Page:Alaskan boundary tribunal (IA alaskanboundaryt01unit).pdf/139

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ARGUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
129

A dine ten leagues from the ovean, moning parulel to the windings af the eoast, wonk) eros: the Stickeen River nearly at the point indicated. [have personally esuninel the country near the river from ite mouth to the bead of steam: navigation wiv) was impreseed with the difficnity that would arise in determining a continnons sninmit of the Coat moantiins, There is ie range or clin, lat euher for the entire distance of over one hundred nulles, angl to the right anil left ae fords the eve ein reach, a coufesed moss of ionitain peaks with elevations from three thonsaiadl to six thousanl! feet, the highest being perhaps in vietnity of the point marked “Ciraned Cafion’’ in latitude about 57° 20′.[1]

So fut as the record shows this comment wre the first ever made pen the irregular character of the inountain fornmtion, showing no chain or range. but tt contused mass of mount peauks.” “This description this made is entitely snstained ly the evidence hereinafter referred to. The character of the monntiins accounts for the fret that. all efforts made up to that tine to loeate the houndary line, ignore those mountains, as not alfecting the location.

HUNTER SURVEY AND PETER MARTIN AFFAIR.

The faet< in the Peter Martin case have been fully set forth in the vise of the United States. The effect of the Hunter survey is sought to be avoided in the British Case, Mr. Tonter was instructed by Mr. Dennis. the Surveyor Geveral. to proceed to the Stikine River to make a survey of it and ~ steh a reconmiissince of the country embra- cing the vonst ranve of mountains in the immediate vicintty ns will enable vou to ascertain, with approxinite aceuriey, the boundary on the said river between the Dominion and the territory of Alaska,”? Ie was furnished with an extract of the treaty deseribiny the hound. ary. and other data. Mr. Denuis certainky did not mean by ** the coust nuge Of mountains” any such irreenlir perks as are new eon- tended for. or the sunimits of the mountiins next te the sea, for he proceeds. in viving his specilic directions. after calling attention to a tracing made by Chief In-tice Beebie. to say:

You will make it yonr «luty te verify this sketch as te the detted red line <hown, ant wencrally take stich obeeruutions as will enalde yon ta lay dows, with approxi- lnite accuracy, the crossing of the river (should the saine eeenr within ton paring

leavues of the ext) by a line, in the wore of the Treaty, “following the semiit ef the mountains paratiel to the coast.”[2]

Le was directing his attention to the ascertainment of whether or

not there were sneh mountains as the treaty provided for within ten


  1. U. S. C. C. App., 80.
  2. B. C. App. 244.