Britain Is Quietly Mapping Alaska's Border, Former Federal Attorney Warns

The contrast between the energy of the British and the supineness of the United States government in the Alaska boundary controversy was well brought out last night in an interview with a Post-Intelligencer reporter by C. S. Johnson, for four years United States district attorney for Alaska under the Harrison administration, who is now in the city with his family. He is registered at the Butler.

Mr. Johnson stated that the people in Alaska were intensely worked up over the boundary line controversy between this country and England, and that the British government was sparing no pains or expense in securing data and making surveys to establish its claim, if possible. He says the people are about disheartened over the dilatory actions of their own nation in not moving more vigorously in this very important matter.

Mr. Johnson said: "The question that is most agitating the people of Alaska at the present time is the boundary line controversy. While I am as ardent and loyal an American citizen as any man, I cannot help but admire the energy and indomitable push of the British government in the matter. For the past two years that government has had a party in the field, under the direction of William Ogilvie, gathering data and making surveys. Not only has this party been at work, but all its cruisers have, together with their regular duties, collected valuable information to be used by the boundary commission whenever that may come. On the other hand, our government has been very dilatory in the matter, and the American subjects in Alaska are becoming somewhat disheartened over the non-action in the matter. The people have asked, and it is their prayer, that a wagon road for ingress and egress to the golden Yukon be built by this country, but they have received no encouragement.

"The British government already surveys the field, and if the present controversy results in its favor, it will undoubtedly expend thousands of dollars to develop the country. The people living in this country will lose if the English secure what they claim. We will lose the famous Treadwell mining properties, the Hayward-Lane property, which is undoubtedly the richest mining property in the world, and the Silver Bow property. Besides these properties we will lose the Chilkat, Dyea and Taku passes, the only three available inlets into the Yukon. If we win not have anything left to speak of. The Kamskat [sic] know the value of these properties, and in my opinion will leave no stone unturned to gain their point. They have already spent five times as much money as we have and done ten times as much work. If they win they will also obtain possession of the coast, which, in case of war, would be of great value to them. The feeling is simply intense up there, and I believe in case the British won their point a large number would leave the country rather than be under British rule.

"Another thing that works injury to Alaska is the prohibitory liquor law that is in effect there. Nine-tenths of all the expense of the Federal courts during the past two years has been occasioned by this law. To show you how it works I will state the fact that only five civil suits have been decided in Juneau in two years, the rest of the time being taken up in trying petty liquor cases. One thing that is very commendable, though, is the policy of the government in refusing to sell liquor to a native, and it will assist in prosecuting any one caught in the act of selling to the natives to the fullest extent of the law."