitation of the bouiidary already provided for by international agreement, hut to " afford the geographical information requisite to the proper negotiation " of a new Ti'eaty between the United States and Great Britain, lo be substituted for the Treaty of 1825 between Great Britain and R,ussia. To tliis assumption, and the proposition based upon it, the Minister directs special attention, and he submits : — 1. That there is no evidence to show that the line prescribed by the Treaty of 1825 is impracticable, 2. That Canada cannot, therefore, assent to the assumption that it is ; and, 3. That while the Canadian Government is and always has been ready to co-operate Avith the Government of the United States in a delimitation of the boundary preseribctl by the Convention of 1825, co-operation, upon the understanding that that boundary is impracticable, would he impossible. The Minister further observes tliat on the 19th April, 1880, Sii' Lionel West, then British Minister at Washington, communicated to the Honourable Mr. Bayard, United States' Secretary of State, a Memorandum stating that the Government of Canada had expressed its general agrcc;ucn.t to a preliminary survey such as was suggesieJ in the President's Message of that year, and was of opinion that such a survey would enable the two Governments to establish a satisfactory basis for the delimitation of the frontier, and would demonstrate whether the conditions of the Convention of 1825 were applicable io tlic noAV more or less known features of the country. This was not, however, an assent to co-operate in the making of a survey on the theory that the line prescribed by the Convention of 1825 is impracticable, nor that the making of a new Treaty was necessary, but, on the contrary, was an assent to the making of a survey whicii should be conducted with the object of giving eifect to the Treaty already in existence. The Minister remarks that if co-operation were sought with the object stated, that is to say, with the object of establishing a satisfactory basis for the delimitation of the boundary pi'cscril)cd by the Anglo-Ru'sian Convention of 1825, he is inclined to the opinion, from the claims already foveshadowed by the United States in relation to Lynn Canal, the Stikine Rivei', and Porthuul Canal, that it would be necessary that a definite understanding and agreement should he arrived at between the two countries as to the purpose which the sm-veying ]>arties should have in view, otherwise tho great and manifest advantages of co-operution could not be attained. The Minister further states that tin; t'oiitention of Canada is that the words, " La Crete des montagncs situ^es paralltilemeut a la c6te," which occur in the Ilird Article of the Anglo- Russian Treaty of 1825, refer to the mountains nearest to the ocean, and not to any other mountains further inland, and he recommends that steps be taken to jisc: rtain at the earliest possible moment whether the United States accepts tiiis interpretation, and if not, that they bo invited to intimate wit!) precision what their interpretation oi: the ITIrd Article of the Treaty is, and that in the absence of agree- n ment upon this point, co-operation between survey parties sent out by Canada and the United States would not bo practicable. The Minister furtlicr observes that in respect of the portion of tlie boundary between Prince of Wales Island and the head of Portland Canal, the United States have advanced views which arc opposed to those maintained by Great Britain on behalf of Canada, and it is most desirable that an a<»reemcnt should be arrived at as to whether the Convention of 1S25 requires tliat the direction of the delimiting line shall be the most direct between the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island and the ocean entrance to Portland Canal, or is it required tliat this line shall anywhere follow a parallel of latitude ? The United States arc understood to contend that Portland Inlet is a part of the Portland Channel through ^^ hich the Ccnvention of 1825 directs the line to be run, which contention Canada (li'nios, and asserts that the passage ah)ng the coast through Pearse Channel to tiie ocean is part of Portland Canal. The corn-ct interpretation of the expression " Portland Channel," used in the ".'reaty of 1825, should be decided upon as speedily as possible. Whichever view prevails, however, the authoritative determination of the southernmost point of Prince oi "Wales Island, aiii the accurate location of any islands between Prince of Wales Island and the continent on the lino to the ocean entrance to Portland Canal, will be necessary, and co-operation in arriving at this determination could be readily assented to if the hydrograpbic survey Ijetween Prince of Wales Island and the head of Portland Canal could be undertaken by one of the vessels of the Pacific squadron of llor Majesty's Navy, it being understood that tin; British party's attention would be specially directed to the survey of the pnssage from the south of Tongas Island along the main coast through Pearse Cha mel into waters which arc admitted on both sides to form a part of Portland Canal. The Minister states that tiio Canadian CTOvernment might further co-operate with the United States in determining, Ijy astronomical observations or triauguhition, as might be agreed upon by the ollicers in charge of the respective parties to be best suited to the requirements of the case, the geographical position of a number of points on the shores of the coast strip, on which to fcuud future inland surveys. The Government of Canada might also send, during the present season, three or four survey parties to commence (he inland work mentioned, but as these parties, for the reasons already herein set forth, would require to conduct their operations independently of tlie United States' parties, it would he necessary to obtain the consent of the United States to the prosecution of so much of these surveys as would have to he performed within United States' territory, tlie same privilege being of course extended to the United States in so far as their survey parties might find it neces?r.ry to carry en tlieir woik within British territory. It would obviously tend to I'aoilitnte the completion of the necessary arrangements if Her jNIajesty's Government were to consent that all details, including future com- munication with Washington, be carried out under the direction of the Government of Canada. The Minister represents, in order that there may be no misunderstanding on tlu? subject, that any suggestions contaim-d in this Memorandum looking in the direciion of co-o])cration with the survey ])arti(!s proposed to be equipped and sent out by the T^' ' .1 States' Government, are based u])on the prcHimi])tion tliat co-opei-ation is nought for the purpose of establishing a satisfactory basis for the delimitation of the ]x)undary prescribod by the Anglo-llussian Convention of 1825. Upon that under- standing there could be no difference of opinion as to the object of both countries as regards the lllst degree of west longitude, and he recommends that the necessary steps be taken to acquaint the Government of the United States that the Governmen' of Canada is as ready as formerly to join in a delimitation of the line, under the super- vision of a Joint Commission, to auy extent required and agi-eed upon in that behiilf. Meantime it should be stated that the Government of Canada, upon its own account and at its own sole expense, sent a ])arty into the Yukon country in the spring of 1887, in charge of Mr. Willitun Ogilvie, a qualified astronomer and surveyor, who ma ",• a scries of observations for the purpose of ascertaining, and he has ascertained approximately, the point of intersection of the Yukon Biver by the 1 list degree of west longitude, besides whieli lie made an examination and surveys of the territory to the north, and us any party sent jointly by the two countries could aeeomplish vvry little r\3re than has already been done by Mr, Ogilvie, the Minister is of the opinion that the results of a joint survey at that jioint would, as far as Canada is concerned, serve no pui'pose which would justify the expenditure. 12 The Committee, concurring in the foregoing Report, advise that your Excellency be moved to forward a copy of this Minute to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies. All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency's approval. Tnclosure 4 in No. 14. Mr. Klotz to Mr. Burgess. Sir, Pre..ton, Derembrr 11, 1889. ON the 22nd August last I received verbal instructions from you to proceed to Alnska and ascertain, if possible, what surveys the Ignited States' Government is having made there preliminary to the discussion and delimitation of the boundary between Alaska and Canada. I started for Alaska the following day, and arrived in Victoria on the 1st September. To ascertain the desired information it was thought best to engage a small steam- schooner, and with it to follow the main shore-line of Alaska, beginning at Portland Channel, hoping therel)y to intercept any survey party at work. It may be stated incidentally that no sailing craft could be used in these inland ocean waters of South-eastern Alaska on account of the strong tides, calms on the one hand, and adverse winds and fierce willy-waws on the other. Upon inquiry, it wn ound that there was no steam-schooner at Victoria save the " Saturna," which was oliered for sale at 4,500 dollars, said to have cost 6,700 dollars. She is 40 feet long, 12 feet beam, draws 5 feet of watci', lias two b'niks, and is of 10 tons burthen. To buy this craft was out of the question. The otlier steam- scboonors in which Victoria parties were interested were all at the salmon canneries along the mainland coast up to the Nassc Rivoi-, and hence no definite arrangement about any of them could be made, and as the mail communication at best is only every fortnight to these canneries much valuable time would have been lost, the season being already far advanced, in corresponding with the captains of these .schooners. Heuce I decided to avail myself of the regular steam-boat of the Pacific Coast Steam- ship Company plying between Tacoma and Sitka, calling at vaiious ports on the way, amongst others at Victoria, and on the steam-boat to make the round trip of Alaska. In the meantime I had written to Mr. R. Cunningham at Poi't Essington about his steam-schooner, and had made an'angements with the Customs to allow the American steam-boat to land me on my return at Port Simpson, where I expected to find a reply from Mr, Cunningham, and possibly his craft too, wherewith to begin my coasting, in case I had till then not succeeded in my mission. Through the wreck of the " Aneon " in Naha Eay I was defciined at Victoria till Sunday the 15th September, when I boarded the " Corona," which took the place of the ill-fated " Ancon." From the nature cf my mission I travelled incognito. After a day's jouri.ey it was leamt that amongst the passengers wei-e E. Francis, United States' Pilot for South-eastern Alaska, and specially engaged Avith the United States' survey-vessel "Carlile Patterson," Mr. Swineford, ex-Governor of Alaska, George BuUene, United States' Boiler Inspector, and W. Bryant, United States' Inspector of Hulls, all men who were officially familiar with Alaska. From Mr. Francis, who has been for twenty-two years Pilot in South-eastern Alaska, the following and important inlormation was obtained : — The " Carlile Patterson " is a three-masted steamer, 135 feet long, 32 feet beam, of 800 tons displacement, barqu(!-rigged, and capable of steaming 9 knots on a con- sumption of 8 tons of coal a-day, and 7 knots on a consumption of 4iV tons of coal a-day in smooth water, and generally carries from 15,000 to 20,000 feet limiber for signals and scaffolding. She has ten officers, and a crew of fifty-two men, making sixty-two all told. Accompanying the " Patterson " are tlu'cc steam-launches ; one lias two or three buiiks for officers, and others faivard for crew. This laimch, " Cosmos," is of 16 tons, and to man it requii i h a fireman, pilot, and cook. Tiie two other launches are open, i.e., not (!overed, and of ii to 4 tons. Uurhig the past year the " Patterson " has been engaged in the survey of Stephen's Passage and Seymour Channel, delineating the shore-line and taking soundings for Ihc purposes of navigation. Stephen's Passage lies betweou Admiralty M Island and the mainland, and Soyinour Channel is a deep bay in the above cited island. No inland topographical work was done, although prominent peaks are located by triangulation, and, if an easily accessible elevation near the shore presents itself, it is occupied for the bettor determination of the location of prominent phys-ical features of the country. Otherwise the work is nearly all done from boats. After the "Patterson" an-ives on the survey ground she seldom moves about, save short distances to another anchorage, the work being done with the steam-launches and boats. For the principal triangulation along the coast, base lines of 3 to 4 miles are measured by means of one continuous piece of piano wire supported by boats (juarter to half a-mile apart, and to which a tension of 'M lbs. per mile is applied. The length of the wire is determined before and after its opplieatiou as above. In the hydrograpliic work the usual adoption of a plan of sounding-lines prior to the commencement of tlic survey is not strictly adhered to, but is niodifiod by the peculiarities incident to the survey, such as the condition of winds, weather, and cm-rents. Tlie " Patterson " has now no topographical party on board. The officers all belong to the Navy; the astronomer is generally a civilian, although at present he is an officer, too. As already mentioned, the steamer takes out each year some 15,000 to 20,000 feet of lumber for signals, both small and large. The lai'ger ones, for the primary triangulation, are from 30 to 40 feet in height, and are built of inch stuff. The " Patterson " proceeded to Alaska in April last, and returned on the 28th September. She winters at San Francisco, or more generally at the Navy Yard at Mare Island in San Pablo Bay. The office work is done on board, or in the offices of the Navy Yard. 800 to 900 miles of shore-line is considered a good season's work. This includes islands. The weather in South-eastern Alaska is very variable. During some seasons six Aveeks of continuous fine weather prevail, while the following one may have almost continuous rains. Port Simpson hi British Columbia is, and has been, the basis for longitude for the survey of South-eastern Alaska. The reason of this is, that many observations had already been taken here by British navigators prior to the beginning of the United States survey, and, besides having a Hudson's Bay post and a small Settlement, it was a desirable place for storing the United States launches, there being formerly no other place on the coast to the north (in Alaska) to offer these advantages. It is readily seen, then, that each year's observations here increased its value as a point of reference. After the " Patterson " leaves San Francisco she calls at Port Townsend, where observations for time are taken, and a comparison of chronometers made with Washington by a direct telegraphic circuit. Of chronometers, ten are carried on board. Arriving then at Port Simpson, observations are again made for time and rate before proceeding to work in Alaska. After the season's work similar observations are again made, tii-st at Port Simpson, and then at Port Townsend, thereby obtaining a determination of rate, which quantity enters directly into the observations for longitude on the survey. Cape Fanshaw on the mainland and in Prince Frederick Sound has now been accurately connected with Port Simpson, and is to be used hereafter as a point of reference for longitude. Congress appropriated 100,000 dollars in 1883 for the construction of a survey- vessel specially fitted for the ^vators of South-eastern Alaska. In compliance therewith the " Carlile Patterson " was built, and launched in January 1881. From G. Lockerby, Custom-house officer at Port Simpson, British Columbia, the information was obtained : — The " Patterson " left here on the 22nd April last, and returned on the 2ud October, on her way to San Francisco, The steam-launch " Cosmos " was then put on her ways here. Observations were taken before leaving, and again on their return here, as has always been their custom. The field of operation has been in surveying the cbaniiels south of Juneau . From D. L. Shoemaker, trader and storekeeper at Fort Wrangell, it was learned that no sui'vey- vessel has passed there during the past year save the "Patterson." The survey around Wrangell is completed. Inquiries along the coast at the various places at which we stopped elicited the same information, i.e., that the " Patterson " [217] ,, .„, .. S 14 was the only vessel engaged in surveying in South-eastern Alaska, and in continuation of her previous year's work of shore-line and hydrography. Itinerary. The route covered hy my trip in Alaska was as follows : — After passing across Dixon Entrance we stopped in succession at Tongass Narrows and Loring, in Naha Bay, both places having salmon canneries, but no other industry nor Settlement. The next landing-place was at the deserted village of Fort Wrangell. From here wo continued through the tortuous Wrangell Straits, Prince Frederick Sound, and Stephen's Passage, to Juneau, the largest settlement in Alaska, having probably 1 ,000 inhabitants, all dependent upon mining. The Great Treadwell Gold Mine, of 240 stamps, on Douglas Island, opposite Juneau, was also visited. The quartz vein of this mine is 500 feet wide, intersected by what the miners call a slate " horse." The quartz is a very low grade ore, and the gold is extmcted from the iron pyrites by the chemical process of chlorination, after first roasting the ore. Whenever free gold is found, it is in small spar veins in the quartz. The mine is an open one, and is now sunk 290 feet from the surface. The cost of mining is 85 cents per ton, and of stamping and chlorinating, 80 cents, and nets 3 dollars per ton ; 20,000 tons arc crushed monthly, so that the net profit of this mine gives the handsome sum of about 750,000 dollars a-year. From here Lynn Canal was ascended, and both Chilkat and Chilkoot Inlets entered, the former to Pyramid Island, in the vicinity of which there are three salmon canneries, the latter to the defunct Haines' Mission. Retracing our stops until Icy Strait was reached, we steamed northward into Glacier Bay, where the famous Muir Glacier was visited, walking out on its eastern flank about 2 miles. Turning south, we called at the cannery at Bartlett Bay before leaving Glacier Bay. From there, after passing through Chatham and Peril Straits, we put in at picturesque but dilapidater^ Sitka, the capital, whose glory is buried in past genera- tions. At present there are stationed at Sitka tMenty-six marines, under Lieu- tenant Turner, and belonging to the war-shiii " Pinta." For defence two howitzers are available. To await the out-going mail the steamer must always remain iwenty-four hours at Sitka. The revenue-cutter " Rush " was lying in the harbour, having quite lately returned from her cruize in Behring's Sea, where she made a number of seizures of Canadian schooners engaged in seeling on the high seas. The complement of the Rush " is forty-five men, and she carries two cannon and two Gatlings. Leaving Sitka, the return journey was begun, calling first at Killisnoo, on Admiralty Island. Here ai'c oil works, besides an Indian settlement. Several hundred barrels of oil, obtained from the herring, were taken on board. The refuse from the hydraulic presses, by means of which the oil is extracted, is roasted and ground, and shipped as fertilizer to the Spreckels sugar plantation, on the Sandwich Islands. The steamer touched again at Juneau on the return journey, and at the other places southward already mentioned. At Juneau, the United States' survey vessel " Patterson " was seen and photographed. As the special information that was desired had by this time been obtained, it was unnecessary to stop at Port Simpson, charter a steam-schooner, and coast along South-eastern Alaska. This alone would have cost mor6 than my whole trip cost. It was considered to be in the interest of the Department that the Coast Survey Office in San Francisco be visited. Accordingly, after a few days' detention at Victoria, after returning from Alaska, I proceeded to San Francisco, vi& Portland and the Mount Shasta route. There I met Lieutenant H. E. Nichols, United States' Navy, and Mr. Lawson, who, in the absence of Professor G. Davidson, is in charge of the Coast Survey Office. Both gentlemen received me most kindly, and .cheerfully answered the questions asked. lieutenant R. E. Nichols, United States' Navy, is in charge of the "Pacific Coast Pilot," and is at present engaged revising the edition of 1883, and expects to have another out within a year. He is the officer who began the coast-survey of South- eastern Alaska, and it was also he who liad the ways built at Port Simpson for housing the steam-launches accompanying the survey-vessel. The survey of South eastern Alaska, i.e., that portion lying east and south of Cross Sound, will soon be completed ; next year there will be two parties out, working in Chatham Straits and vicinity. The 16 ->:>- - information acquired from other sources, that Port Simpson has been the base for longitude work in Alaska, was repeated to me by Lieutenant Nichols, and also that time-observations are taken at Port Simpson in the spring and fall, as well as at Port Townsend, whore a circuit with the Davidson Observatory at San Francisco or Washington is had. He informed me that two coast-survey parties had been sent to the Yukon this year for taking observations to determine the intersection of the meridian of 14il degrees west longitude witli the Yukon and Porcupine Rivers. Tlio parties ascended tlie Yukon from St. Micliacl's by moans of the steamer of the Alaska Commercial Company, one party to ascend the Porcupine, the other to station itself near Fifty-Mile Creek, wliero our Air. Ogilvie observed. They will winter in tlie country, and arc well sujjpliod with instruments. Last year there was a triaugulation made of Portland Canal, or Clianncl, the plan of which Avas shown to me ; on it was noticed an astronomic station on the west side of the mouth of Bear River, and in latitude 55° 5fi', to the nearest minute. In the coast survey, mountain peaks arc put in by triaugulation from shore, and if a peak is close by, and accessible, it is occupied, otherwise no inland or on-land surveys are made. The Alaska coast survey is carried on on the same lines as Pender's hydrographic survey of British Columbia. This is tlie substance of the information obtained from Lieutenant Nichols. I was in hopes of meisting Professor G. Davidson at San Francisco, in charge of the Pacific Division of the United States' Coast and Geodetic Survey, but unfortu- nately found him absent, being at Paris, attending the International Geodetic Congress. Tlie officer next in charge, Mr. J. S. Lawson, was, however, seen, and topics of profes- sional interest in general discussed, besides ascertaining, on my part, the work being done in Alaska. On this latter topic nothing essentially new to me was learned, the gist being that two parties are engaged in determining the 14l8t meridian on the Yukon and Porcupine, for the purpose of establishing the boundary-line, and a third party is simply continuing the coast and hydrographic survey of former years in South-eastern Alaska. A short detour was made to the Navy Yard at Mare Island, where I boarded the " Ranger," a two-masted schooner used for coast survey, hydrography, and deep-sea soundings. She carries two small guns, has 150 men, and 25 naval officers. The United States' coast-survey vessel " McArthur " was also lying at anchor here. Both of these vessels were engaged on the California coast during the past season, as also the "Hassler." The opportunity was embraced, too, of visiting the Lick Observatory, on Mount Hamilton, where I remained two days, enjoying the hospitalities of the Director, Professor Edward S. Holden, and had the pleasure of examining the great 36-inch refractor, besides the numerous other instruments, gaining thereby information which will be of service in my official capacity with the Department of the Interior. •■ Physical Features. ' The following notes on the physical features of South-eastern Alaska are based on personal obseivations and partly on information gathered from reliable sources. The description will begin at Dixon Entrance and continue along the shore ofliot mainland northward. The whole country ia intensely mountainous. [Note. — As there will be frequently occasion to refer to the " Pacific Coast Pilot," Part I, Alaska Edition, 1883, " r.C.P." will be .sed as a designation therefor.] To quote from the P.C.P., p. 109, " the same typo of topography prevails upon , the continental border as that exhibited in the half-submerged condition of tlie Columbian and Alexander archipelagoes. If the latter were entirely clovatod above '■. the sea level, they would in essential features resemble the present continental border, • and were the valleys of the last depressed below the sea level, a similar extension of the archipelago, without change of character, would Vo the result. Sumner Strait appears to be merely the prolongation seawnrd of the valley of the lower Stikine. In passing from Chatham Sound across Dixon Entrance, the extrance (or Portland Inlet as dcdgnated on some Charts now), to Observatory Inlet is distinctly seen, whereas the entrance to the Portland Canal or Channel of Vancouver, or Poarse Canal of the United States' Charts, now is not distinguishable, chiefly on account, of the number of small islands which La between it and the open sea. Snow-capped peaks were seen in the direction of Portland Channel and southward, they appeared to be behind foot 16 liillB, which apparently have n long gentle sloping base towards the sea, and are all densely wooded. This gentle sloping with comparatively low banks is marked hero in contradistinction to the characteristics of the mountains farther north on the Alaskan coast, where almost universally the land rises abruptly from the ocean to mountain heights. North of Pcarse Island along Portland Channel the land rises abruptly from the water's edge, sometimes (o the height of 0,000 ft., and the mountains are snow- clad the year round. Tiic head ol Portland Cnanncl terminates in low, woody, swampy land, the shallows being formed by detritus carried down by the Salmon and 13ear Rivers flowing from the north and discharging at the head of the canal or channel. PoUowiug the mainland shore-liuc northward we iiud it bounded on one side by immediately contiguous moiuitains, except where intersected by rivers. The mountains Avhich rise immediat«dy from the water's (ulge are not always the highest ones visible, as f.r instance at Juneau, the adjacent mountain ridge is fully 0,000 ft. high, being above the timber line some hundreds of feet, yet beyond this mountain ridge and across the intervening valley are mountains considerably higher and naturally carrying more eternal snow. -Vscending Sheep Creek, 3 miles below Juneau, to its head, being about 1 miles in ,■» straight line, and there climbing the adjacent mountains, which contain numerous glaciers and are at least 2,000 ft. iiighcr than the mountain ridge immediately behind Juneau and already referred to, one can see the Auk Glacier, Lyim Canal and south- ward to Port Snettishani and llolkham Bay, locally knowTi as Sumdum Bay. There seems to be a continuation of glaciers to Auk Glacier, and as far as the eye can reach all is one icc-liekl with bare peaks sticking out here and thex'e. The highest peak in this vicinity appeared to be 15 to 20 miles from the coast. From the same point of observation a distant view to the south-eastward is obstructed by the high range of mountains running along the east side of Taku Inlet. Ilolkbam Bay is bounded by lofty mountains. The first glacier-ice, as floes or miniature bergs, is encountered after emerging from Wrangell Narrows. It is sent forth by the Patterson Glacier. Beyond or northward along Prince Frederick Soimd, Stephen's Passage, Taku Inlet, Lynn Canal, and Glacier Bay, numerous glaciers are seen, and into the last mentioned bay the great Muir Glacier, presenting an ice-wall to the sea 1 mile wide and 300 ft. high, discharges or i-ather tuni1)les. Its neve and ice-fields extend eastward and join those of the Davidson Glacier, which empties into Lynn Canal. An api)roximate estimate of the extent of the Muir Glacier with its laterals gives an area t([ual to about one-eighth of the whole of Switzerland. The proximity of these ice-rivers become apparent at sea by the discoloration of the sea-fl ater to a dirty milky colour. Tlic Stikine sends its glacial waters far out to sea, at the same time depositing large amounts of sedimentary matter, forming extensive shoals. Nearly all shoals, and there are not many, in Alaskan waters are due to the action of glaciers. At Berner's Bay in Lynn Canal the timber-line is found at an elevation of 2,000 ft., the bay is surrounded by precipitous snow -clad mountains of 5,000 ft. and upwards. Three streams enter this bay, the East Twin, Middle Twin, and West Twin, not shown on the Charts as yet. The Peninsula separating Chilkat and Chilkoot Inlets in Lynn Canal is com- paratively low and covered with brule, whereas immediately belund the west shore- line of Lynn Canal rise lofty snow-clad moimtains, embracing practically the Peninsula lying between Lynn Canal and Glacier Bay. Immediately to the west of Glacier Bay and north of Cape Spencer we encounter the St. Elias Alps, extending westward beyond the 141st meridian (boundary-line). These mountains rise immediately belund the shore-line and include the highest uplifts of the North American Continent. At the south-easteni extremity of this range the summit is about 10 miles from the shore, this distance increases slightly towards Yakutat Bay. The summit of Mount St. Elias is about 20 miles fi'om the sea, as determined by triangulation. From the veiy mountainous character of the whole country access to the interior of South-eastern Alaska is only practicable along rivers, and of these there arc but a few, besides some creeks several miles in length. The principal rivers, the Stikine-Taku and Chilkat, rise in Canadian territory. 17 The rain-fall tliroughout South-castom Alaska is large, yet varying considerably between difTcrcnt places and for different years. ^ The annual precipitation at Juneau is about 9 ft. As a result of the bumid atinospbere tbe vegetation is rank and tlie wbole surface of tbe mountains below tbe timber-line is densely wooded. Tbe most common timber is the Sitkan spruce, it is softer tban tbe; J'liget Sound flr, and is apt to era,ek or ebeck, but is not very piteby. Tbe pitcb is found mostly in the sap-wood and not in tbe beart. Tbree feet across the stump is an average size, and sometimes trees of fl ft. in diameter are found. Besides tbis wood, bemloek is found, Tfliose dimensions often exceed those of tiio spruce, but it is not utilized. Yellow cedar, balsam fir, scrub pine, poplar, and birch occur in limited quantities. The Boundary Line. For the piu-pose of reference. Articles III and IV of the Convention betwee'i Great Britain and Russia, signed at St. Petcrshurgb, of tbe lOtb (28th) February, 1825, are hero inserted. Article III. The line of demarcation between tbe possessions of the High Con- tracting I'arties upon tbe coast of tbe Continent and the islands of America to the north-west, sliall be drawn in the manner following: — Commencing from tbe southernmost ])oint of the island called I'riuco of Wales Island, which point lies in the parallel of 54° 40' north latitude and between the 131st and the 13l5rd degree of west longitude (meridian of (Ireenwich^, the said line shall ascend to the north along the channel called Portland Channel, as far as the point of tbe Continent where it strikes the 56th degree of north latitude, from this last- mentioned point the line of demarcation shall follow t'lo summit of the mountains situated parallel to tbe coast as far as the point of inter otion of the 14l8t degree of west longitude (of the same meridian), and, finally, from the said point of intersection, the said meridian line of tbe 111st degree, in its prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean, shall form the limit between the Ilussian and Britisli possessions on tbe Continent of America to tbe north-west. Article IV. With reference to the line of demarcation laid down in the preceding Article, it is understood — 1. That tbe island called Prince of Wales Islaiul shall belong wholly to Russia. 2. That wherever the summit of the mountains which extend in a direction parallel to the coast, from tbe 56tli degree of north latitude to the point of intersection of the lllst degree of west longitude, shall prove to bo at the distance of more tban 10 murine leagues from the ocean, the limit between the Britisli possessions and the line of coast \ybich is to belong to Russia, as above-mentioned, shall be formed by a line parallel to the windings of the coast, and which shall never exceed the distance of 10 marine leagues therefrom. Let us analyze the above. > ' . ^ " The southernmost point of the island called Prince of Wales Island." Admitting in the meantime what island Prince of Wales Island is, there can be no question Avhat the " southernmost point is," for there can only be one southernmost point, hence this is an indisputable point, altliougb it might require extended surveys to determine its location. " Which point lies in the parallel of 51° 40' north latitude, and between tbe 131st and 133rd degree of west longitude." Tliero arc apparently two designations for one and the same point. The first designation or location of the point is a physical feature, inespective of its exaet geographical position. The second one relegates the point to geographical co-ordinates, without, however, defining the absolute position of the point of commencement of the line of demarcation. In order to define the point by geographical co-ordinates it must be referred to i the intersection of two lines, not merely state that the point "lies in the paiallcl of| 5ntion, as desigiuiting those features to which Vancouver applied the above names. Nor did any cartographer, British or llussian, prior to the Convention, a])ply those names in any other sense than the one as oi-iginally given by Vancouver. What- ever signification may have boon given, or has been given, to the terras Portland Channel and Observatory Inlet subsequent to the Convention, can have no bearing on tho question as establishing the meaning of these two terms at the time of the Convention. The record of Vancouver's voyages makes it most clear wliat arm he called Portland Channel and wliat arm Observatory Inlet. To quote from vol. iv, 8vo. edition, iSOl : — •-. " Sunday, 21st July, 1793. By sunset we entered the arm up which we e.Kpected to find this extensive inland navigation. To its south-east point of entrance 1 gave the name of Point Maskelyne, after the Asti-onoraer Poyal. It is situated in latitude .'jI" •42-a-', and longitude 229° 45'." . . . Vancouver then proceeded north-easterly up this arm " until we arrived abreast of an opening about 2 miles wide at its entrance on th(! western shore, seemingly divided into two or three branches, taking a direction about north 18° west. Tho observed latitude at this time wr.s 54° 68', longitude 230° 3'." This was on the 22nd July, 1793. He continued in a north-easterly course, reaching on the 25th July the head of 20 the inlet, " where as usual it was terminated by low swampy (ground, and in latitudo 65° 32', longitude 230" l(i'." Returning " Saturday, tlio 27th, we set out with fair weather, and having a rapid tide in our favour soon rejujhed the east point of eutrauee into tlie iiortli-uorth-weHt branch, which, after Mr. Ilamsden, tlie Optieian, i ealh^l I'oint llani.s(U!n, lying in latitude 51° 5i)', longitude 230^ 2^'. . . . From hence we directed our course north- west, 3 miles to a low point on the larboard slioro, where wo found tliis arm to communicati! with another leading in a soutli-west and north-north-east direction, and being in general about lialf a league in wldtii. After breakfast we pursiu-d the latter dire(!tion and steered for the eastern or continental shoi(>." It, is important to ol)servo in the above, Vancouver's words, "where we found tiiis arm to communicate with another leading in a soutli-wnst and north-north-cast direction," clearly showing that as soon as h(! saw the waters which exlinded iiortli-norlli-cast :ind south-west (from his j)oint of observation) did be eonsidc'r tiiem to be one and the same arm, to wliieli he afterwards, as we siiall sec;, gave the name i'ortland (.'iumnel (Tortiand Caviai). Vancouver pursued northward until on Monday, the 2!)tii July, tlie inlet " was found to terminate in low marshy land in latitudo 0."i° 1,5', longitude 230° fC." On the next day he was on his way back, following the Meslcrn or continental shore-line until, on the 2n(l August, " \vc set out nearly aiul jjusscd through a labyrinth of small islets and rocks along the continental shore, this, taking now a winding coui-str to the south-west and west, showed the south-i-astern side of the channel to be much broken, through which was a passage leading south-south-east towards the (wean. "Wc passed this in the hoj)e of finding a more northern anh thc«c waters hcaan on tho 2l8t July nnd ended on the 2nd of AuRUJ«t following. On tho 15tli Aiimwt ho f»ivfs nnd rorords tho name Portland Channel, and 6n the Ifllh Anc^isi tho nnmo "Ohsorvatory Inlot." From this it is »«'n that ho had tho topography of the two arniH boforo him from hin own siirvoys, l)cforp he nwiii,'nMl tho nnni< Quoting from PC. P., p. 109, " Passing from AVrangoll anchorage in a south-west' direction the tangent of Kadin Island N, \ E. cuts the centre of the canon of the ccist moiuitains on the mainland, through which the Stikine River i-eaches the sen." Under heading of "Stikine River," the last authority states, p. Ill : "Al)oufc 5 miles above the Delta Islands the valley narrows, and the river appears only 200 or 300 I'i'et in width The ai)poarancc of the higli land on either side is as if range . Iron ling north-M^est and south-east were abutting obliquely upon the river.''; That is, parallel to the coast. ' From the Stikine northward tV.e coa.^t-line adjoins Souchoi Strait. "The continental shore of this strait is vc/y imperfectly knowji." — P.C.P., p. 112. To th(^ north of the entrance o^' this strait " lies a low Avooded point, which wai named Poii.t Agassiz o\\ aceoui\t of its association with the remarkable and sublime glaciers; in its immediate vicinity. Tiiese creep from the snowy summits of ravines on the coast r;>.iigc towards the Avater's edge, which at certain seasoTis they overhang. A short distance northward from x^oint feeders in the coast moiuitaiiis, wliieh discharges its burden of ici Agassiz is a mairniflcent ?:lacier, Avith three directly into the water In this vicinity (Horn Cliffs), iu certain places at least, according to Vancouver, there is a small extent of low flat land, well wooded, lying before tiie coast mountains, which rise abruptly to an extraordinary heiglit." — P.C.P., p. 127. EoUowing the continental shove-line northward from Cape Eanshaw, of the first large bay encountered Vancouver observes : " It is bounded by lofty mountains, and from their base extends a small border of low land, forming the shores of the harbour, Avhich I called Port noughton."— P.C.P., p. 128. Continuing northward from Port Houghton, mountains adjoin the seashore, and at Ilolkhi' ni Bay Vancouver describes the bay as " bounded by lofty mountains." — P.C.P., p. 168. Point Coke is at the northern entrance to Ilolkham Bay, and " the land between Point Coke .and the pi'csent promontory (Point Anmer) is backed by lofty and rather bare mountains, their siiles scarred by avalanches, and displaying, about 3 miles east- south-east from I'oint Anmer, a remarkable cascade, which falls from a ravine into the sea."— P.C.P,, p. 168. Mountains follow the continental shore-lino northward from Ilolkham Bay around Port Snettisham. Of Stockade Point and Grave Point, the entrance to Taku Harbour, the P.C.P., ,yp. 169, says : " Both arc wooded, comparatively low points, from which high land rises w rapidly to peaked, often snow-capped mountains." j Vancouver thus describes Taku Inlet : " From its entrance it extended north I 11° east (true) about 13 miles, where the shores spread to the east and west, and I formed a basin about a league broad and 2 leagues across, in a north-west and south- I east (true) direction, with a small island lying nearly at its north-east extremity. I From the shores uf this basin (August 1791) a compact body of ice extended some I distance nearly all round, and tlie adjacent region was composed of a close connected I continuation of the lofty range of frozen mountains, wliose sides, almost perpendicular, I were formed entirely of rock, excepting close to the water-side, where a few scattered ^ dwarf pine trees found sufficient soil to vegetate in ; above these the mountains were jf wrapped in undissolving frost and snow. From the rugged gullies in tlioir sides were i piojectod immense bodies of ice (glaciers), that reached perpendicularly to tlie surface I of the water in the basin, which admitted of no landing-place for the boats, but I exhibited a^ dreary and inhospitable an aspect as the imagination can possibly I suggest." — i.\C.P., p. 170. The mountains along the east shore are described as i " r. continuation of the same i-ange of lofty mountains, rising abruptly from the I water's edge."— P.C.P., p. 170. I Immediately behind Juneau, on Gastineau Channel, mountains rise above the I timber line. % " Westward frori the town is a deep ravine in the mountains, through which runs \ Gold Creek."— P.C.T'., p. 172. Of Lynn Canal the P.C.P., p. 194, states : " By reason of the fact that the glaciers terminate some distance inland from the shore, resulting from the more ^ gradual slope of the Alps on' the iouth-wcst and the coast ranges on the north-east I shores, this canal is free from floating miniature bergs, which at times obstruct Cross I Sound and Gastineau Channel, although the lat*^^r are a degree southward of the head I of Lynn Cana" ." I hyim Canal is undoubtedly surrounded by mountains contiguous to the shore. * In describing Berncr's Bay, the P.C.P., p. 195, observes that " a stream comes I in at the head of the bay ; the north-west point of entrance, named by Vancouver I 'Point St. Mary's,' lies N.W. -|N., 4^ miles from Point Bridget, like which it is low I and wooded, while its axis rises inland to mountains covered with snow, attaining I a considerable height, and constituting a part of the coast ranges which have been I repeatedly alluded to. From this point about 5 miles north-west by west lies Point I Sherman, named by Meade, apparently low and wooded, from which the north-eastern i shore of Lynn Canal extends high, steep, and rocky, at the base of the imposing I mountains above mentioned " t On the page last quoted is given a description of the western shore of Lynn Canal, I as follows : " Behind the shore the land rises in lofty snow-capped mountains, forming I part of the coast ranges." Quoting the samo authority, p. 19G : " On the eastern I shore, extending from the head of the canal southward to Point St. Maiy's, is a high, I rugged chain of precipitous mountains, named the ' Chilkat Mountains ' by the United I States' Coast Survey in 1879. Those of the opposite shore have been called by the I UnifeJ States' Navy the ' White Mountains.' " I In describing Chilkoot Inlet the P.C.P., p. 199, states : " The opposite" (continental) I " shore is composed of lofty, steep mountains, forming the Chilkat range, with several glaciers in their gorges, and one at the head of a moderately long, narrow A'alley. " The mountains culminate at the north-west in Mount Villard, 3,700 feet high by barometric measurement." Between the head of LjTin Canal and the broad waters of the Pacific Ocean, and immediately north of Glacier Bay, lie immense ice-fields, covering an area of upwards of 2,000 square miles. These ice-fields are drained by numerous glaciers into the sea. ' From Lynn Canal the open sea is reached by Cross Sound. Its " uorth-weste)"u shores are mostly bigh, formed by the slopes oi the great snowy range of the St. Elias Alps."— P.C.P., p. 180. The western entrance of this sound lies between Point Bingham, on Yakjbi Island, and Cape Spencer, on the mainland. Northward, from Cape Spencer to Icy Point, the continental ahore-line trends '. north- westerly. [ " Immediately behind the coast-line up to this point is the southern portion of the I range of the St. Elias Alps, which extends westward nearly to the Copper or Atna I .C.P., rises north and outh- mity. some ectcd 3ulai', ;tcred were were irface but sibly 1 as the ■ m River, and includes the highest uplifts yet known on the North American Coatinont. The sides of these Alps hear numerous glaciers, some of great extent, and a few reaching to the sea-heach itself."- -P.C.l*., p. 201. From outside the entrance of Lituya Bay, looking north, one sees the "magnificent sieiTa-wall of Alps which culminates elsewhere in the peaks of Crillon and Lituya. Down its precipitous slope live or six glaciers fall in true ice cascades to the water's edge."— P.C.P., p. 203. In 1874) Professor W. H. Dall, of the United States' Coast and Geodetic Survey, triangulated Mounts St. Elias, Cook, Vancouver, Fairwcather, and Crillon, all of the St. Elias Alps, and determined their height. In the United States' Coast Survey Report for 1875 the result of his labours i given, accompanied by a Map, from which, it will be seen that the summits of these mountains are all less than 30 miles from the j sea-coast, the last two less than 15 miles. I " Northward from Pairwoadicr to Yakutat Bay tlierc are no remarkable peaks, I the range averaging 5,000 to 8,000 feet, with nearly uniform summits and n-gged i surface."— P.C.P., p. 205. Between these two jjoints along the shore lies the Tianna lload. "This strip of I shore is thickly brooded near the sea, with more open spaces inland. The Alps which | bound it to the north at a distance of 7 to 10 miles from the sea carry numerous | glaciers.'"— P.C.P,, p. 20G. | In Yakutat I5ay steep mountains covered with snow rist; directly from the Mater. " From Port IMidgrave and thence to the westward the most conspicuous spectacle in clear weather is that part of the uplift of the St. Elias Alps which extends in a westerly direction from a point inland some 18 miles north-north-west from Disen- , chantmeut Bay. This forms a broken range 10,000 or 12,000 feet in height, with its | sides and many of its peaks covered with etei-nal snow. It terminates westward in the ' magnificent peak of St. Elias."— P.C.P., p. 211. In fair weather tliis grand peak is visible at a distance of more than 150 miles. The interior of ^Vlaska, as little as it is known, is very probably aptly described as "a sea of mountains." The moment the mountains situated parallel to the coast and adjoining the same are crossed, there is no well-defined continuous range ; it is a sea of mountains, but, rising from the coast everywhere, we have a wall of mountains, save - some low lands at the foot of the Mount St. Elias ^Ips. From the foregoing evidence it is obvious tliat mountains do exist, " situated parailerto the coast," and hence the line of demarcatioii can " follow the summit of ]^ the mouulaihs situated parallel to the coast," as stipulated by the Convention, and, fui^thermore, it is improbable from the facts already known that there will be any occasioii at any part of tlie line of demarcation to have recourse to the second paragraph of Article IV of the Convention, which provides for the case whore the summit of the mountains is at a distance of more than 10 marine leagues from the ocean. In short, the summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast is not more than 10 mariiie leagues from the shore. / The last part of the boundary-line, the 141st meridian, is a matter of astronomic observation, and needs here no further elucidation. \ ' '., ' Discussion of Mountain Boundary. Regarding the mountain boundary, the negotiators of the Convention were fully aware of the lack of definite information regarding the topography of that part of the continent under discussion. This is patent from the correspondence I)etween them, and iinally by the insertion of the second paragraph in Article IV of the Cou\ention. On the 8th December, 1824, the Right Honourable G. Canning, Secretary of Sta'^o for Foreigii Afi'airs, wrote to Sir Stratford Canning, British Pleni])otcntiary at St. Petersburgh, " Should the Maps be no n\ore accurate as to the Avestern than as to the eastern " (eastern side of continent) " mountains, we might lie assigning to Russia immense tracts of inland territory, whore we only intended to give and they only intended to ask a strip of sea-coast." And well was this strip defined, as is now evident, by having made the line of demarcatmn follow " the summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast." It is questionable if at the present time, with the accumulation of knowledge ot seventy-five years, the description of the mountain boundary-line could be couched in better wort's, and at the same time retain and give the idea which was to bo conveyed ' — a strip along the sea-coast. L217] 215478 H M The summit of the mountains is a natural houndary, a visible one, where nature has set the principal monuments. That the Cliarts of Vancouver were the principal guide for the negotiators for ascertaining the geographical, hut not topographical, characteristics is undoubted. Vancouver's prime object in surveying was the delineation of the shore line ; the mountains shown on his Charts were merely graphical representations of the niointainous nature of the country, without attempting to localize them individually. This method is familiar to every one who has been engaged in exploratory surveys. In the United States' Coast Survej Report, 188G, p. 155, Professor G. Davidson, in speaking of the e.arly voyages of discovery and exploration on the north-west coast of America from 1539 to 1G03, says : "The minuteness of record in Cook and Vancouver, of compaiatively recent date, has enabled me to follow their tracks day by day, to correct tlioir positions by personal knowledge of tlio localities described ; wliilst giving these gicat men the fullest credit for surveys unpaialleled before or nince (when all the attendant circumstances are considered), I cannot withhold my admiration for the indomitable courage and perseverance of the old Spanish navigators. . . ." Under the heading " The Coast and Inland Waters of the Alexander Archi- pelago," the P.C.P., p. 49, says, " The incomparable Vancouver is still the chief and most trustworthy authority " The alternative boundary-line of the second paragraph of Article IV is, from a surveying point, utterly and entirely impracticable. As an illustration of the difficulties arising by referring one boundary- line as dependent upon another not straight, may be cited the railway belt in Britlsa Columbia, and this Is a 'comparatively very simple case compared with the difficulties involved In the paragraph cited. By the Imperial Order in Council of the 16th May, 1871, British Columbia conveys in trust to the Dominion " not to exceed 20 miles on each side of said line " (railway line). " Twenty miles on each side of said line " is a simple and unequivocal description of the railway belt. Its demarcation on the ground, however, Irrespective of mountains, is by no means so simple. The computation alone for this belt, to determine its limits with reference to section lines, would occupy about a year ; the time for delimitation on the ground is as yet an unknown quantity, even approximately. With the difficulties of the railway belt the chief officers of the Technical Branch of the Department of the Interior are severally familiar. Knowing the matliematical intrleaeies involved by so apparently simple a case, dependent upon the gentle swaying of a railway line through the country, to what degree those intricacies would be heightened, where an irregular and labyrlntlial coast-line is to be dealt with, may in a degree be imagined. In the Report of iUaska by Ivan Pctrolf, Issued by the Census Office, Washington, 1881, is found the following, p. 81 : "A survey, with a view of locating the boundary in accordance with the obscure wording of the Treaty, Avould be altogether too costly, but a straight line between certain easily defined points agreed upon by mutual consent would solve a dilficulty which promises to arise in the near future, owing to the discovery of valuable mineral deposits on the very ground placed in dispiito or doubt by the old Treaty. It may be stated here that a line I'rom the point above mentioned, on the 56th parallel, to the intersection of the 65tb parallel with the 141st meridian, would nearly follow the present Hue in South-eastern Alaska, while it would give to the United States one of the head branches of the Yukon River, the main artery of trade of the continental portion of Alaska, which is now crossed by the boundaries at a point considerably below the head of steam navigation. To absorb several thousand square miles of Canadian territory is a gratuitous suggestion of the Special Census ji.gent in his official Report. To substitute a geodetic line or lines for the mountain boundary would make it very simple to plot the boundary-line on Maps accurately without any survey, but such a boiuidary-line could only be identified on the ground by a survey. In a mountainous country like Alaska, such a survey would require far more monuments to be placed along t)ic Hue than in the case of a mountain bomidary where Nature has planted the principal ones, requiring only to he recognized as such. In the former case the boundary- lino would be a straight line, practically impossible to define on the ground on account " of the sea of mountains." As a straight line cannot be run up and down mountains, through canons, and at over peaks, it would be necessary to detemiinc most accurately certain numerous points in longitude and latitude along the coast, for the purpose of carrying surveys inland from them along some valley, and thereby determine a point or points oji the bouxidary-line. Tl)e conditions Avhich obtain in the one case are almost the inverse of the other. With a geodetic boundary nothing is given in the field, except possibly the termini, if ])liysical features, witli the mountain boundary the principal data are given in the field, requiring only to bo i-ecognized as such by tlie respective Governments. In the first case the boundary-line is wholly dependent upon the accuracy of astronomical observations and survcivs; in the latter case such observations are of secondniy importance, being used principally for mapping purpose?, and their accuracy does not affect the position of Iho boundary-line. Even from this short description and comparison of the two boundary-lines, a geodetic and a mountain line, it must bo apparent that the cost for surveying the former, or geodetic line, would be much greater than that of the latter, which itself will assume no small proportions. The insertion of the first paragraph of Article IV was necessary in order that Prince of Wales Island belong Avholly to Russia, which Avould not necessarily have followed by the boundary-line running from the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island north along Portland Channel. This precaution for inserting that paragraph appears natural, as the latitude of the two governing points, as known to the negotiators, showed that the boundary-line might cut a part of Prince of Wales Island, whose coast-line was then not accurately surveyed. This paragraph negatives most conclusively also the supposition that the boundary-line was to follow a parallel of latitude after leaving the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island. Tor, if the line of denif.rcation commences at the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island and then continues on a parallel of latitude, it is utterly impossible to cut Prince of Wales Island (for this would be equivalent to saying that tliere Avas some other point on Prince of Wales Island fartiier south than tb(> southernmost point, which of coui*se is absurd), and tliere can be no occasion for making a proviso " that the island culled Prince of Y/ales Island shall belong wholly to Russia." As the latitude of the entrance to Poi-fland Channel was supposed to lie (as it is too) greater than that of the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island, it was proper, if Prince of Wales Island was to belong wholly to Russia, to introduce the paragraph in question. On "The Map of Alaska and adjoining Territory, 1887," issued by the United States' Coast and Geodetic Survey, and accompanying tliis Report, will be found a fair representation of tb<> mountains in South-eastern Alaska "situated parallel to the coast," the summit of which constitutes the boundary-line between the SGth degree of north latituc ^ and the 141st degree of west longitude. 'Inhere are as yet no industries in the interior of South-eastern Alaska, save behind .luneau in the Silver Bow Basin, where some placer mining is being done, and where there tc also two small stamp mills working on a gold ledge of free-milling ore. At Sheep Creel<, '•] miles below Juneau, silver ledges containing galena and a sulphuret of silver are being workcnl. The ore is shipped to San Francisco for treatment. The mining being done here on the mainland is c^irried on by men of small capital, with a single exception, and hence lacks development, and the results obtained are indifferent. A long tunnel, to cost ] 50,000 dollars, is being run in the basin for doing some hydraulic mining on a bank 85 feet high. The farthest northern industry on the south-eastern coast is the salmon canneries at the head of Lynn Canal, about opposite to Pyramid Island, two being on the eastern sliore and one on the western one. So that there is as yet no industry carried on between the line of the " summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast," and the line distant " 10 marine leagues from till! coast," and hence, at present, no trouble can arise between the interested Governments caused by private ownership of mineral locations between these two lines. There is no doubt that the want of full territorial government for Alaska, and the withholding of the general United States' Land Act, has up to the present retarded the development of South-eastern Alaska, which fact has been conducive to tho prevention of questions of international territorial jurisdiction. 28 It is well known that the hcacl-watius of tlic Y ikon lUver lie in Canadian territory, and that the prospecting for gold and placer mining is done mostly on that part i)i the Yukon lying T.ithin Canada ; and furthermore, that all the supplies used by the prospectors and uiineri there come from the United States, mostly by steamer up the Yukon, and without payhig duty. Similarly for the goods going into Canada by way of Chilkoot, the usual route taken by prosi)octors. From information obtained from a prospector lately fr(jni the Yukon there would appear to be not more than 300 miners on tlie upper part of that river, from which number an approximate idea of the consumption of dutiable goods can be made. This of course does not take into consideration the goods introduced for barter with the interior Indians. The loss of the duty at present is pcrluips the less objectionable feature of the condition of affairs ; the greater and unavoidable one is that the gold is carried out of Canada by Americans and spent in the United States, without Canada deriving any benefit from its mineral resources on the Yukon. Canadians arc practically debarred from access to the Yukon through their own country save by a long and circuitous route from the east. In the November number of the "Forum " appeared an article on "American Bights in Eehring's Sea," by President J. B. Angell, United States' Minister to China in 1880, and one of the late International Fishery Commissioners during President Cleveland's administi-ation. The above article, coming from such a source, warrants consideration and criticism. After disposing of the Behring's Sea question, the writer briefly discusses the question of detcrminiug the boundary between Alaska and British ilmerica. Quoting from the article: " The principal difficulties which have been suggested in determining and marking the boundary are the following : Some of the Canadians have maintained (I am not aware that the British Government has taken such a position) that our Maps do not correctly indicate the initial point of the line at Portland Channel. Tfieir contention is probably without good ground." The wording " that our iVIaps do not correctly indicate the initial point of the line at Portland Channel " appears somewhat obscure. From one interpretation of this sentence it may be inferred that the initial point of the line of demarcation is at Portland Channel. This interpretation is evidently inadmissible from the wording of the Treaty. The other construction, and the one probably meant, is that the initial point of that part < f the line of demarcation which ascends along Portland Channel is not correctly indicated on the United States' Maps. By this it would appear as if Canadians accepted Portland Channel as shown on the United States' JIaps, but maintained " that our JMaps do not correctly indicate the initial point of the line at Portland Channel." This is not the Canadian contention at all. The Canadian contention is that the United States' Maps siiow the initial point of that part of the line of demarcation which ascends along that arm of the sea known, at the time of the Anglo -Russian Conven- tion, as Portland Channel (or Portland Canal) to be at the entrance of Observatory Inlet. In short, Canada disputes the interpretation given on United States' Maps of Portland Channel of the Convention of 1825. Continuing: "Again, while the Treaty provides that the ' line shall follow the summit of the mountains,' it is affirmed, and, so far as we know, with probable truthfulness, that the mountains do not form a range, but are so scattc^red here and there that it is impracticable to make a line that sliall comply with the Treaty." It would have been better, for a clear iuid(;rstanding, to have given the above quotation from the Conven- tion to the end of the sentence, "shall follow the summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast." " That the mountains do not form a range " is introducing an unnecessary argument, especially when the main question, " Do mountains exist situated parallel to the coast?" is not touched upon at all. It is essential to adhere strictly to the Avords of the Convention. The word " range " does not occur in the Convention. Quoting again from IMr. Angell's article : " Furthermore, suppose it were practic- able to run a line on the summit, the coast is so irregular, and so indented with bays, that it may not be easy to agree on the line from Avbich to lay off the ten marine leagues referred to in the second paragraph of Article IV." The reasoi-'ng and chain of connection in this sentence do not appear very clear. If the line runs " on the summit," the irregularity of the coast-line does not affect its 29 l)iii-ler own position, and there is no occasion to measure 10 marine leagues from the coast. If, on the other hand, the conditions are such that the second paragraph of Article IV is to he applied, then the line is to run " parallel to the windings of the coast ; " this would make the line nan across the mountains, and not " on the summit." It is considered worth while to discuss a part of the Report of Professor W. H. Dall to ex-Secretary of State Mr. T. F. Bayard. That Professor Dall is prohahly the hest informed man on North-western Alaska is admitted, hut this docs not establish him as an authority on South-eastern Alaska — say from Lynn Canal down to Portland Channel. An examination of the Armual Reports of the United States' Coast Survey, with which Professor Dall was connected from 1871 to September 1884, fails to show that he ever did any work on or along the mainland in South-eastern Alaska. His farthest explorations and works south on the mainland were north of Cross Sound. His having been engaged for nearly nine years exploring and surveying the Terri- tory by no means establishes a knowledge of some particular and limited area under discussion. When it is remembered that Alaska covers something like 500,000 square miles of wilderness, the probability of the foregoing assertion becomes apparent. Professor Dall is an eminent scientist, but his authority on South-eastern Alaska cannot be admitted as conclusive. Professor Dall says : " We have no good topographical Maps of this part of Alaska, but, having been engaged nearly nine years exploring and surveying the TeiTitory, I assert, without fear of contradiction, that nothing of the sort" (depicted by Vancouver) "exists. We have, instead, what has been aptly called 'a sea of mountains,' composed of short ranges with endless ramifications, their general trend being parallel with the general curve of North-western America, but, so far as their local parts are concerned, irregular, broken, and tumultuous to the last degree. In certain places, as from Cape Spencer to Yakutat Bay, we have the nearest approach to such a range, but even here are broad valleys, penetrating an unknown distance, and lateral spurs given off in many directions. These Alps I'ise conspicuously above their fellows, but to the eastward another peculiarity of the topography is that the hills or summits are nearly uniform in height, without dominating crests and few higher peaks. " The single continuous range being non-existent, if we attempt to decide on the ' summit ' of the mountains we are at once plunged into a sea of uneert.ainty. Shall we tiike the ridge of the hill nearest the beaches ? This would give us, in many places, a mere strip of territory not more than 3 miles wide, meandering in every direc- tion. Shall we take the highest summits of the general mass of the coast ranges ? Then we must determine the height of many thousands of scattered peaks, after which the question will arise between every pair of equal height and those nearest to them. Shall wc skip this way or that, with our zigzag, impossible to survey except at fabu- lous expense and half-a-century of labour? These peaks are densely clothed with trees and deep soft nioss and thorny underbrush, as impenetrable and luxuriant as the savannahs of Panama. In short, the ' summit of the mountains ' is wholly imprac- ticable." It is rather striking that the Professor avoids using the words of the Convention, " the summit of the mountains s^ituatcd parallel to the coast." It would have been instructive to learn from him whether or not mountains exist which are " situated parallel to tlio coast." He says — the single continuous range being non-existent — tliis introduces a discussion what a "range" is, and what a " single continuous range " is, Avords which do not appear in the Convention at all, and Lence are not warranted when the definitive words, " mountains situated parallel to the rx)ast," are given. " Shall we take the ridge of the hill nearest the beaches ? This would give us in many places a mere strip of territory not more tli 'U .*] miles wide, meandering in every direction." The extensive quotations from the P.C.P. and from personal observations fail to elicit many " ridges of hills nearest the beaches," but instead, the mountains rise abruptly from the water's edge. The manner in which Professor Dall states, " This would give us in many places a mere strip of territory not more than 3 miles wide," cannot but impress one that such a strip is inconsistent with the terms of the Conven- tion. Not at all. The gist of Russia's claim was control of as much sea-shore as possible for the pm-pose of trading, and not land ; and, in accordance with this dominant idea, the Convention was framed. ,, [217] " I :'■ •^c Convention, that n«Aico it is qiute consistent with the spirit and wording of^ the strip rany he in places " not more than 3 miles \»ide." As for *' meandering in every direction," this is a somewhat hroad statement ; but imdoubtcdly the physical features arc such that the " strip " will meander in many directions. " Shall we take the highest summits of the general mass of coast ranges ? " A proper answer to this is — admit first that there are " mountains situated parallel to the coast," and then, after we have those physical features before us to deal with, no serious dilBculties will he encountered in determining what summit to accept as being on the boundary. " Shall we skip this way or that, >vith our zigzag, impossible to survey except at fabuloiTS expense and half-a-century of labour ? " It is supposed that the Conmiis- sioucrs in the field, to whom any matter of detail would be referred, will be imbued with flic desire to have practical, amicable, just, and speedy decisions. T!u; " fabulous expense and half-a-century of survey " can be brought about by delay, through petty contentions, and by doing unnecessary work. The two interested Governments certainly do not intend to build a fence of monuments from the parallel of 50° north latitude to the lllst meridian. Where monuments shall bo placed can only bo determined in the field, and governed by circumstances. The tonnur of Professor Dall's Report is ti^o ;mpfn/.fiVnijijjy nt fi^n. pliysical boundrnT" MM Murilh jd^. jVr ' M'^" -'*^^^^^^'*'-''*'*™'' I i i i uw WH H H "" '^TWrtlip boundary-line beiwecu tlie 5utli parallel and the lilst meridian been described simply as following " the summit of the range of mountains," then there would have been some justifica- tion in Professor Ball's remarks and strictures as quoted. Examining carefully a Map of Europe, one is struck at the almost universal physical boundaries between the various countries, and many of them as mountain boundaries. Take, for instance, Switzerland and Austria (Bohemia). Can it be maintained that the Erz Gcbirge between Germany and Austria, which do not form a complete watci-shod, are more easily defined than the mountains "situated parallel to the coast ' in South-eastern Alaska ? Switzerland, that " sea of mountains," in a measure, has a boundary-lino that " skips this way and that way, incaiidcriug in eveiy direction ; " but here in America the physical boundary of South-eastern Alaska, as well defined probably as any mountain boundary in Europe, is considercd impracticable and impossible to survey. This does not seem reasonable. It may be mentioned that the political boundaries of Switzerland do not coincide throughout with those of Nature. This fact makes the boundary more difficult to follow. There are several of the States of the United States which have their political boundaries formed by mountains. For instance, the south-eastern boundary of I Kentucky, the eastern boundary of Tennessee, and the western boundary of Montana. I In Bulletin No. 13, p. 122, United States' Geological Survey, is found that "the Territory of Montana was organized on the 2Gth May, IS&^l-, from a portion of Idaho. Its limits, which have been changed but slightly, are given in the following extract from the organizing Act : — "That all that part of the territory of the United States included within the limits to wit : Commencing at a point formed by the intersection of the 27th degree of longitude west from Washington with the iSth degree of north latitude, thence due west on said 4.5th degree of latitude to a point formed by its intersection mth the 84th degree of longitude west from Washington, thence due south along said i34th degree of longitude to its inters^-'otion with the 4i4th degree and 30 minutes lith degree degree and 30 minutes of north of north latitude, thence due west along said latitude to a point formed by its intersection with the crest of the Rocky Mountains, Ihence following the crest of the Rocky Mountains northward till its intersection with "le Bitter Root Mountains, thence northward along the crest of said Bitter Root [ountains to its intersection with the 39th degree of longitude west from Washington, tcnce along said 39th degree of longitude northward to the boundary-line of the pitish possessions, thoucc eastward along said boundary-line to the 27th degree of iigitiide west from Washington, thenoe southward along said 27th degree of longitude I the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby created into a temporary Govem- put by tiic name of the Territory of Montana." (Thirty-eighth Congress, First Hon.) ., ,^, , . . -"^ — - 31 >" A to the til, no being W}\y it should bo practicable to have a boundary-line " following the crest of tho Rocky Mountains northwards till its intersection with the Bitter Root Mountains, thence northward along the crest of snid Bitter Root Mountains to its intersection with the ;}9fh degree of longitude west from Washington," and " the summit of the mountains " (occurring in tho Anglo-Russian Convention of 1885) be wholly imprac- ticable, as stated by Professor Dall, is not easily discerned. It cannot be iirged that the mountain boundary of Montana is synonymous with tho line of the continental watershed, and hence practically indisputable. Examina- tion will show that only the south-eastern part of tho boundary is coincident with the line of the continental watershed. The query of Professor Dall, " Shall wo take the highest summit of the general mass of the coast ranges ?" might with equal propriety be put in the case of ^fontana, by asking, " Shall we take the highest summit of tho general mass of the Rocky Mountains ?" It is not kno^^^l to the \nntcr that the last question has n'or arisen, aiul if it docs, it undoubtedly will find a speedy solution between amicably disposed Str.tes, There are probably very fe^\ Treaty boundaries extant wliich, if put under tho dissecting knife of one disposed to find fault, would not be found to have fiaws. It is necessary that one be familiar with the causes and reasons tliat led to the making of a Treaty in order to imbibe tho spirit and intent thoi'oof, whereby possibly ambiguous or obscure passnges may tho more readily be understood. Many cases might be cited from Treaties, Conventions, and Agreements wherein physical features or monimients arc referred to geographical co-ordinates, as has becu done with tho " southernmost point of the island called Prince of Wales Island." In the Treaty of Washington of the 9th August, 1842, is found, TJnitod States' Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 13, p. 17 : " . . . . thence along said lino to the said most north-western point " (of the Lake of the Woods), "being in latitude 49° 23' 55" north, and in longitude 95° 14' 38" Avcst from the Observatory at Greenwich " The principle involved in this description is identical with that of the Anglo- Russian Convention of 1825 concerning the point of commencement of tlu^ boundary- line. In both there is a physical feature, and in both the geographical position of those physical features is given. The physical featui'c is always absolute, the geographical position of tho physical feature is always approximate, no matter how refined the observation. The bett(!r the observation the nearer the approximation. Abstractly considered, as an axiom it may be laid down that the position of physical features or monuments and tho geogmphical or geodetic expression for such position, are incompatlbles. What is really meant by these geographical or geodetic expressions is, " to the best of our knowledge and belief, said .... is situated in latitude longitude . . . ." This is simply done to insure the identification of the physical feat are. Undoubtedly a geographical position can be made absolute, but only l)y disasso- ciating it from any physical fcatui'c. As an example may be given the north-east corner of Montana, United States' Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 13, p. 122 : " Commencing at a point formed by the intci-section of the 27th degree of longitude west from Washington with the 45th degree of north latitude, thence . . . ." This point can only be determined by observation, and different sets of observa- tions will very probably not give the same point upon the earth. The dependent physical point will shift with every set of observations for determining the same, whereas with the given physical feature its geodetic position shifts with every observa- tion. Nevertheless, the refinements in astronomic observations are at the present time of such precision that for practical purposes the differences, resulting from various determinations, are so small that they may generally be disregarded. When tho description of a boundary-line has been referred to mathematical points, dependent upon geographical co-ordinates, to give effect to such boundary-line, material points must be substituted for the mathematical ones. This is generally accomplished by a Joint Commission determining by observations the position of the boundary-line on tho gi'ound, and the result of its labour ratified by the interested and proper authorities. This latter act is in tho strict wording of the boundary-line, for now, by the act . of monuments planted under authority " shall " mark and designate certain points of said / boundary-lino, whether they are exactly Avhore they should be or not. It is seen, therefore, that in the end we have always to deal with a material point or physical featiu^, irrespective of its absolute geographical position. / t of its laboiu' ratified * reality an inversion of / of ratification, certain / 4 Although the following may hv. irrclcvaut to the subject-matter under discuBsion, nevertheless the tenour thereof is worthy of the attention of Canadians, when negotiations with the United States arc eoutemplatcd for settling the Alaskan boundary. In a public document, United States' Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 13, p. 20, is found : — " The Treaty of Cession " (Fiance to the United States) " which bears date Ai)ril 30, 1803, describes the territory only as being the same as ceded by Spain to France by the '^i -oaty of San Ildefonso. " From this it ai)prars that the tcrritoiy sold to the United States comprised that part of the drainage Lasin of the Mississippi which lies Avest of the course of the river, with the exception of such parts as were then hold by Spain. The want of jrjrocise definition of hniits in the Treaty was not objected to by the American Commissioners, as they probably foresaw that this veiy iudefinitoncss might prove of service to the United States in future negotiations with other Fowci-s. In fact, the claims of the United States to the ansa now comprisr(1 i" Oregon, "Washington, and Idaho, in the negotiations with Great Britain regarding the north-western boundary, was ostensibly based, not only upon prior occupation and upon purchase from Spain, but also upon the alleged fact tliat this area formed part of the Louisiana purchase. That this claim was baseless is shown not only by what has been abeady detailed regarding the limits of the purchase, but also by the direct testimony of the French Plenipotentiary, M. Barbo Marbois." With the foregoing before us, it is not unfair to assume that, if the United States think (M-hich apparently they do) that there is any " iudefiniteness " in the Anglo- Russian Convention of 1825, they would also bo inclined to foresee " that tir.s very indeflniteness might prove of service to the United States. Canada must zealously guard her interests. • . , : ■ - The Boundary Survey. As before stated, the boundary-line resolves itself into three parts : — 1. The water boundary, and the part from the head of Portland Channel to the 56th parallel. 2. The mountain boundary from the 5Cth parallel to the 141st meridian. 3. The line of the lilst meridian. Tlie second part is by far the most important for consideration. It is futile to lay plans for survey, if there is no definite under- tanding what is to be surveyed. Hence, before any satisfactory suggestions can be made regarding the survey of the boundary- lino, Great Britain (or the more interested party, Canada) and the United States must come to a definite understanding on the three following principal points : — 1. The point of commencement of the line of demarcation or boundary-line. 2. What is Portland Channel or Canal as understood by the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1825 ? 3. Are there "mountains situated parnllel to the coast " between the parallel of 56° north latitude and the meridian of 111 west longitude ? It is firmly believed that there are sufficient data to hand to settle these points without going in the field. This could be done by the appointment of two Commissioners, one for Canada and one for the United States. These Commissioners, after being vested with the necessary authority, to meet, discuss, and confer with each other on the points referred to. After a full discussion, the Commissioners to make a joint Report to their respective Governments on such points as have been mutually agreed upon, besides making individual Reports to their respective Governments on those questions which have failed to receive a mutual solution. Tliese Coinmissionei's should draft a plan for co-operatiou in the field, for co-ojjeration will be necessary when the boundary-line question has reached that staLfc. The Canadian Commissioner could ascertain too at Washington the details of the triaiigulation and astronomic work which has already been done on the coast of South- eastern Alaska, work upon which the boundary survey may be l)ased for topography to a greater or less extent, and thereby avoid a repetition of observations and unnecessary cost. S3 The survey of the " summit of the mouutiiiiis situated parallel to the coasi " is not only fcasihlo and practicable, but easier than the survey of a geodetic lino, which would, from the nature of the country, bo farther removed inland amongst the mountains, and not so accessible from the coast as the former one. The estimate of 1,500,000 dollars which has been made for the cost of the boundary-line survey is considered far greater that is necessary for Canada or Great Britain to expend therefor. Outside of the Ills', meridian and the 5Gth parallel there will he vtny little to survey to find the boundary; the surveying will bo simply to show on paper, /.'■., on Maps, where the boundary as found on the ground is, and to show where monuments have been placed, so that in future reference can be made thereto if necessary. Any special refinements in surv( y along the mountain boundary — the important part — on the part of Canada would be money imwlsoly applied, as there are other parts of Canada in greater need of accurate surveys than the mountains of the Alaskan boundary-line. Were Canada in a position to utilize otherwise any refined surveys that she might moke there, as the United States can do, then there would be some plea for such a class of work. The United States having the sea-coast can apply — and are in need of, it might be added — the best work for the purposes and safety of their navigation ; hence they would be naturally more inclined to do more and more refined work than would be desirable or necessary for Canada to undertake in the boundary matter. It must not be inferred that any slipshod work is advocated ; on the contrary, but to be trite by repetition, surveying does not create the boundary. Nature has done that, suiTcying interprets in geographical terms Nature's work, and brings the boundary matter to an international conclusion. As the expense of survey will be no small sum, and the work extend over several years, all discussion possible should be made before taking the field, and all questions admitting of solution beforehand should be disposed of, in order to economize time and money in the field. Finally summarizing, Canada must adhere to the "summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast," for if their existence be disclaimed, for which there is no evidence so to do, and as line of demarcation one substituted composed of " right lines having geodetic termini," as styled by ex-Secretary of State Mr. T. F. Bayard, Canada would be plunged into a sea of trouble, with increased expenditure and loss of territory. What the pecuniary loss of such territory would be cannot now be estimated, as the interior is pi-actically a terra incognita. In the meantime, there is the grand principle of right and justice to uphold, so dear to every British subject. (Signed) ' OTTO J. KLOTZ. Appendix. As an Appendix are given a number of views taken in Alaska by me. They are not shown as works of photographic skill, because, being aU taken from the deck of a moving steamer some miles from shore, and with generally a leaden, misty sky, a good photograph was out of the question. However, they will give some idea of the existence of " mountains situated parallel to the coast." Accompanying the Ileport too are : — " Pacific Coast Pilot ; Alaska," Part 1, Edition 1883. The " Forum " November 1889. Admiralty Chart: Port Simpson to Cross Sound, including the Koloschensk Archipelago. United States' Coast and Geodetic Survey Map : Alaska and adjoining Territory, 1887. (Signed; OTTO J. KLOTZ. -/j-,i r.2i7] .'■>■•■■ No. 16. Memorandum on Colonial Office Letter of August 22, 1890. TIIRTIE are two points in the contention : — 1. Th«! water boundary ; 2. The land boundary ; and they turn on tlie interpretation of Articles III and IV of the Convention between England and Russia of February 1B26, and the accuracy of charts. The Articles are as follows : — " TTI. The line of demarcation between the possessions of the High Contracting Parties ujmn the coast of the continent and the islands of America tot he north-west shall be drawn in the manner following : " Commencing from the southernmost point of the island called Prince of Wales Island, wliich point lies in the parallel of 54° 1.0' north latitude, and between the 131st and th(! IMJlrd degrees of west longitude (meridian of Greenwich), the said line shall ascend to the north along the channel called Portland Channel, as far as the point of the continent where it strikes the 5Gth degree of north latitude ; from this last- mentioned point the line of demarcation shall follow the summit of the mountians situated parallel to the coast as far as the point of intersection of the Idlst degree of west longitude (of the same meridian) ; and, finally, from the t,aid point of intersection, the said meridian line of the 14rlst degree, in its prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean, shall form the limit between the Russian and British po&sessions on the Continent of America to the north-west. " IV. With reference to the line of demarcation laid down in the preceding Article, it is understood : " 1. That the island called Prince of Wales Island shall belong wholly to Russia. " 2. That wherever the simimit of the raoimtains which extend in a direction parallel to the coast, fi'om the 50th degree of north latitude to the point of intersection of the 141st degree of west longtitude, shall prove to be at the distance of more than 10 marine leagues from the ocean, the limit between the British possessions and the line cf coast which is to belong to Russia, as above mentioned, shall be formed by a line parallel to the windings of the coast, and which shall never exceed the distance of 10 marine leagues thei-efrom." 1. The water boundary. " The United States are understood to contend that Portland Inlet is a part of the Portland Channel through > hich the Convention directs the line to be run ; which contention Canada denies, an 1 rsserts that the passage along the coast through Pearso Channel to the ocean is part el' Portland Canal. '* Canada is anxious that \n agreement should be arrived at as to whether the Con- vention requires that the uiicction of the delimiting lino shall be the most direct between the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island and the ocean entrance to Portland Canal, or whether it is required that this line shall anywhere follow a parallel of latitude. 2. The land boundary. The Convention was negotiated on the basis of Vancouver's Map, which shows a well-defined range of mountains at a short distance from the coast. Nosuch jaogc in reality exists, but the whole country is mountainous, and it is difficuino "say what signification is to be attached to the term " the crest of the mountains " in some places. Moi'cover, the coast itself is greatly indented with various creeks running some distance inland. The United States consequently assume that the boundary-line, " wliich is supposed to follow a mountain range, is an impracticable one to survey, if not a geographical impossibility. "t Canada submits that " there is no evidence to show that the line prescribed by the Treaty of 1825 is impracticable."* She cannot, therefore, assent to the assumption that it is, and could not co-operate in a delimitation upon that understanding, though ready to do so otherwise. * See Caiixdian Memorandum in Colonial Office letter. f See Mr. Bayard's note of November SO, 1885. 30 No. 16, Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Sir, Foreinn Office, Siplember 11, 1890. I Ail directed ))v tlio Marquis of Salisbury to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22ud ultimo in regard to the proposed joint survey on the part of ITcr Majesty's Goverumcut and of the Government of the United States of the Alaska boundary. I am to request that you will state to Secretary Lord Knutsford that Lord Salisbury will communicate with him again as to the course which should be taken in regard to this question when ho has further considered the documents forwo'*ded with your letter under reply. Meanwhile, I am to return the original inclosurcs which accompanied your letter, together with a printed proof ol the same ; and I am to suggest that the proof should be carefully examined at the Colonial Office with a view to asccrt.iining its accuracy, and returned with any necessary corrections. I am, &c. (Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. No. 17. Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Sir, Foreign Office, September 19, 1890 I HAVE laid before the Marquis of Salisbury your letter of the 22nd ultimo, in which the question is raised whcthur any action should be taken at the present time by Her Mtyesty's Government or by that of Canada in regard to the proposal made by the United Stites for a joint survey of the Alaska boundary. Lord Salisbury perceives that in the opinion of llie Canadian Government no joint operations could be usefully undertaken until a preliminary understanding has been arrived at with the Government of the United States as to the basis upon which the discussions for the settlement of the boundary shall proceed. Lord Salisbury will forward a copy of your letter, and its inclosurcs, to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington for his inforntation, but it does not appear to his Lordship that the present time is a favourable one for raising the question. 1 am, &c. (Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. No. 18. The Marquis of Salisburi/ to Sir .7. Pauncefote. (No. 198.) Sir, Foreign Office, September 19, 1890. WITH reference to my despatch No. 164 of the 31st July last, I transmit here- with, for your information, a copy of a letter from the Colonial Office relative to the survey of the Alaska boundai^, together with the reply which I have caused to be returned to it.* The present does not appear to be a favoixrable time for raising the question with the United States' Government, but the matter should be borne in mind in case a suitable opportunity shoidd present itself for entering upon it. I am, &c. : . ' - ;• -; ' (Signed) SALISBURY. "^^^i^ * No9 14 and 17. 36 - ■ - No. 19. Colonial Office to Foreign Office, — (Received October 16.) Sir, Dovmimj Street, October 15, 1890. I AM directed by Lord Knutsford to return lierewitli the proof of the despatch from Lord Stauley of Prcstou, and its inclosures, on tho subject of the Alaska boun- dary, which accompanied your letter of the lltli ultimo, and to acquaint you, for the information of the Marquis of Salisbury, that Ills Lordship has no remarks to offer upon it. Lord Knutsford would be glad if ten copies of this paper could be furnished for the use of this Department when it has been struck off. I am at tho same time to acknowledge the receipt of yoiu" further letter of the 19th September on this subject, and to inclose, for the information of Lord Salisbury, a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to the Governor -General of Canada conveying the views expressed by his Lordship in reference to the proposed survey. I am, &c. ^ (Signed) JOHN BEAMSTON. ■ , ■ L' closure in No. 19. Lord Knutsford to Lord Stanley of Preston. (Confidential.) My Lord, Downing Street, October 15, 1890. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Confidential despatch of the 24th July, forwarding the Report of a Comuiittee of the Privy Council on the subject of the proposed joint survey of the Alaska boundary. I duly communicated your despatch and its inclosures to the Marquis of Salisbury, and his Lordship informs me that a copy will be forwarded to her Majesty's Minister at Washington for his information, but that it does not appear to him that the ;jresent time is a favourable one for raising the question with the Government of the United States. , . . . ! ! . I have, &c:. '• ■ (Signed) KNUTSFORD. • ' . ■ No. 20. Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury, — (Received October 27.) (No. 131.) My Lord, Magnolia, October 7, 1890. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 198 of the 19th ultimo, on the subject of the proposed joint survey of theA luT^a boundary. I will not fail to bear the matter in mind, and shall take the first favourable opportunity of speaking to Mr. Blaine on the subject of a prelin^inary understanding as to the basis on which the discussions for che settlement vf the boundary should proceed. .; , ,' I have, &c. ' ' (Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. /. -■;-■- i-.v:-' A -z^-: No. 21. ^•.',1 ;,;> i'l Foreign Office to Colonial Office, Foreign Office, November 6, IbM. [Transmits copy of Sir J. Pauncofote's No 131 of October 7, 1890 : ante, No. 20.] offer •'8