DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BULLETIN

OF THE

UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

 No. 17O

t, WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1900

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR

SURVEY

OF THE

BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN IDAHO AND MONTANA

FROM

THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY TO THE CREST 

OF THE BITTERROOT MOUNTAINS

BY

RICHARD TJRQUHART GOODE

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1900

CONTENTS.

Page. 

Letter of transmittal - _. .... _..._......_....--..,.. ........... 9

Instructions...............................1...^.......................... 11

Boundary lines.-. ....--..........---.-.--..-.-..-............-.-.-..---- 15

Account of operations ...........................-._._........... .--. 18

Latitude, longitude, base line, azimuth, and triangulation _...__.._.._..___ 21 

Latitude _...-. .--.---.-... -.....-..-..........._................ 21

Longitude.........---.-..-..-..-.....-..--.. ............. ....-.-. 23

Spokane base line................J......................__._._.. 25

Azimuth .__.---.--.-.-.....___.. _..--...__.__.__.. ._._........--. 25

Triangulation ................... __........._.'......._._._.....-- 29

Transit and stadia work.................................................. 40

Monuments _. ..;......____.._._.,_._._._....__,, ._.....__. ..-..... 47

The international boundary west of the summit of the Eocky Mountains, 

and the Mooyie Trail monument..............................._..... . 58

Financial statement ................... °........................_.i........ 63

Index ..............J...................................................... 67

5

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Pago. 

PLATE I. Crest of Bitterroot Mountains.... ............_....-. -..-..-.."_. 16

II. A, Cabinet Range; B, Summit of Cabinet Range, showing points

touched by boundary line..__.__._.._-....-.-.-.......-.._.---. 18

III. A, Camp south of summit of Cabinet R#nge; B, Quartzite slate

near summit of Scotchman Peak........... ................... 20

IV. Astronomic piers in court-house grounds at Spokane, Washington. 22

V. Diagram of triangulation for control of the Idaho-Montana

boundary.__._.__.._....__..__._........__.......-.-..---.._-.- 30

VI. Transit station on random line .................................... 40

VII. Granite boundary-line monuments ,........'....-.....-....-...... 46

VIII. Design for iron post..--_.__--..._..._.._._....-.--___.......---. 48

I.. Post 48, at summit of timbered ridge..........---.. '............. 50

' X. Post 42, and line cut through timber ............................. 52

XI. A, Granite monument on boundary line near Leonia, Idaho; B,

sectional monument at summit of Bitterroot Mountains........ 54

XII. Clark Fork of Columbia -River just west of boundary line....... 56

XIII. Summit of Bitterroot Mountains, showing pack train loaded with

sections of granite monument.................................. 60

XIV. Map of boundary line....... ..................................... 66

FIG. 1. Design for stadia rod...."...........................-..-.......-.-. 41

7

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Washington, D. C., February 81, 1900.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a detailed report relating to the survey of the boundary line between Idaho and Montana 

from the international boundary to the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains.

I wish to make acknowledgment of the valuable services rendered 

in this connection by Messrs. S. S. Gannett and D. L.' Reaburn, in 

field and office, and by Mr. E. T. Perkins, jr., in the field. Mr. Gannett prepared the greater portion of the material relating to latitude, 

longitude, base line, azimuth, and triangulation. 

Very respectfully,

RICHARD U. GOODE,

Geographer. 

Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT,

Director United States Geological Survey.

SURVEY OF THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN IDAHO

AND MONTANA FROM THE INTERNATIONAL

BOUNDARY TO THE CREST OF THE

BITTERROOT MOUNTAINS.

By RICHARD U. GOODE.

INSTRUCTIONS.

The survey of the boundary line between Idaho and Montana was 

provided for by the Fifty-fourth Congress in the sundry civil act 

approved June 4, 1897.

The following correspondence is self-explanatory:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Washington, D. C., June 5,1897. 

The honorable the SECRETARY OP THE INTERIOR.

SIR: In response to your verbal request, 1 have the honor to transmit herewith 

suggested instructions relating to the survey of the boundary line between Idaho 

and Montana.

I am, with respect, your obedient servant,

CHAS. D. WALCOTT, Director.

INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO THE SURVEY OF. THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN 

IDAHO AND MONTANA.

Included in the act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, and for other purposes, is found 

the following law:

For surveying that portion of the boundary line between Idaho and Montana 

beginning at the intersection of the thirty-ninth ineridian with a boundary line 

between the United States and the British possessions, including the retracing of 

so much of the international boundary line as may be found necessary for the 

determination of said intersection, then following said meridian south until it 

reaches the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains, and for locating points on said 

ineridian by triangulation from the Spokane base of the United States Geological 

Survey, and on the continuation of said boundary line along the Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana, seven thousand six hundred and fifty dollars, 

or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be immediately available: Provided, 

That the Secretary of the Interior shall direct that the survey shall be executed 

under the supervision of the Director of the Geological Survey by such persons 

as may be employed by or under him for that purpose, and such survey shall be 

executed under instructions to be issued by the Secretary of the Interior: Provided 

, That the plats and field notes thereof prepared shall be approved and

11
12 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE.

certified to by the Director of the>Geological Survey, and three copies thereof shall 

be returned, one for filing in the surveyor-general's office of Idaho, one in the 

surveyor-general's office of Montana, and the original in the General Land Office.

In carrying out the provisions of the law above quoted three special processes 

are involved:

First. The accurate location of the thirty-ninth meridian on the ground by triangulation from the Spokane base of the United States Geological Survey, including the retracing of so much of the international boundary line as may be found 

necessary for the determination of the intersection of the thirty-ninth meridian 

with the said boundary line, as well as for locating points on the continuation of 

the boundary between Montana and Idaho along the summit of the Bitterroot 

Mountains.

Second. The marking on the surface of the ground, by proper monuments, of 

the boundary as determined.

Third. The preparation of the necessary plats and field notes.

With reference to the above, the following instructions will be observed:

LOCATING THE BOUNDARY.

The Spokane base of the United States Geological Survey is referred to the 

meridian of Greenwich, and the thirty-ninth meridian above mentioned has for 

its initial point the meridian of the old Naval Observatory at Washington. By 

applying the proper correction and referring the thirty-ninth meridian west of 

Washington to the meridian of Greenwich, the result is that the meridian to be 

determined as the boundary line between Idaho and Montana is 116° 03' 02".30 

west of Greenwich.

The triangulation from the Spokane base will be extended eastward so as to accurately locate the intersection of the meridian above mentioned west from Greenwich with the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains. It may be that this identical 

point can not be located directly by triangulation, but a point as near thereto as 

may be possible should be so located, and from this the exact point should be 

determined by careful traverse based on an astronomic or calculated azimuth 

and distances determined by direct chaining or stadia measurement, whichever 

may be most practicable.

After the point referred to, namely, the intersection of the meridian 116°-03' 02".30 

west from Greenwich with the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains, has been 

determined, the triangulation is to be extended northward, locating as many 

points as may be practicable as near as may be to the boundary line between 

Idaho and Montana until the international boundary is reached. From the points 

so located by triangulation other points exactly on the .boundary will be determined by traverse in the manner hitherto mentioned. The international boundary line is supposedly on the forty-ninth parallel of latitude. It will not, however, 

answer the purpose to rely on the location of this parallel from the Spokane base, 

but it must be determined with reference to an existing monument or monuments, 

being carefully retraced until its point of intersection with the meridian is exactly 

located.

The distance along the international boundary from the nearest monument, or 

the monument recovered, to the point of intersection will be determined either by 

triangulation or direct measurement with chain or stadia or a combination of the 

two methods.

After points as above described have been located on the boundary line between 

Idaho and Montana from the international boundary to the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains, these points will be joined by true meridian lines, so that a sufficient number of points on the boundary in addition may be determined to fulfill the 

conditions made necessary under the provisions hereinafter mentioned for mark-
OOODE.] INSTRUCTIONS. 13

ing the line. Upon the completion of the survey and marking of the portion of the 

boundary line coincident with the thirty-ninth meridian, the triangulation will be 

extended in a southeasterly direction so as to locate points on the continuation of 

the said boundary line along the Bitterroot Mountains.

All triangulation will be executed in accordance with instructions issued by the 

Director of the United States Geological Survey under date of February 15, 1897.

In running lines between points located on the boundary the following instructions will be observed:

The instrument used must be a first-class transit instrument, reading to minutes 

or less, with or without solar attachment, but provided with stadia wires, and 

must be kept constantly in adjustment. In running the line, double back and 

fore sights with telescope direct and reversed must be taken, in order to guard 

against errors resulting from imperfect adjustment of the line of collimation. It 

is absolutely necessary to follow this method whenever meridian lines are run, 

in order to avoid errors in the course.

When offset lines are necessary, the notes must fully explain the procedure, 

and a diagram of such offsets must be inserted after the verbal description.

Observations on Polaris for azimuth must be taken on the line every night, 

weather and other circumstances permitting, and the record of such observations 

must be given in detail in the notes in the manner as described in the Manual of 

Surveying Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States, 

issued by the Commissioner of the General Land Office under date of June 30,1894.

Temporary marks will be established on the preliminary or random lines between 

located points, and on reaching a closing point the departure therefrom will be 

noted. The true line will then be established, and permanent marks placed by 

shifting the positions of the temporary marks with a swing proportionate to the 

closure error and distances. Distances along the line will be carried by stadia or 

chaining, so that it will be possible to locate accurately all monuments established, 

as well as all topographic and cultural features. The distances thus obtained will 

be checked in closing from one located point to another.

A full description of all monuments, the character of the timber and soil, the 

distances to the crossing of all bridges, rivers, lakes, outlines of wooded areas, 

railroads, roads, trails, and other prominent features will be fully recorded in the 

field notes, and a sketch of the topographic features adjacent to the boundary line 

will be made, as well as from each triangulation station on or near the line and 

from any traverse that may be run in connection with the line. Intersections will 

be made whenever possible on all important objects susceptible of location.

The magnetic declination will be determined in connection with each transit 

observation on the line;

MARKING THE LINE.

Monolithic monuments will be placed on the boundary at the following places: 

Near the Northern Pacific Railway, near the Great Northern Railway, and near 

the north bank of the Kootenai River. These monuments are to be 6 feet long 

and 10 inches square, minimum dimensions, and are to be placed in a truly vertical position, set 3 feet in the ground and with their'faces directed to the cardinal 

points. They are to be of undressed stone, except for a space sufficient to cut the 

words "Idaho" and "Montana" on the west and east sides, respectively, which 

will be dressed smooth, and tho letters shall be 2 inches high, of proportionate 

width and of the style known as Egyptian. The same kind of monuments will be 

placed on the line at the international boundary and at the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains if it shall be found practicable to transport them in one rnass,° 

otherwise they will be prepared in the quarry in every respect similar to those 

mentioned above and will then be sawed into sections of such size as to be readily
14 SURVEY OP IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

transported on pack mules to their destinations. They will then be firmly and 

securely cemeted with Portland cement and established in the same manner as the 

other stone monuments. The monument on the international boundary in addition to having the inscription "Idaho" and "Montana" on the west and east sides, 

respectively, will have " Canada" inscribed on the north.

Intermediate between the stone monuments above described will be placed at 

prominent summits, road, trail, or stream crossings, at distances not exceeding a 

mile apart, and intervisible whenever possible, wrought-iron posts 6 feet in length, 

3 feet of which shall be above ground and 3 feet below the surface, with a brass 

cap similar in general design to the standard iron posts used by the United States 

Geological Survey. The cap surmounting the post will be inscribed as below, the 

line cut on the cap being coincident with the boundary line:

IDAHO 

BOUNDARY

LINE 

MONTANA

Under each post will be placed a stone marked with charcoal or a vial filled 

with ashes.

It is assumed that generally a soil surface for the insertion of the stone or iron 

posts can be found sufficiently near the points it is desired to establish the monuments. If, however, the exact point should fall on rock at the international 

boundary or the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains, a hole will be chiseled in 

the rock to a depth of about 8 inches and a little larger than the base of the 

monument. Into this hole the monument will be firmly cemented with the best 

Portland cement. If the point for the location of one of the iron posts should 

fall on a rock surface, a copper plug similar to that used by the United States 

Geological Survey will be cemented in the rock and a truncated conical mound 

of stone, not less than 2£ feet high and 5 feet broad, will be- placed to the north 

of the point at a distance of 4 feet from it. . The copper plug will be stamped as

. MONT. , ... , , . , . follows: and will be properly oriented.

When suitable bearing trees are found within a distance of 100 feet of a stone 

monument or iron post, they must be marked on the side facing the corner in the 

manner prescribed in the manual for special corners.

In addition, each iron post will be witnessed, when possible, by mounds of earth 

or stone, one in Idaho and one in Montana, the material for the mounds to be 

taken from pits, one north and one south of the post, dug crosswise of the line. 

The pits will be 3 feet east and west, 2 feet north and south, and 1 foot deep, and 

their centers, as well as the centers of the mounds, will be 4 feet from the center 

of the iron post.

PLATS AND FIELD NOTES.

Special attention is called to the provisions of the law relating to plats and field 

notes.

All plats and field notes shall be approved and certified to by the Director of the 

Geological Survey, and four copies thereof shall be returned one for filing in the 

surveyor-general's office of Idaho, one in the surveyor-general's office of Montana, 

one in the office of the Geological Survey, and the original in the General Land 

Office. All field notes must be transcribed on a typewriting machine.

The results of the topographic notes will be embodied in a map which will be 

drawn on a scale of 1 inch to a mile. Detailed diagrams of the points on the international boundary and at the intersections of the Bitterroot Mountains will be 

made.
GOODS.) BOUNDARY LINES. . 15

All parties engaged in the prosecution of this survey will be sworn before an 

officer duly qualified to administer oaths at the beginning and end of the survey. 

The oath of the chief of party must be taken either before the clerk of the district 

'court or a United States commissioner. (See Manual, page 64.)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,,

Washington, June 5,1S97. 

The DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

SIR: Your letter of the 5th instant has been received, submitting for my consideration and approval instructions relating to the survey of the boundary line 

between Idaho and Montana, for which provision was made in the sundry civil 

appropriation bill, approved June <i.

The instructions in question have been approved by indorsement thereon and 

are herewith returned.

Very respectfully, C. N.. BLISS, Secretary.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Washington, D. C., June 7, 1897. 

Mr. B. U. GOODE, Geographer.

SIR: The execution of the necessary work in connection with the survey of the 

boundary line between Idaho and Montana, as provided for in the sundry civil 

bill for the fiscal year 1897-98, is placed under your supervision.

This work will be performed in accordance with instructions approved June 5, 

1897, by the Secretary of the Interior.

The sum of $7,650 has been appropriated in this connection, and you are authorized, within the limits of the above appropriation, to employ such temporary field 

assistants as may be necessary for the proper prosecution of the survey, and to 

make such journeys and to order your assistants to make such journeys as may 

be necessary in carrying forward the work.

Very respectfully, CHAS. D. WALCOTT, Director.

BOUNDARY LINES.

Territorial and State lines in the northwestern portion of the United 

States have undergone many changes. Originally this area was included partly in Louisiana and partly in Oregon, the dividing line 

being the crest of the Rocky Mountains.

Oregon Territory was organized August 14, 1848. Its area at that 

time included the present States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, 

and portions of Wyoming and Montana. The Territory of Nebraska, 

formed from a portion of the Louisiana Purchase, was organized May 

.30, 1854. Its original area extended from Minnesota on the east to the 

continental watershed on the west, and included the existing State of 

Nebraska and portions of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, 

and South Dakota. The Territory of Dakota was formed March 2, 

1861, from parts of the State of Minnesota and the Territory of Nebraska, and on March 3, 1863, the Territory of Idaho was formed of 

portions of Nebraska, Dakota, and Washington, the latter having 

been organized March 2,1853, from a portion of the Territory of Oregon. 

Originally, Idaho contained about 324,875 square miles, but in 1864 it
16 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL.170.

was reduced 146,080 square miles by the formation of the Territory 

of Montana, which was taken entirely from Idaho, and in 1868 it was 

further reduced by the formation of the Territory of Wyoming, almost 

the whole of which (93,995 square miles) was taken from Idaho. Montana to-day stands as originally organized, while Idaho contains about 

84,800 square miles. 

The present boundaries of Montana are described as follows:

Beginning at the intersection of the twenty-seventh meridian of longitude with 

the boundary line between the United States and the British possessions, it follows said meridian south to the forty-fifth parallel of latitude; thence west on this 

parallel to the thirty-fourth meridian; south on the thirty-fourth-meridian to the 

point where that meridian intersects the continental watershed; thence westward 

and northwestward, following the line of the continental watershed and the summit of the Bitterroot Range to its intersection with the thirty-ninth meridian; 

thence north on the thirty-ninth meridian to the boundary line between the United 

States and British possessions, and east on that boundary line to the point of beginning. ,

The present boundaries of Idaho are described as follows:

Beginning at the intersection of the thirty-ninth,meridian with the boundary 

line between the United States and the British possessions, it follows said meridian 

south until it reaches the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains; thence southeastward along the crest of the Bitter-root Range and the Continental Divide until it 

intersects the meridian of thirty-four degrees of longitude; thence southward on 

this meridian to the forty-second parallel of latitude; thence west on this parallel 

of latitude to its intersection with a meridian drawn through the mouth of the 

Owyhee River; north on this meridian to the mouth of the Owyhee River; thence 

down the midchannel of the Snake River to the mouth of the Clear water; and 

thence north'on the meridian which passes through the mouth of the Clearwater 

to the boundary line between the United States and the British possessions, and 

east on said boundary line to the place of beginning.

The boundary under discussion is the common one mentioned 

above.

In the United States State boundary lines may be grouped in two 

general classes:

First. Those that .are denned by some natural physical feature, 

such as an ocean or a lake shore, the channel or bank of a stream, the 

summit of a range of mountains, or a watershed.

Second. Those that are defined by imaginary lines which must be 

traced on the earth's surface by astronomic or mathematical processes. 

Such a line may be a meridian of longitude, a parallel of latitude, a line 

between two points (such as a portion of the eastern boundary of 

Nevada, which is from the intersection of the one hundred and twentieth meridian and the thirty-ninth degree of latitude to a point on 

the Colorado River where it intersects the thirty-fifth degree of latitude), a line defined by azimuth and distance or a number of such 

lines consecutively joined (such as the boundary line between Maine 

and New Hampshire), a line determined by a given direction from a 

certain point terminating at its intersection with some other line
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CREST OF BITTERROOT MOUNTAI
OOODE.] . BOUNDARY LINES. 17

(such as a portion of the western boundary of Idaho, which runs from 

a point in the channel of Snake River opposite the mouth of the Clearwater due north to the thirty-ninth parallel of latitude), or a tangent 

or arc of a circle (such as the western and northern boundary of Delaware).

Generally speaking, boundary lines of the first class need no monuments to indicate their location, while those of the second class must 

be perpetuated by marks of some kind after their positions have been 

determined.

The boundary line between Idaho and Montana is made up of two 

sections, falling into the two classes mentioned. The first section is 

that part defined as the thirty-ninth meridian, between the international boundary and the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains; and 

the second section is the sinuous line corresponding to portions of the 

crest of the Bitterroot and Rocky mountains, this line beginning at 

the intersection of one meridian line and terminating at another 

meridian line. The first section has been located and marked by 

monuments, as will appear hereafter. The second section is considered to be adequately determined, since it follows a watershed, and 

its terminal points have been marked the northern one by the results 

of the survey under discussion, and the second by the results of the 

survey of the western boundary of Wyoming, which line follows the 

thirty-fourth meridian from the forty-first parallel to the crest of 

the Rocky Mountains. The survey of the latter line was authorized 

by an act of Congress approved March 3, 1873, and was made, under 

contract, by Alonzo V. Richards, astronomer and surveyor, in June, 

July, August, and September, 1874. The following is a description 

of the corner of Idaho and Montana on this line, as taken from the 

report of the survey above referred to:

At 245 miles 56 chains and 50 links^the corner of Idaho and Montana was established on the crest of the Rocky Mountains. It is commemorated by a pine post 

11 feet long by 15 inches in diameter, 3| feet.in the ground, marked on north face 

"34° W. L., 1874;" on south face, " 246 m. 56 chs. 50 Iks.: " on east face, "Wyoming; " on southwest face, "Idaho;" on northwest face,'' Montana; " and is squared 

2 feet at the upper end in the shape of a pentagon. The point is further perpetuated by a stone in the bottom of the pit in which this post was set, marked 

"A. V. R," with several charred blocks. A conical mound of earth and stone was 

raised 4 feet high by 7 feet in diameter, with a pit in the corner of each of the 

three Territories 3 feet square by 2 feet deep. Then, on the top of the mound, on 

the east side, was placed a flat sandstone, marked " Wyoming;" another on the 

southwest side, marked "Idaho," and one on the northwest side, marked " Montana. " Nineteen pine trees are noted as witnesses to this post.

It will be noted that the law provides for locating points on the continuation of the boundary line along the Bitterroot Mountains between 

Idaho and Montana. It was not possible to extend the triangulation 

beyond the southern extremity of the meridional portion of the boundary line, on account of the available funds not being sufficient for 

Bull. 170 2
18 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

the purpose. In fact, the appropriation made would not have been 

adequate for the work that was accomplished if it had not been possible to utilize, in connection with the boundary line, work done 

under other appropriations. In this manner about 50 miles of the 

boundary were accurately located in connection with the survey of 

the Hamilton quadrangle, a portion of which is embraced within the 

limits of the Bitterroot Forest Reserve.

' The crest line of the Rocky and Bitterroot mountains between Idaho 

and Montana is generally a clearly defined summit or watershed, so 

that no serious question need arise as to its identification as an interState boundary. (See PL I.) In a few localities, notably in some of 

the passes, there are morasses of small extent out of which the water 

flows or seeps in both directions. If the question of placing monuments to mark this line ever arose, the location of monuments in 

such swampy localities as are found to exist would probably fulfill 

all necessary requirements. It is, however, very desirable that topographic maps of the adjacent territory be prepared. Such maps would 

clearly differentiate the true summits from the diverging spurs, and 

prevent any possible misconception as to the location of the line. 

After these maps had been prepared there would be no further question of surveying, but merely one of placing monuments, should this 

be considered necessary.

It frequently happens, as the result of greater or less relative erosion or uplifting, that spurs have an elevation higher than that of the 

main watershed, and this is remarkably the case in certain portions 

of the Bitterroot Mountains. In fact, in those portions where detailed 

examinations have been made all of the higher points of the range are 

uniformly from 6 to 8 miles east of the present divide, and it is probably true that this divide, in the course of geologic time, has retreated 

from an irregular line which passed through these high points. This, 

if true, is due partly to the fact that the waters of the Bitterroot 

River draining to the eastward have a greater relative rate of fall, 

and consequently greater erosive power, than had the waters flowing 

westward through the Clearwater, and thus the territory tributary to 

the former is gradually being captured by and added to that of the 

latter.

ACCOUNT OF OPERATIONS.

The work in connection with the boundary line extended through 

portions of three field and office seasons-. _

The act providing for the survey of the boundary line was approved 

June 4, 1897, and Mr. E. T. Perkins, jr., topographer, was immediately detailed for field work in connection with the triangulation. 

Mr. Perkins left the city of Washington on June 10, and proceeded 

to Spokane, Washington, by way of Boise, Idaho, stopping at the 

latter place to arrange for the transportation of certain property to
ULLETIN NO. 170 PL. II

A CABINET RANGE.

. SUMMIT OF CABINET RANGE, SHOWING POINTS TOUCHED BY BOUNDARY 

LINE (A AND Bi.
QOODE.] ACCOUNT OF OPERATIONS. 19

be used in connection with the work. The party was organized at 

Spokane, and> at first consisted of only a packer and a cook, but was 

afterwards increased by the addition of a field assistant, when angle 

observations were begun. When occasion required, for instance in 

clearing the timber for a triangulation station, extra men were hired 

by the day. Transportation was at first by saddle and pack animals 

alone, but later a light spring wagon was added to the outfit.

The work was greatly retarded by smoke during the summer, which 

was at times so dense as to render observations impossible, and by 

unusually early storms in the fall. All operations were entirely 

suspended about October 1, the snow being so deep as to render practically impossible the ascent of the peaks used as triangulation 

stations. The season's work consisted in extending the triangulation 

from the Spokane base eastward, through a longitudinal interval of 

about 70 miles, to the boundary line. Fifteen stations were erected, 

nine of which were occupied, and one observation for azimuth was 

made. Another object accomplished during the field season was the 

identification on the ground of the Mooyie Trail monument, which 

had been established by the Northwestern Boundary Commission. 

This monument was about 8| miles west of the boundary line between 

Idaho and Montana, and was the nearest monument or mark of any 

kind on or near the international boundary that could be identified. 

Further reference will be made to the Mooyie Trail monument.

After the party was disbanded, Mr. Perkins proceeded to California 

for duty. During the winter the office work pertaining to the triangulation was done under the direction of Mr. S. S. Gannett. Three 

figures were adjusted by least squares, and the geodetic positions of 

nine points were computed. One of the stations, Divide, was found 

to be 6,072 feet east of the Idaho-Montana boundary line, and another 

station, Scotchman, was found to be 7,842 feet west of it.-

Field operations were resumed in June, 1898, two parties being 

organized, one for the extension and completion of the necessary triangulation, the other for running the random line northward from 

the point determined as the intersection of the thirty-ninth meridian 

west from Washington with the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains.

Mr. Perkins continued the triangulation, and the line party was 

organized by Mr. S. S. Gannett, topographer, with Mr. D. L. Reaburn, 

as transit man, the latter assuming charge of the party after the work 

was started. . Mr. Perkins extended his work of the preceding year northward to 

the international boundary, occupying nine new stations and reoccupying four old ones. A high signal was erected over the Mooyie 

Trail monument, and this point was located. Unfortunately the 

character of the country was such that it was impossible to get a 

location by triangulation near the northern terminus of the interstate boundary line.
20 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

Mr. Gannett was instructed to carefully examine the topographic 

features of the country adjacent to the triangulation station Divide, 

in order to determine whether it was on the true summit of the Bibterroot Mountains, and then, by traverse from the Divide station, to 

locate the exact point on the summit from which, as the initial point, 

the random line should be projected northward. Observations for 

azimuth were obtained at Divide, the details of which will appear 

hereafter, and also at the end of the traverse line. This traverse was 

run along the divide westward through a longitudinal interval which 

was supposed to be 6,072 feet, but, unfortunately, owing to an error 

in the field computations, the location of the initial point was made 

177 feet too far east. This error was discovered in the office, and 

in the adjustment of the random line it was entirely eliminated from 

the final results.

Work on the random line was commenced July 11 by the party 

under Mr. Reaburn, which consisted of one recorder, two rodmen, 

two packers, three axmen, and a cook. The region traversed was 

along the entire line very rough and generally covered with timber. 

There were few roads or open trails, and the transportation problem 

was a difficult one. A pack train was provided, and it was generally 

necessary to make long detours and to cut out trails in order to establish camps at convenient points near the line. Toward the close of 

the season a great deal of snow was encountered on the high ridges, 

the party narrowly escaping being snowed in without provisions. 

The survey of the random line was completed to the vicinity of the 

international boundary on October 31 in snow 2£ feet deep.

Horizontal and vertical distances along the entire line were obtained 

by stadia measurements. The total rise and fall of the boundary line 

was about 63,000 feet, the average length of sights 350 feet, length of 

line about 72 miles, number of transit stations 1,051, and number of 

azimuth stations 17.

At the conclusion of the field season Mr. Perkins returned to the 

office and Mr. Reaburn was ordered to field duties elsewhere.

During the office season of 1898-99, after the triangulation had 

been finally computed, an adjustment of the stadia work to the triangulation was made, and tables were prepared showing the exact latitudinal and longitudinal corrections to be applied at each station of 

the random line. Elevations were also computed from the vertical 

angles for each transit station. Six sheets on mounted drawing paper, 

each sheet extending-through a latitudinal interval of 10', were then 

prepared. On these sheets was drawn the boundary line in its true 

position, and all topographic features which had been located from 

the random line were indicated. Such elevations as would be useful 

in sketching contours were also placed on the sheets, and the sheets 

thus arranged were used for sketching the topography adjacent to the 

line.

Mr. Reaburn resumed field operations 'about the middle of June,
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVE

A. CAMP SOUTH OF SUMMIT OF CABINET RANGE.

i'. QUARTZITE SLATE NEAR SUMMIT OF SCOTCHMAN PEAK.
GOODE.] LATITUDE. 21

1899, the party as organized being similar to that of the preceding 

season. The field work which remained was to remeasnre a portion 

of the line, place the monuments, cut out the true line, and secure 

additional data for the map.

The line was divided into four sections, reference to which will be 

made hereafter. Three of them were controlled by triangulation, but 

the fourth, or northernmost section, not being so controlled, it was 

decided to remeasure that section with the stadia, and also to make a 

careful comparative measurement with a steel tape. The measurement with the steel tape served not only to check this section of the 

line, but was also used as a basis of comparison with the stadia measurements and to determine a stadia factor, which was afterwards 

applied to all of the stadia work.

The measurements of the northernmost section were first made, and 

the northern terminal point of the line determined. The party then 

started southward, and the monuments were established, marked, and 

witnessed in accordance with the instructions. The topography was 

also sketched, but as the territory through which the line ran was for 

the most part covered with timber, it was impossible, without delaying 

the work beyond the limit of the available funds, to cover more than 

a narrow belt. This work was completed Octobers, 1899, and after 

a short service in another locality Mr. Reaburn reported to the office 

in Washington for the preparation of the final notes and plats.

LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, BASE LINE, AZIMUTH, AND TRIANGULATION.

In the following pages is given a short account of the methods 

employed in establishing what may be termed '' the control" for the 

boundary line.

By combining the results of the latitude, longitude, and azimuth 

observations with the base-line measurement, the position on the 

earth's surface and the length and true direction of a line were determined. Through a system of triangulation based on the line thus 

established the positions of points near the boundary line were computed, as well as the distances and directions between these points.

LATITUDE.

The new county court-house at Spokane having been built very 

close to the longitude pier of the United States Coast and Geodetic 

Survey of 1888, the latter could not be used as a latitude pier. A 

new pier was therefore built 67.4 feet east of the longitude pier, 

where an unobstructed view of the meridian could be obtained. (See 

PI. IV.)

A Fauth combined transit and zenitho telescope (No. 534) was 

mounted on this pier, and in August, 1896, observations for latitude, by the Talcott method, were made by Mr. S. S. Gannett. Pairs
22 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

of stars were selected from Safford's Catalogue of 2018 Stars. The 

apparent day places, however, were obtained from the Berliner Jahrbuch whenever possible; otherwise, they were computed by the usual 

methods, as explained in the American Ephemeris.

Fifty-nine observations upon twenty-seven pairs of stars gave a 

weighted mean value for the latitude of the pier of 47° 39' 51 ".46 

± 0".13. The results for different nights and for different pairs of 

stars are .given in the following table:

 Results for latitude, Spokane (Washington) Station, 1896. 

...... [S. S. Gannett,.observer and computer.]

Stars (Safford), number and class.

748 A, 759 A...

766 A, 782 C.'..

772 A, 782 C...

795 C, 801 AA...

809 C, 852 'A....

814 A, 852 A...

814 A, 856 AA--.

809 C, 856 A A...

809 C, 834 AA...

814 A, 834 AA...

882 AA, 917 C...

901 C, 903 AA...

903 AA, 920 C...

931 B, 949 A...

957 A, 969 A...

987. A, 989. B._. 

989 -B,.1000AA... 

1011 B,1032 B.._

1016 B,1032 B...

1032 B,1037 B... 

1032 B.1047 G....

1059 A, 1078 -A:,. 

1188 AA, 1129 A...

1129 A, 1146 B.i.

1133 AA, 1158 A...

1161 A, 1173 C...

1202 AA, 1207 A...

Individual results. 47° 39'.

.Aug. 6. .

Seconds.

53.81 

52.46

52.40

51.62

'52.82-

Aug. 7.

Seconds.

50.05

51.69 

50.04 

50.16 

50.90 

50. 78

52.56

52.15

53.58 

52.90

51.36 

51.58 

.51.59 

52. 21 

53. 54

53.06

Aug. 8.

Seconds. 

51.54

50.70 

50.92 

49.68 

49.57 

50., 80

52.08

53.12 

52.38

51.57 

.51.78 

52.02 

51.75 

51.37 

53.37

50.30

53.00

Aug. 9.

Seconds. 

50. 17 

53.27 

51.46 

50.66 

49.01 

49.80

49.81 

50.58

51.05 

50.65 

49.71 

51.30 

52.52 

51.74 

51.57 

52.66 

51.20 

50.15 

49. 14 

51.07

52.63

Mean.

Seconds. 

50.85 

51.66 

51.46 

51.02 

49.99 

49. 88 

50.24 

50.79 

49.81 

50.58 

52.08 

51.05 

50.65 

51. 18 

51.67 

53.26 

52.37 

51.57 

. 52.11 

51.49 

51.25 

51.32 

51.16 

53.45 

52.63 

50.30 

53.03

* 

Weight.

1.72 

1.28 

0.79 

1.69 

.1.62 

2.40 

1.80 

1.32 

0.80 

0.96 

.0.80 

0.80 

0.80 

1.63 

1.72 

2.70 

2.90 

0.88 

2.05 

2.47 

1.53 

2.99 

2.55 

1.63 

0.96 

0.79 

1.80

Weighted mean, 47° 39' 51" .46 ± 0".13.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

r
OOODE.] OBSERVATIONS FOR LONGITUDE. 23

LONGITUDE.

The meridional portion of the line is defined as corresponding to 

the thirty-ninth degree of longitude west from Washington.

Section 435, Revised Statutes, provides that "The meridian of the 

Observatory at Washington shall be adopted and used as the American meridian for all astronomical purposes," and this has been construed as meaning the old'Naval Observatory. The latest adjustment 

by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey fixes the longitude of 

the center of the dome of the United States Naval Observatory (old 

site) at 5h 08m 12M53 ± 08 .049, or 77° 03' 02".30i 0".74; hence the 

longitude of the meridian corresponding to the boundary line between 

Idaho and Montana is 116° 03' 02".30.

The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey has published an 

adjusted network of telegraphic longitude determinations, including 

points distributed in various localities throughout the -United States. 

This system includes the Naval Observatory at Washington and also 

a station at Helena, Montana. From Helena the Coast Survey in 

1888 determined the longitude of a pier in the court-house grounds 

at Spokane.

The nightly programme at each station was to observe, with an 

astronomic transit, two sets of ten stars each for local time, each half 

set consisting of four stars having a mean azimuth factor nearly equal 

to zero, and one circumpolar star. Two such half sets, with a reversal 

of the telescope in the Y's between them, give a strong time determination. The same sets of stars were observed at Helena and at 

Spokane, thus giving the chronometer error for each local meridian.

Between the two time sets the chronometers were compared by 

telegraph,- thus giving the difference in time, and consequently in 

longitude, between the meridians within a small fraction of a second. 

As will be noticed in the following table, such observations and chronometer comparisons were made on four nights, when the observers 

interchanged places and made similar observations and chronometer 

comparison on four other nights, thus eliminating the effect of '' personal equation."
24 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE.

The figures relating to this description, which were kindly furnished 

by the Superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 

are presented below:

Resulting difference of longitude between the astronomic stations at Spokane, 

Washington, and Helena, Montana, as determined by the United States Coast 

and Geodetic Survey in September, 1888.

Date.

1888. 

Sept. 13.... 

Sept. 15.... 

Sept. 22....

Sept. 24....

Sept. 26..-- 

Sept. 27..-- 

Sept. 28..-. 

Sept. 29,...

Observer.

Spokane.'

^ 

.1

C.H. Sinclair. R.A

Helena.

^ 

1

j:

ce

« 

o

FH

§

g 

<j.

PS

g

a> 

a <S «

% 

1st

fc

' // 

21 34. 193 

.218 

.299 

.283

21 34.616 

.702 

.667 

.663

From eastern Helena or

signals.

/ n 

21 34. 171 

.164 

 .247 

.224

Mean...

21 34. 591 

.673 

.625 

.619

Mean . . .

W 

£

0.022 

.054' 

.052 

.059

.047

0.025 

.029 

.042 

.044

.035

co SB

s;

*!.

fl-0.9 cs a a

CiSfl s 

' . « 

21 34.182 

.191 

.273 

.254

21 34.225

21 34. 604 

.687 

.646 

.641

21 34.644

for Correction personal 

equation.

n 

+0.208

-0.208

Weighted mean......

Difference oflongitude. AA 

' // 

21 34. 390 

.399 

.481 

.462

.396 

.479 

.438 

.433

21 34. 435

21 34.437

Combination 

weight.

6 

5 

5 

10

4 

4 

5 

5

Difference.

n 

+0. 047 

+ .038 

- .044 

- .025

+ .041 

 .042 

- .001 

+ .004

± 009

Transmission time, Os.020 ± Os.002.

Personal equation, Marr-Sinclair, Os.208 ± 0s. 009:

At Spokane, transit No. 19 was mounted in the grounds of the county court-house.

At Helena, transit No. 18 was mounted over the station in the northwest corner of the grounds

of the United States assay office. The station was established in 1888. The court-house tower

is Os.324 or 4".86 east and 0".811 south of the transit. 

A \Spokane-Helena=i21m 34s.437 ± Os.009. 

A Helena (transit 1888), 7h 28-" 08s.789 ± Qs.052.' 

ASpokane (transit), 7h 49m 43s.226 ± Qs.053. 

117° 25' 48".39 ± 0".80.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the probable error of 

the longitude determination of the Spokane pier is 0".80, or about 54 

feet. Through a connection with the pier at Spokane the longitude 

of the meridian of the boundary line was established by triangulation 

and traverse, as will appear hereafter.

It may be remarked, in connection with the foregoing, that while 

the meridian of the Observatory at Washington is, by law approved 

September 28, 1850, the American meridian for all astronomical purposes, the geodetic operations of the country generally are conducted 

with reference to the meridian of Greenwich as an initial point. Government maps are usually referred to Greenwich, and standard time 

is reckoned from it.
OOODE.] BASE LINE AND AZIMUTH. 25 

SPOKANE BASE LINE.

A site for this base line was found in the valley of the Spokane 

River, east of the city of Spokane, points for its expansion being 

located on the surrounding hills. The line was measured along a 

tangent of the Northern Pacific Railway, beginning about 2.5 miles 

east of the Spokane depot and extending eastward 5 miles. It was 

prepared by nailing boards 1 by 6 by 60 inches 300 feet apart along 

the cross-ties parallel to the rail. On each board a smaller board 

(1 by 4 by 12 inches) was nailed, and on the latter was tacked a strip 

of zinc 2 by 10 inches. At night two complete measurements were 

made with United States Geological Survey steel tape No. 1, under a 

tension of 20 pounds, temperature being taken by reading three thermometers at each tape length. The front end of the tape was marked 

on the zinc strip with a fine brad awl. The length of the tape used, 

compared with the mural standard of the United States Coast and 

Geodetic Survey on October 30, 1895, was found to be 300.0075 feet; 

on December 5, 1896, 300.0058 feet. The mean of these two, 300.0067 

feet, was adopted.

Adopted coefficient of expansion............................ ......F.. .0000065

Mean temperature of first measurement.............................. 60°.35

Mean temperature of second measurement............................ . 59°. 25

Difference between the two measurements, when corrected for temperature .............................................. ..............feet.. .006

Mean elevation of the line above sea level, as given by a profile furnished 

by the Northern Pacific Railway..___.......__._._.____..___.. feet.. 1,972

Length of base corrected for temperature ... .-...-.--...--.-.... do... 26,407.288

Correction for inclination. ...................... _........... ....do... 0.156

Reduction to sea level .-.-.-........-.---.-.--...... ............do... 2.491

Reduced length ............ ........................... ..'.......do... 26,404.641

Logarithm of length, in meters....................................... 3.9056962

The terminal points were transferred to the embankment 25 feet 

north of north rail, and the new points being intervisible, high tripod

supports for the theodolite were necessary. /

AZIMUTH.

The azimuth of the Spokane base line was determined by mounting 

8-iiich micrometer theodolite No. 300 over the west base and measuring the angle between Polaris and a mark placed at the east base. 

A series of observations, consisting of eighteen pointings (direct and 

reverse), was taken near elongation August 15, 1896, the resulting 

mean for azimuth west base-east base being 253° 18' 45". 80.

With this value and the astronomic location of the cupola of the 

court-house at Spokane the positions of all triangulation stations 

and azimuths of all lines in the main belt of triangulation eastward
26 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. LBULUHO.

to Divide and Scotchman stations, near the Idaho-Montana boundary 

line were computed. A check azimuth was observed at Divide triangulation station July 7, 1898, with the same theodolite. Twenty 

pointings (direct and reversed) on Polaris were obtained and referred 

to Scotchman station.

Azimuth of line Divide-Scotchman computed from Spokane base.- 170 18 05.87 

Azimuth of- same line by direct observation .... ................... 170 18 10.25

Difference................................................... 4.38

The observed value was adopted in the computation of positions 

in the extension of the triangulation northward to the international 

boundary.

Examples of record and computation for azimuth determination are 

given herewith:

Azimuth determinations at triangulation station Divide, July 7, 1898. ' S. S.

Gannett, observer.

[Latitude (</>) 47° 57-' 57".51. Longitude (A) 116° 01' 33".08]

Polaris D. ..................

Time.

h. m. s.

10 27 52

1033 48

104202

10 46 08

Level. 

W. E.

d. d. 

13.0 16.0

11.8 18.0

24.8 34.0 

 9.2 

13.8 -15.3

14.0 15.0

27.8 30.3 

-2.5 

14.0 11.5

13.5 12.0

27.5 23.5 

-f4.0 

16.0 16.0

18.2 14.0

34.2 30.0 

+4.0

Micrometer A.

0 ' d. 

221 09 02

2553324

75 36 08

4109 18

78 10 23

112 39 14

"292 40 02

258 09 28

Micrometer B.

0 ' d. 

41 09 13

75 3407

255 34 21

221 08 11

258 09 09

29238 08

112 40 11

78 10 14

Mean.

o / "

221 09 15

2553401

75 3529

41 08 59

78 10 02

112 38 52

292 40 13

258 10 12

Angle.

0 , 

3424 46

34 2630

3428 50

34 30 01

Time by mean time watch, 34 seconds fast on one hundred and fifth meridian 

time. 

One division of striding level = 3".66; 1 division of micrometer = 2".00.

Level correction = ^ \ (w+ w') (e +e'} I tan h; d being the value of a

division of the level, w + w' readings of west end of level bubble, e + e' readings 

of east end of level bubble, and h, the angular elevation of star, the foregoing formula reduces as follows:

?^5? X tan 47° 57' 57" (1.11) = I'.Ol.
QOODE.] AZIMUTH. 27

The formula for reduction of azimuth observations at any hour

angle is tan A = , where a=sec ^ cot tf, fr=tan (f> cot 8.

log sec (ft, 47 57 57=0.17421

log cot d, 88 45 46=8.33439

log a =8.50860

in. s.

Watch correction = 0 34 

Longitude correction = 44 06

log tan ^=0.04505 

log cot #=8.33439 

log 6 =8.37944

Total correction = 44 40

 a of Polaris ...........................

t.... ...................................

Computation of first 

observation.

1.0 27 52

 44 40

9 43 12

+1 36

7 03 11

16 47 59

-1 21 51

15 26 08

0 / //

231 32 00

9.79383

8.37944

8. 17327

.01490

1.01490

9.89375

8.50860

8.40235

0.00642

8.39593

0 1 II

181 25 32

-34 24 46

+9

147 00 55

Computation of second observation.

10 33 48

 44 40

9 49 08

+1 37

7 03 11

16 53 56

 1 21 51

15 32 05

0 ' //

233 01 15

9. 77925

8. 37944

8. 15869

.01441

1.01441

9.90246

8. 50860

8. 41106

0. 00621

8.40485

0 / II

181 27 18

-34 26 30

+2

147 00 50

Computation of third 

observation.

10 42 02

 44 40

9 57 22

+1 38

7 03 11

17 02 11

 1 21 51.

15 40 20

0 ' //

235 05 00

9. 757U9

8.37944

8.13713

.01371

1.01371

9.91381

8.50860

8.42241

' 0.00591

8. 41650

0 ' II

.181 29 41

-34 28 50

 4

147 00 47

Computation of 

fourth observation.

10 46 08

-44 40

10 01 28

+ 1 39

7 03 11

17 06 18

 1 21 51

15 44 27

0 ' II

236 06 45

9. 74630

8. 37944

8. 12574

.01336

1.01336

9. 91915

8.50860

8. 42775

0.00575

8.42200

0 / II

181 30 49

-34 30 01

 4

147 00 44

The mean of twenty observations reduced in a similar manner = 

147° 00' 51". 15.

Check azimuths along the random line were measured with Young 

transit No. 6838. The instrument was usually set over one6 stadia 

station and a mark placed on another station. Six measurements 

(three direct and three reversed) of angle between Polaris and mark 

were then made. These observations were Teduced at once by the
28 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. no.

method and tables given in the Manual of Surveying Instructions 

issued by the General Land Office, 1894, pages 109-119. An example 

of record and computation follows.

[July 19,1898. Stadia Q 77. D. L. Reaburn, observer.]

TELESCOPE DIRECT.

Time.

h. in. s.

9 03 40

A.

0 03 30

1 19 00

B.

180 03 30

1 18 30

Mean.

o / // 

0 03 30

1 18 45

Angle.

0 / //

1 15 15

TELESCOPE REVERSED.

9 15 18 180 23 00

180 02 30

0 22 30

180 02 30

180 22 45

0 02 30 1 20 15

TELESCOPE REVERSED.

9 30 00

35 14 00

36 38 30

215 14 00

216 38 30

35 14 00

36 38 30 1 24 30

TELESCOPE DIRECT.

9 33 30 36 40 00

35 14 00

216 40 00

215 14 00

36 40 00

35 14 '00 1 26 00

TELESCOPE DIRECT.

9 39 45

81 12 00

82 39 00

261 12 00

262 39 00

81 12 00

82 39 00 1 27 00

TELESCOPE REVERSED.

9 41 45 82 41 00

81 12 00

262 40 30

261 11 30

262 40 45

81 11 45 1 29 00

[July 19,1898. Stadia Q 77. Latitude 48° 03'; longitude 116° 03'. Watch fast 42°° 36s on local time.]

H. M. 

Upper culmination Polaris, July 15..._-.....-_........................ 17 43.5

Reduction to July 18 ....................^............... ............ 11.8

Upper culmination 'July 18, being culmination preceding time of observation on July 19... ....................................'.......... =11 31.7
GOODK.] AZIMUTH AND TRIANGULATION. 

[D. L. Eeaburn, computer.]

29

Subtract up. culmination . .

Azimuth Polaris 

Computation of 

first observation.

h. in. 

9 03.7

-42.6

8 21.1

'+24

32 21.1 

 17 31.7

14 49.4

23 56.1

9 06.7

O / II

181 13 45

11515

179 58 30

Computation of 

second observation.

h, m. 

9 15.3

-42.6

8 32.7

+24

32 32.7 

17 31.7-

15 01.0

23 56.1

8 55.1

O / H

181 18 30

1 2015

179 58 15

Computation of 

third observation.

h. vi. 

9 30.0

-42.6

8 47.4

+24

32 47.4 

17 31.7

15 15.7

23 56.1

8 40.4

0 / II

181 23 12

1 24 30

179 58 42

Computation of 

fourth observation.

h. in. 

9 33.5

-42.6

8 50.9

+24

32 50.9 

17 31.7

15 19.2

23 56.1

8 36.9

0 / II

181 24 16

1 2600

179 58 16

Computation of 

fifth observation.

h. in. 

9 39.7

 42.6

8 57.1

+24

32 57.1 

17 31.7

15 25.4

23 56.1

8 in 7

0 / II

181 26 00

1 27 00

179 59 00

Computation of 

sixth observation.

h. in. 

9 41.7

-^2.6

8 59.1

+24

32 59.1 

17 31.7

15 27.4

23 56.1

8 28.7

0 / //

-i 01 o? fin

1 2900

179 58 00

Mean = 179° 58' 33" showing this portion of the random line to 

deviate from the true meridian by 1' 27".

TRIANGULATION.

The triangulation connecting the Spokane base with the boundary 

line was done with an 8-inch micrometer theodolite, reading by two 

micrometers to two seconds and by estimation to one second. Directions were read in sets, each set consisting of pointings with telescope 

direct and-reversed from left to right and from right to left. Four 

or more of such sets were usually taken. A few secondary locations 

on or near the boundary line were made with the transit. All of the 

observations were reduced in the office by least squares.

The following list gives descriptions, latitude, longitude, azimuths, 

and distances of the triangulation stations determined which have a 

bearing on the boundary line.

A diagram of the triangulation is also presented. (See PI. V.)

SPOKANE, EAST BASE.

Station mark: A dressed stone, 7 by 7 by 36 inches, set 30 inches in 

ground, 25 feet north of north rail, and 94 feet eastward from sign

"IT. S. 

marked "Trent 1 mile." The stone is marked on top +

E. Base."
30 SURVEY OP IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDAKY LINE. [BOLL.ITO. 

[Latitude, 47° 41' 01".94. Longitude, 117° 16' 00".8L]

To stationWest base . ..___._..--..

Court-house cupola 

Little Baldy __..., ..._.

Skalan.. _._.____, .......

Azimuth.

14 37 16.02

73 23 19.07

80 02 46. 43 

117 19 24.54

288 10 38. 61

Back azimuth.

194 35 48. 17

253 18 45.80

259 55 31.41. 

297 16 30.04

108 22 55. 95

Log. distance.

Meters.

3. 9929426

3. 9056962

4. 0956581 

3. 7432302

4.3409600

SPOKANE, WEST BASE.

Station mark: A dressed stone, 7 by 7 by 36 inches, set 30 inches in 

the ground, 25 feet of north rail and 218 feet eastward from signboard,

"IT. S. 

" R. R. X'ng % mile." Top of the stone is marked +

W. Base."

[Latitude, 47° 39' 47".28. Longitude, 117° 22' 10".45.j

To stationCourt-house cupola. . .-. . 

Tomkinson .............

Little Baldy.. ..........

East base ......-.- ....

Skalan .................

Moran ..^. .............

Azimuth.

91 45 38.07 

137 10 30. 83

209 54 21.35

253 18 45.80

278 57 36. 00

324 00 35. 75 '

Back azimuth.

271 42 56.36 

317 06 36.14

29 56 00.21

73 23 19.07

99 14 26. 34

144 03 41.01

Log. distance.

Meters.

3. 6595819 

3. 9881446

3. 7474231

3. 9056962

4. 4609400

3. 9500715

COURT-HOUSE CUPOLA, SPOKANE. 

(Not occupied.)

This point is connected, by direct measurement, with longitude pier 

of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey of 1888 and with lat- 

.itude pier of the United States Geological Survey of 1896. It is also 

connected, by triangulation, with the stations of the base expansion. 

The point located is the center of the flagstaff, which is over the center of the cupola of the new court-house.

Latitude, 47° 39' 51".76. Longitude, 117° 25' 49".21.

MORAN, SPOKANE COUNTY.

Location of station: On the northern end of a high, wooded ridge, 

about 8 miles southeast of Spokane, in a cleared field about 50 feet 

west of the ruins of a log cabin. A wagon road runs to the station.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN NO.I70 PL.V

19° 30 CANADA 1170 BOUNDARY

UNITED STATES XINE

DIAGRAM OF TRJANGULATION

FOR THE CONTROL OF THE

IDAHO -MONTANA BOUNDARY

1897.

UO 5 O
GOODE.] TRIANGULATION. 31

Station mark: A dressed stone, 8 by 8 by 36 inches, set 30 inches in 

the ground, marked "U, S. A-"

[Latitude, 47° 35' 53".67. Longitude, 117° 17' 59".70.]

To station 

Court-house cupola .....

Little Baldy.... ........

Skalan .................

Azimuth.

0 / //

126 55 28. 15 

140 29 39. 00

168 33 40.57

263 25 05.73

Back azimuth.

0 ' //

306 49 41.22 

320 22 39. 05

348 32 14.04

83 38 50.36

Lop. distance.

Meters.

4. 0882682 

4. 2697837

4. 0900766

4. 3704936

LITTLE BALDY, SPOKANE COUNTY.

Location of station: On a small flat-topped hill 5 miles northeast 

of Spokane, and in the center of a cleared field on th,e highest part of 

hill. A fringe of tall pine trees extends around the hill.

Station mark: A dressed stone, 8 by 8 by 36 inches, set 30 inches in 

the ground, marked " U. S. A-"

[Latitude, 47° 42' 24M6. Longitude, 117° 19'56".74.]

To station 

Court-house cupola. . .

Mount Carlton ........

East base

Azimuth.

0 ' II

57 24 18. 29 

103 43 22. 18

214 13 32.20 

289 58 08. 50

297 16 30.04

Back azimuth.

0 / II

237 19 57. 66 

283 37 48.45

34 23 09. 80 

110 13 20.40

117 19 24.54

Log. distance.

Meters. 

3. 9409362 

3. 9857308

4. 4590100 

4. 4378494

3. 7432302

TOMKINSON, SPOKANE COUNTY.

Location of station: On the southern part of a small table-land 4 

miles north of Spokane, on the highest knoll in pasture of Mr. Tomkinson and one-eighth of a mile southwest of his house.

Station mark: A dressed stone, 8 by 8 by 36 inches, set 30 inches in 

the ground, marked " U. S. A-"

[Latitude, 47° 43' 38".24. Longitude, 117° 27' 27".85.] .

To station 

Carlton ................

Court-house cupola. ....

Azimuth.

0 / //

229 52 16.64

343 36 09.45

Back azimuth.

0 1 II

 50 07 28. 61

163 37 22.41

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 5239434

3. 8627730
32 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL.ITO.

SKALAN, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

Location of station: Twenty miles east of Spokane, Washington, 

and 3 miles east of Washington-Idaho boundary line. The summit 

is a bald, .rocky ridge, and can be reached by a good trail from Dr. 

Dennison's ranch, on the east side of Skalan Creek.

Station mark: A copper bolt set in solid rock, above which is a 

cairn 5 feet in diameter at base and 5 feet in height.

[Latitude, 47° 37' 19".26. Longitude, 116° 59' 23".15.] :

To station 

Moran .................

Little Baldy. --_.--.....

e

Chilco. ................

Azimuth.

0 / //

83 38 50. 36

110 13 20. 40

164 08 34. 00

212 17 12 70

228 45 58. 75

Back azimuth.

0 / //

263 25 05. 73

289 58 08. 50

344 02 57. 76

32 38 06. 17

49 06 20. 29

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 3704936

4. 4378494

4. 5378730

4. 8158528

4. 6587750

CAELTON, SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON.

Location of station: About 35 miles by road and trail northeast of 

Spokane, Washington. The mountain has two summits of nearly 

equal height and about one-third of a mile apart. The station is on 

the southern summit, which is flat and bald, but has a growth of pine 

and spruce trees on its western side. There is a good trail to station 

from The Meadows.

Station mark: A copper bolt set in solid rock, above which is a 

rock cairn 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height.

[Latitude, 47° 55' 13".71. Longitude, 117° 06' 57".26.]

To stationLittle Baldy. ...........

Tomkinson. ............

Blacktail. ...............

Chilco ...---.------....

Azimuth.

0 / //

34 23 09. 49

50 07 28. 61

243 24 10.03

274 01 32. 58

344 02 57. 76

Back azimuth. .

01 II

214 13 31.91

229 52 16.64

63 50 44.00

94 27 33. 97

164 08 34.00

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 4589864

4.5239434

4. 6954456

4. 6416575

4. 5378730

BLACKTAIL, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

Location of station: On a Ijald point near the south end of summit, 

near the western shore of Lake Pend Oreille and east of Cocolalla, on
GOODE.] TRIANGULATION. 33

Northern Pacific Railway. It can be easily reached by trail from 

T. Trumbull's ranch.

Station mark: A copper bolt sunk in solid rock, above which is a 

cairn 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height.

[Latitude, 48° 07' 07".09. 'Longitude, 116° 81' 13".03.]

To station 

Chilco .................

Skalan .................

Carlton ...... ..... ....

Bound Top ............

Azimuth.

0 / II

\ 53 09. 56

32 38 06. 17

63 50 44. 00

228 10 27. 76

256 22 33. 71

Back azimuth.

0 ' II

181 53 39. 78

212 17 12.70

243 24 10. 63

48 22 33. 96

76 42 07.01

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 4029303

4. 8158528

4. 6954456

4.4305996

4. 5246835

CHILCO, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

Location of station: On the south end of grassy summit south of 

the steamboat landing on Lake Pend Oreille. It can be easily reached 

from Collins's ranch by Leiberg trail.

Station mark: A copper bolt sunk in solid rock, above which is a 

rock cairn 5 feet in diameter at base and 5 feet in height.

[Latitude, 47° 53' 28".75. Longitude, 116° 31' 53".09.]

To station 

Skalan .................

Carlton ................

Blacktail. ..............

Bound Top. .............

Scotchman.. ...........

Divide ............. ....

Azimuth.

0 ' //

 49 06 20. 29

94 27 33. 97

181 52 39. 78

205 48 07.02

225 10 00. 98

257 25 15.62

Back azimuth.

0 1 //

228 45 58. 75

274 01 32. 58

1 53 09. 56

26 00 41.75

45 30 01.97

77 47 46. 64

Log. distance.

Meters.

4. 6587752

4. 6416575

4. 4029303

4. 6816159

4. 6724527

4.5875062

SCOTCHMAN, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

Location of station: On the southwestern of three summits, about 

a mile west of the Idaho-Montana boundary line and 6 miles northeast of Clark Fork, a station on the Northern Pacific Railway. It 

can be reached from Lightning Creek by an old Indian trail a 

roundabout way, though the easiest one.

Station mark: A copper bolt in solid rock, above which is a rock 

cairn 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height. 

Bull. 170 3
34 SURVEY OP IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170. 

[Latitude, 48° 11' 19".36. Longitude, 116° 04' 58".02.]

To station 

Chilco- . -_

Blacktail .__...._.,..-.

Round Top.... ....... .

Divide ............... .

Azimuth.

0 ' / //

45 30 01.97

76 42 07.01

129 21 22.70

350 15 33.38

Back azimuth.

0 / //

225 10 00.98

256 22 33.71

309 13 54.54

170 18 05.87

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 6724527

4. 5246835

4. 2047087

4.4001417

ROUND TOP, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

Location of station: Northeast of Hope, on the Sherry trail, near 

Hogeye camp, on the southern end of the summit, which extends 100 

yards north and south.

Station mark: A copper bolt sunk in rock, above which is a rock 

cairn 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height.

[Latitude, 48° 16' 47".86. Longitude, 116" 14' 58".88.]

To station 

Chilco ......... .......

Blacktail. .............

Scotchman.: .............

Divide ...-_-.._...__-..

Azimuth.

0 / H

26 00 41.75

48 22 33. 96

309 13 54.54

334 24 02. 60

Back azimuth.

0 / //

205 48 07.02

228 10 27.76

120 21 22 70

154 34 02. 58

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 6816159

4. 4305996

4. 2047087

4. 5855553

DIVIDE. (1).

Location of station: On a knoll on divide of the Bitterroot Mountains 

on the boundary line between Idaho and Montana. It is not the 

highest point, but it is almost cleared of timber. Station is best 

reached from Heron, Montana, by the Elk Creek trail.

Station mark: A copper bolt sunk in solid rock, above which is a" 

rock cairn 3 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter.

[Latitude, 47° 57' 57".51. Longitude, 116° 01' 33".08.J

To station 

Chilco..................

Round Top .............

Scotchman. ............

Azimuth.

o / //

77 47 46.64

154 34 02.58

170 18 05.87

Back azimuth.

257 25 15.62

334 24 02.60

350 15.33.38

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4.5875062

 4.5855553

4.4001417

MOOYIE TRAIL MONUMENT.

On or near the boundary line between Kootenai County, Idaho, and 

British Columbia, about 32 miles northward from Bouners Ferry.
OOODE.] TBIANGULATION. 35

Easily reached by the new Wild Horse trail, 5 miles from Round 

Meadows or Prairie. Monument is about a half mile beyond a portion of trail filled with loose rocks, and just beyond a heavy growth of 

timber and underbrush. Where the trail crosses the international 

boundary there is a large tree squared about 4 feet above the ground. 

On the south side of the tree are cut the letters "U. S.,"on the north 

side the letters "B. C." Monument is west of this tree.

Station mark: Copper bolt sunk in soil, over which is a monument 

of loose stone and a tree 20 feet in height.

[Latitude, 49° 00' 01".51. -Longitude, 116° 14' 19".48.]

To stationBorder...... ...........

Hell Roaring. ..........

Azimuth.

0 1 II

267 48 09.25

353 09 44.78

Back azimuth.

0 / II

87 49 12. 16

173 10 30.25

Log. distance.

Meters.

3.22930

4.01339

BLUE, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

Location of station: On southeasternmost of three summits of nearly 

equal height, 5£ miles west of Sand Point, on Great Northern Railway, 

7 miles west of Sand Point, on Northern Pacific Railway; eight hours' 

travel from Carr's ranch, on Rider Creek, passing " Old Baldy," thence 

along ridge.

Station mark: Copper bolt in solid rock, over which is a rock cairn 

5 feet in height.

[Latitude, 48° 24' 01".52. Longitude, 116° 38' 55."78.]

To station 

Doust .: -------.-------.

Scotchman .............

Blacktail. ..............

Azimuth.

0 / //

232 53 14. 44

236 01 09. 17

299 03 30.80

343 00 37. 10

Back azimuth.

0 1 //

53 12 26.21

56 31 23.44

119 28 52. 14

163 06 22.39

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4.5965347

4.7758946

4. 6825857

4. 5152727

DOUST, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO. 

Location of station: About 7 miles southeast from Bonners Ferry. 

Best reached from Wright's ranch, in Paradise Valley. Follow trail 

leading to mineral claims of Doust & Wright to summit of Wright 

Mountain, thence along ridge over fallen timber to station; three 

hours' travel.

Station mark: Copper bolt in solid rock, above which is a rock 

cairn 5 feet in height.
36 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170. 

[Latitude, 48° 36' 50".16. Longitude, 116° 13' 18".15.J

To stationBlue.... ...... .........

Hell Roaring. .........

Ewing ............. ....

Scotchman. ............

Azimuth.

0 ' //

21 59 49.24

53 12 26/21

179 57 47.07

206 31 13.33 

232 19 53.73

242 25 12.51

347 40 26.39

Back azimuth.

0 / II

201 46 25.83

232 53 14.44

359 57 46.29

26 41 59. 63

52 29 34.08

62 36 15. 35

167 46 40.40

Log. distance.

Meters.

4. 7734417

4. 5965347

4. 5150730

4. 5929986

4. 3000841

4. 3089562

4. 6847536

HELL ROARING, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

Location of station: On southern end of the eastern of two round 

peaks at the head of Hell Roaring Creek. From Round Prairie a 

trail runs south of Hell Roaring Creek to summit of mountain.

Station mark: Copper bolt in solid rock, above which is a rock 

cairn 4V£ feet high. 

[Latitude, 48° 54' 30".02. Longitude, 116° 13' 19".18.]

To station 

Mooyie Trail monument 

Border. ................

Ewing.................

Cross .....-.---.. ..i._.

Doust. ----.--_.-.___...

Azimuth.

0 ' //

173 10 30. 25 

182 36 16. 26

262 28 89.26

322 24 20.27

359 57 46.29

Back azimuth.

0 1 II 

353 09 44.78 

2 36 33. 65

82 39 27. 78

142 34 02. 70

179 57 47.07

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 01339 

4.01348

4.2471106

4. 4137728

4. 5150730

SCOTCHMAN (2), KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

A secondary station near boundary post No. 72, at summit of Cabinet Mountain, occupied with transit.

[Latitude, 48° 12' 50//.40. Longitude, 116° 03' 14".98.]

To stationScotchman. ............

Divide ............. ...

Transit station 154 ......

Azimuth.

a 1 I'

37 07 25

355 37 01

357 34 30

Back azimuth.

o ' n

217 06 08

175 38 16

177 34 42

Log. distance.

Meters. 

3. 54730

4. 44183

3. 87099
QOODB.] TRIANGULATION. 37

BUCKHORN, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

A secondary station near boundary post No. 23, at summit of Yak 

Mountain, occupied with transit.

[Latitude, 48° 46' 22".57. Longitude, 116° 03/ 16". 03.]

To station 

Doust ...... .----.___---

Transit station 949 .....

Newton ................

E wing . ..............

Cross ...................

Azimuth.

34 55 05.20

181 09 14.60

325 15 17. 30

196 47 42. 90

327 38 03. 50

Back azimuth.

o / n

214 47 32. 90

1 09 25.90

145 18 48. 30

16 51 04. 97

147 40 20. 26

Log. distance.

Meters.

4. 33338

4. 18013

4. 00320

4. 25810

3. 81428

BLACKTOP, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO.

A secondary station near boundary post No. 74. Reached from 

Clark Fork, Idaho, by trail to Homestake cabin; thence to divide 

between Blue and Mosquito creeks; then by four hours' travel (on foot) 

to station, following along slope of mountain.

Station mark: Cross cut on solid rock, under a rock monument 3 

feet in height.

[Latitude, 48° 11' 50".72. Longitude, 116° 03' 49".28.]

To stationTransit station 154 ......Azimuth.

0 / //

55 42 20

349 37 02

Back azimuth.

235 41 29

169 37 39

Log. distance.

Meters. 

3.23516

3. 75359

NEWTON, FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA.

Location of station: On second summit southeast of Newton Pass, 

on trail from Newton's ranch to Sylvanite.

Station mark: Iron bolt in solid rock, above which is a rock cairn 

5 feet in height.

[Latitude, 48° 41' 54".51. Longitude, 115° 58' 35".26.]

To station 

Scotchman .............

Blue................ . ..

Doust ..;............;..

Cross .......... .......

Ewing .................

Azimuth.

7 56 25.44

56 31 23. 44

62 36 15.35

140 57 32.97

178 55 40.21

Back azimuth.

01 II

187 51 39.02

236.01 09.17

242 25 12. 51

320 56 10.32

358 55 22.48

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 7576096

4.7758946

4. 3089562

3. 5525754

4. 4087123
38 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA. BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

EWING, FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA.

Location of station: In extreme northwestern corner of State, about 

35 miles northeast of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. It can be reached by 

trail to Buckhorn mines, thence along divide 4 miles to break-off, 

thence northeast down into the basin or meadows, thence ascending 

ridge in northwest direction, thence along ridge to summit.

Station mark: Copper bolt in loose rock, above which is cairn of 

rocks 4£ feet high.

[Latitude, 48° 55' 43".99. Longitude, 115° 58' 58".82.J

To station 

Buckhorn ..............

Doust .................

Transit station 949 .....

Border ............ ....

Newton ........... ....

Azimuth.

4 25 15.00

16 51 04.97

26 41 59. 63

6'5 56 28. 90

82 39 27. 78

115 18 08.80

358 55 22.48

Back azimuth;

184 24 09.92

196 47 42.90

206 31 13. 33

245 53 26.30

262 28 39. 26 .

295 07 37.22

178 55 40.21

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 3602056

4. 2581050

4. 5929986

3. 7325500

4. 2471106

4. 2747300

4. 4087124

CROSS, FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA.

Location of station: On first summit northwest of Newton Pass, 

on trail between Sylvanite and Newton's ranch.

Station mark: Copper bolt in loose rocks, above which is cairn of 

rocks 4| feet high.

[Latitude, 48° 43' 24".24. Longitude, 116° 00' 25".26.]

To station 

Doust _---.-----....._-.

Hell Roaring. ..........

Buckhorn ........_..._.

E wing ..._ ............

Newton ................

Azimuth.

0 / //'

52 29 34. 08

142 34 02. 70

147 40 20. 26

184 24 09. 92

320 56 10.32

Back azimuth.

0 . / //

238 19 53.73

322 24 20. 27

327 38 03. 50

4 25 15. 00

140 57 32. 97

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 3000841

4.4137728

3.8142800

4. 3602056

3.5525754

BORDER, IN CANADA.

Location of station: Just north of Kbotenai County, Idaho. Rea'ched 

from the Mooyie Trail by a trail to Grierson's ranch; thence by Indian 

trail to small lake lying to the east; thence around lake to ridge; 

thence up ridge to station.
TRIANGULATION. 39

Station mark: Copper bolt in solid rock, above which is a rock 

cairn 4£ feet high.

[Latitude, 49° 00' 03".60. Longitude, 116° 13' 56".12.]

To station 

Ewing .............. .

Azimuth.

2 36 33.65

87 49 12.16

295 07 37.22

' Back azimuth.

0 ' //

182 36 16. 26

' 267 48 09. 25

115 18 08.80

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4.01348

3. 22930

4. 27473

TRANSIT STATION 154. .

A secondary station near boundary post No. 78; best reached by 

trail from Clark Fork, Idaho, by way of the Homestake cabin, to Blue 

Creek; two hours' travel to cabin, one and one-half hours from cabin 

to camp on Bine Creek. The lidge leading from Blue Creek to the 

station can be ascended on the south side in one and one-half hour-s.

Station mark: Copper bolt in rock, over which is a rock cairn 3 feet

in height.

[Latitude, 48° 08' 50".14. Longitude, 116° 02' 59".84.]

To station .

Scotchman .............

Scotchman (2) .........

Divide ..................

Azimuth.

84 58 53

152 05 45

177 34 42

354 53 39

Back azimuth.

264 37 52

332 04 17

357 34 30

174 54 44

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 54599

3. 71732

3. 87099

4. 30621

TRANSIT STATION 949, NEAR IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE.

A secondary station on a large hill near boundary post No. 9, 6£ 

miles south of international boundary.

Station mark: None.

Reference mark: Signal tree, distant 138 feet, azimuth to which is 

308° 55'.

[Latitude, 48° 54' 32".59. Longitude, 116° 03' 01".05.]

To station 

Ewing ..... .............

Azimuth.

1 09 25.9

21 04 23. 9

245 53 26. 3

Back azimuth.

181 09 14.6

200 56 39.8

65 56 28.9

Log. distance.

Meters.

4. 18013

4. 54598

3. 73255
40 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL.ITO.

DIVIDE (2).

This triangulation station is not on the meridional portion of the 

line, but on the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains, farther south, and 

was located in connection with the survey of the Bitterroot Forest 

Reserve. -

It is on the main summit of the Bitterroot Range, on the boundary 

line between Montana and Idaho, 20 miles (air line) west of Grantsdale. It can be reached from the Lost Horse Pass (camp being at 

Twin Lakes) by following the northwest face of the mountain northeast from the Twin Lakes to the crossing of Moose Creek, thence up 

the creek to the Meadows. The peak lies to the northwest, about 

2,000 feet above the meadow.

Station mark: A rock cairn 5 feet in diameter and 8 feet in length.

[Latitude, 46° 11' 32".l. Longitude, 114° 28' 12".2.]

To stationWard (2) ..... ..'....'..'.

El Capitan ..... 1 .......

Azimuth.

279 32 28

344 06 39

Back azimuth.

99 40 31

164 09 53

Log. distance.

Meters. 

4. 16360

4.32652

TRANSIT AND STADIA WORK.

The transit used was one manufactured by Young & Sons, of the 

type known as No. 10 mountain transit, the maker's number being 

6838. The horizontal circle was 4f inches, and this circle, as well as 

the vertical circle, was graduated to read with verniers to I'. The 

instrument was provided with a compass attachment, fixed stadia 

wires, and a tripod with extension legs. The extension legs were at 

times very necessary, as may be seen from PI. VI. Two stadia rods, 

of seasoned white pine, three-fourths inch in thickness,* 12 feet in 

length, and 4 inches across the faces, were made in Spokane. The 

lower portions of the rods were tapered to a point and shod with steel. 

The design of the rod was black on a white ground. (See fig. 1.) By 

a series of tests the stadia interval was found to be in the ratio of 1 

foot on the rod to 100 feet horizontal distance, as nearly as could be 

determined, and the rods were graduated to even feet and tenths. 

The extreme divisions of the rods included 10 feet, and each tenth 

was divided into five parts, so that hundredths could be easily read 

by estimation. No numbers were placed on the rods. In practice 

the rods were held vertically, proper corrections being applied for 

reducing all sights to the horizontal.

There was no expectation of obtaining exact independent results for 

distances measured with the transit and stadia upon the basis of the 

stadia wires in the transit being set in the ratio of 1 to 100 and the
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN NO. 170 PL. VI

TRANSIT STATION ON RANDOM LINE.
GOODE.] TRANSIT AND STADIA WORK. 41

\

rods being divided so as to read to hundredths. In point of fact, 

probably neither of these conditions existed, even when the instrument 

was fresh from the hands of the maker and when the rods were newly 

graduated at Spokane, and much less likely is it that they existed 

when the instrument was subject to rough field usage and the rods 

were used under entirely different and variable circumstances. It 

was believed, however, that they could Be relied upon in determining 

intermediate distances between points the exact distances between 

which were known, and so long as the ratio between the wire interval 

and the graduated portions of the rods remained 

nearly constant the purpose intended to be subserved would be accomplished. Thus, when a line 

was run with the stadia between two points whose 

positions were rigidly fixed by triangulation and the 

resulting error was proportionately distributed, sufficiently accurate results were obtained, much more 

nearly accurate than could have been obtained by 

chaining, especially after certain corrections had 

been applied.

The method used in running the random line was 

as follows:

The line started from an astronomic azimuth, the 

initial point being on a high ridge and marked with 

a large signal. This signal was, when possible, used 

as a backsight, the instrument being transited in the 

direct and reversed position and the mean of the two 

points determined for the foresight being adopted. 

Of course in a timbered country it was generally 

not possible to see the backsights for any great 

distance, but whenever a ridge was crossed the 

trees were cut out (see Pis. IX and X) and a new 

backsight was established. In addition, frequent 

observations for astronomical azimuth were made, 

and thus additional checks were obtained. If any 

considerable discrepancy was discovered between 

the astronomical azimuth and the instrumental line, FlQ< !'~I?esigLn for ' stadia rod.

the latter was rerun in order to obtain a satisfactory 

check. Further, the line was connected with the triangulation and 

accurately adjusted thereto in azimuth as well as in distance. When 

the line was adjusted to the triangulation it wa's apparent that the 

transit man had introduced into his work a decided personal equation, 

which had the effect of constantly swinging his line in azimuth too far 

to the westward, as will appear hereafter. The stadia distances were 

read from both backsights and foresights,- so that the length of .each 

sight was obtained in duplicate, one distance depending on rod No. 1 

and the other on rod No. 2, the mean being adopted. In the same
42 SURVEY OP IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. IBULL.IVO.

i

way vertical angles were checked by reading backsights and foresights; and thus levels were carried over the whole line. The height 

of the instrument above the ground station was determined at each 

point, and a corresponding height was sighted on the stadia rods. This 

height was obtained by having one of the legs of the tripod marked 

to tenths of a foot and by using the plumb bob as a measuring line.

The magnetic declination was read at each transit station.

The stadia line was divided into four sections:

First section. This section extended from the zero of the random 

line, namely, the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains, to transit station 154, and was controlled by connection with the triangulation 

system at both terminal points. At the summit of the Bitterroot 

Mountains it was connected by traverse with the triangulation station Divide, and transit station 154 was located directly by triangulation. The distance determined by stadia was 62,071 feet, and by 

triangulation 62,276 feet, the discrepancy being 205 feet, or 1 in 304. 

The azimuth correction in this section was found to be 0° 0' 33", corresponding to a swing'of 10 feet to the east in the random line at 

station 154 in order to make it a true meridian line.

Second section. This section was included between stations 154 and 

800. Station 800 was connected by a short traverse with the triangulation station Buckhorn. The distances determined by stadia and 

triangulation were, respectively, 228,014 and 228,734 feet, the difference being 720 feet, or 1 in 318. The azimuth swing at station 

800 was 71 feet to the east, corresponding to an angular correction of 

0°01'04".

Third section. This section was between stations 800 and 949. Station 949 was located directly by triangulation. The distance by stadia 

was 49,132 feet and by triangulation 49,190 feet, the difference being 58 

feet, or 1 in 848. The swing in azimuth at station 949 amounted to 12.5 

feet to the east, corresponding to an angular correction of 0° 0' 52". 4.

The positions of transit stations 0, 154, 800, 949, and 1046 correspond approximately to those of monuments 92, 78, 23, "8, and 0, 

respectively.

Fourth section. This section closed on the international boundary, 

and it was unfortunate that a location by triangulation could not be 

obtained near its terminus, but the nature of the country rendered 

such a location impracticable, there being no elevated points near by 

and the timber being very tall and dense. It was therefore checked 

by careful steel-tape measurements, the tape being held horizontally 

under a constant tension of about 15 pounds, a plumb bob being used 

at each end. This section extended between station 949 and a point 

45 feet north of station 1046. The distance by stadia was 33,103 feet 

and by steel-tape measurement 33,219 feet, the discrepancy being 116 

feet, or 1 in 286. . \

It is proper to add that there are two small corrections which should /
GOODE.] TRANSIT AND STADIA WORK. 43

have been applied to the distance obtained and used on this section, 

one being that for reduction to sea level, amounting to 8 feet, 

and the other that for reduction on account of tape, which, after comparison with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey standard, 

was found to be +12 feet. Thus, theoretically, the monument was 

placed 4 feet too far north, but the error, compared with that which 

might result from unavoidable station error, is so small that it may 

be considered as negligible.

It might be well to explain what is meant by "station error." It is 

the error which is more or less inherent in all astronomic determinations, being caused by the deviation of the plumb bob, on account of 

varying local attractions, from the true vertical. Its existence may 

be detected by direct measurements between two astronomic stations. 

Assuming an astronomic location to be made at A, a connection by 

triangulation with another station, B, and the position of B thus 

deduced from that of A, then if the astronomic position of B is determined, the discrepancy between the astronomic position and the position determined by triangulation from A represents the combined 

station error. Efforts have been made to deduce a law, based on the 

contour and density of adjacent land forms, which shall define the 

amount of attraction affecting the plumb bob which might be expected 

in any particular case, but nothing satisfactory has been accomplished, owing principally to the fact that it is impossible to give an 

accurate value to the various components which constitute the mass 

of any given section of the earth's crust.

The following table gives the results obtained directly from the 

stadia, and which were used in reducing the random line to the true 

line, both in distance and in azimuth. These figures do not, however, 

represent the degree of precision obtained by the stadia in measuring 

the distances, as they are unaffected by any corrections.

Table showing discrepancy between computed and measured distances, also discrepancy in azimuth.

Section.

1

2

3

Stations.

0-154

154-800

800-949

Computed 

distance.

Feet.

62,276

228,734

49,190

Stadia 

distance.

Feet.

62,071

228,014

49,132

Latitudinal discrepancy.

Feet.

205

720

58

Discrepancy.

1 in 304

1 in 318

1 in 848

Longitudinal

discrepancy, 

random 

line west

of true

line.

Feet.

10

71

12.5

Discrep- « 

ancy.

Iin6, 228

1 in 3, 222

1 in 3, 927

Mean an 

gular 

error in 

azimuth.

O ' "

0 033

0 104

0 053

The distances measured by the stadia should be corrected before any 

satisfactory comparison can be made with the computed distances for 

the purpose of testing the accuracy of the stadia work.

Two conditions will be considered. The first is based upon the
44 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BOLL.ITO.

supposition that the rods -were graduated arbitrarily into regular 

divisions, which were sufficiently small to admit of reading distances 

approximately to a foot, and that the stadia wires were set at some 

fixed interval. The fact that the rods were actually graduated so as 

to be read, as nearly as might be, to feet, tenths, and himdredths, 

and that the wire interval was approximate in the ratio of 1 to 100, 

does not enter at all into the theory of this condition. In fact the 

rod might be graduated in any systematic manner and the wires 

placed at any fixed interval without affecting the results after the 

proper corrections had been applied. An antilogous case would be 

one in which certain distances were measured with a chain or tape the 

exact length of which was not known at the time the ^measurement 

was made but which was afterwards determined and the correction 

applied. The tape might prove to be 99 feet in length, but this would 

not affect the ultimate results after proper allowance had been 

made. The fourth section of the boundary line furnished a means 

by which the relation between the distances determined by the stadia 

and careful measurements with a steel tape, in other words, the stadia 

factor, might be ascertained.

Table of comparisons of stadia and steel-tape measurements from transit, station 

949 (post S) to the international boundary (post 0), section 4.

Location.

Station 949..... ......

Post?. ............ ...

Post6. ...............

Post5................

Post4.._l__ ,..._.___.

Post3................

PostS................

Postl. ...............

Post 0,_. ...'__. ........

Steel tape. -

Feet. 

0

4,618.6

8,606

13,760.5

18, 148. 3

23, 596. 2

27, 153

31,106

33, 219

Stadia.

Feet. 

0

4,601.5

8,572

13, 698

18, 077

23,512

27, 062. 5

31,000

33, 103

Difference.

Feet. 

0

17.1

34

62.5

71.3

"64.2

90.5

106

116

Discrepancy.

1 in 270

1 in 253

1 in 220

1 in 254

1 in 280

1 in 300

1 in 293

1 in 286

An inspection of the foregoing table will develop the fact that the 

ratio existing between the results from the steel-tape and the stadia 

measurements is fairly constant. The steel-tape measurements were 

carefully made with a 100-foot steel tape, under conditions approximating those under which the other portions of the line were measured independently by the stadia, except that the surface was probably 

not so broken and the change of elevation not so great, thus favoring 

the accuracy of the tape measurement. The steel tape was afterwards compared with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey 

standard, and the values in the table are affected by a small correc-
GOODE.] TRANSIT AND STADIA WORK. 45

tion necessary to reduce them to the standard. Thus the comparison 

may be considered as determining the stadia factor, or the amount by 

which each stadia distance should be corrected in order to reduce it 

to a true measurement.

It appears from the table that in a distance of 33,219 feet the stadia 

measurement was 33,103 feet, or a difference of 116 feet, which corresponds to 1 in 286; this correction to be added to the stadia results.

It might be argued that it would be preferable to obtain the stadia 

factor by. direct comparison with the computed lengths of the lines in 

sections 1, 2, and 3; and so it would if the rods were to be used for 

other purposes, but for the present purpose, which is to make a comparison between the computed distances and the direct stadia measurements, the other method is adopted.

Table showing discrepancies between stadia distances corrected for stadia factor

and computed distances.

Section.

1.......

2

3.......

Stations.

0-154 

154-800 

800-949

Stadia distance 

reduced to 

mean 

sea level.

Feet. 

62,061 

227,967 

49, 119

Correction for 

stadia 

factor, 1 

in 286.

Feet. 

+217 

+797 

+tf2

Corrected 

stadia 

distance.

Feet. 

62,278 

228, 764 

49, 291

Computed 

distance.

Feet. 

62, 276 

228, 734 

49, 190

Discrepancy; add 

to stadia 

distance.

Feet. 

 2 

 30 

 101

Discrepancy.

1 in 81, 139

1 in 7, 625 

1 in 488

A combination of the figures in the foregoing table indicates that 

in a total distance of 340,200 feet, or about 65 miles, there was an 

apparent error of 133 feet, or 1 in about 2,565. It would not, of course, 

be proper to claim any such accuracy for the stadia work, and in 

fact the figures themselves do not justify such a claim, as the range 

between them is too great to admit of any general deduction from the 

three combined results. For the purposes of this discussion it would 

have been better if the line could have been divided into more numerous sections and if more than one comparison for the determination 

of the stadia factor could have been made.

A second condition is represented by the supposition that the rods 

were originally accurately subdivided so as to read to feet, tenths, 

and hundredths and that the stadia wires were at a fixed interval of 

1 to 100. A correction inherent to this condition, from the theory of 

stadia measurement, is that of /+ c, / corresponding to the distance 

from the plane of the cross wires to the objective, and c being the 

distance from the center of the instrument to the objective. In order 

to obtain a correct distance the measurement should, then, be from a 

point which is/+c, or, in the instrument used, 0.95 feet, ahead of 

the center of the transit. .In other words, this amount should be 

added to the distance obtained at each transit station.
46 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

Table showing discrepancies between stadia distances affected by "/+ c " correction

and computed distances.

Section.

1...

2...

3...

4...

Stations.

0- 154

154- 800

800- 949

949-1,046

Stadia distance reduced to 

mean sea 

level.

Feet.

62,061

227, 967

. 49,119

33,058

Correction for. 

f+c.

Feet.

+146

+614

+142

+ 92

Corrected 

distance.

Feet.

62, 207

228, 581

49,261

33, 150

Computed 

distance.

Feet.

62,276

228,734

49, 190

33, 174

Discrepancy add 

to stadia 

distance.

Feet.

+ 69

+153

- .71

+ 24

Discrepancy.

1 in 903

1 in 1,495

1 in 693

1 in 1,381

The mean discrepancy for the. whole distance is 175 feet, or 1 in 

2,133. This, it will be observed, approximates that obtained after 

application of the stadia-factor correction.

The results from the application of the/+c correction serve to 

indicate that the rod was graduated approximately correctly, as intended, and the stadia wires were fixed so as to read distances on the 

rod approximately in the proportion of 1 to 100. As the stadia-factor 

correction was systematic, the results obtained for distances along 

the boundary line by a direct adjustment of the original stadia distances to fit the triangulation exactly correspond to those which would 

have been obtained if the stadia-factor correction had been first applied 

and the remaining discrepancy afterwards adjusted to the triangula*- 

tion.

The only check obtained with reference to vertical distances or 

measurements of height is that furnished by the portion of the line 

between the Northern Pacific and Great Northern railroads. Along 

the former road is a line of precise levels run by the United States 

Geological Survey from a mean sea-level connection at Tacoma, Washington. The stadia line was connected with a bench mark of the precise levels, and this bench, mark is the datum upon which the elevation 

of the stadia line is based. The profile of the Great Northern Railway 

adjusted to the United States Geological Survey precise levels furnished an elevation at Leonia to which the stadia line was joined. 

The resulting discrepancy was 73 feet, which is greater than might 

reasonably be expected, but it is possible that some of the error may 

be in the railroad profile.

The details relating to the profile of the boundary line between 

these two railroads are as follows: Sum of horizontal components, 

201,188 feet; sum of vertical components, 42,700 feet; discrepancy 

in closure, 73 feet; discrepancy referred to horizontal components 

equals 1 in 2,756; discrepancy referred to vertical components equals 

1 in 585.

Extensive and careful experiments with the stadia were made by the
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GRANITE BOUNDARY-LINE MONUMEN

The monument on the tight was cut in ten sections for transportat
OOODE.] MONUMENTS. 47

Boundary Commission engaged in the survey and re-marking of the 

boundary between the United States and Mexico west of the Rio 

Grande; and as the conclusions reached so nearly correspond to those 

arrived at in connection with the Idaho-Montana line,' the following 

quotations are made:

The method by stadia is cheap and rapid; requires less cutting than that by chain; 

is carried on under the eye of an instrument man, presumably of a high order of 

intelligence; gives heights and angles, and enables objects to be located from the 

line which is being measured; is ordinarily more accurate than the chain, and 

can be successfully used where the chain can not be, experience on this survey 

having shown that the stadia lines over mountains, hills, and canyons were more 

accurate than those on Jevel plains and wide valleys. * * *

In view of this proof of the inevitable change in the value of the interval, the 

common practice of painting a rod to correspond with the stadia interval of a certain hour and day and then continuing the use of such rod unchecked and 

unchanged during the widely different seasons of this country oftentimes in 

fact, for many years at a time is seen to be inviting the large systematic error 

which almost without exception characterizes such work. If this evidence be 

taken to prove the fact that even so-called fixed stadia wires actually change their 

relative positions, or, what amounts to the same thing, appear to change on account 

of the influence of differential refraction at different seasons, then the present 

method of painting the rod to correspond with the determined interval is objectionable because of the cost of regraduating and repainting the rod to correspond 

to such change in interval. A method entirely free from this objection of cost, 

and one which the writer has found to stand every test during several years of 

field use, is that which uses rods divided into true units of feet, yards, or meters 

and employs an interval factor in the computation of distances. With this system 

a change in the interval simply means the loss of an hour's time in the preparation 

of a new table for reduced or true distances corresponding to any rod reading.

MONUMENTS.

The monuments used along the meridional portion of the line are 

of two kinds stone and iron. The stone monuments are of granite, 

6 feet in length and 10 inches square, undressed except for spaces 

sufficient to permit cutting the words "Idaho" and "Montana," on 

opposite sides. These monuments are placed in the more prominent 

localities, and are monolithic in all cases where it was possible to 

transport them in one mass to the proper position; otherwise they 

were cut into ten sections, so that they could, be carried on pack 

mules, and were bolted and cemented together when established in 

place. The monuments at the international boundary and at the 

summit of the Bitterroot Mountains, these being the terminal points 

of the meridional portion of the line, are of stone made from sections, 

as described, and monoliths are placed near the points at which the 

boundary line crosses the Northern Pacific and Great Northern railways. (See PL VII.) The iron monuments are hollow posts of 

wrought iron, 6 feet in length and about 4 inches in outer diameter, 

covered with a coat of asphaltum tar. At the bottom they are flared
48 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

to a width of 12 inches, to insure more secure planting. These 

posts are set to a depth of 3 feet below the surface of the ground, 3 

feet remaining above ground, and a conical mound of earth being 

raised around them to a height of 2 feet. On the'tops of the posts 

are riveted bronze caps, on which is cut appropriate lettering, and 

the number of the monument and the distance (in miles) from the 

international boundary are stamped in large figures. (See PL VIII.) 

In addition to the four stone monuments referred to, eighty-nine iron 

monuments were placed. The sites for the monuments were chosen 

with reference to the topographic features of the country, instead of 

being placed at even miles, as has usually been the custom on boundary lines, but there are few intervals greater than a mile between the 

monuments, the average interval being about three-fourths of a mile. 

They were placed generally on summits, or near streams, roads, or 

trails, and so as to be intervisible when possible. Between the monuments the line is thoroughly cut out, and adjacent trees are blazed, so 

that it can be readily recognized in any locality.

The stone monuments were quarried at Medical Lake, Washington, 

and cost $14.50 apiece delivered at the railroad station nearest the 

point at which they were established. The iron posts were made in 

St. Louis, and cost $2.08£ delivered to the United States quartermaster 

at St. Louis.

Previous to the work herein referred to no attempt had ever been 

made to locate and mark the Idaho-Montana boundary line, but the 

engineers of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern railways had 

estimated the points at which it crossed their tracks and established 

marks according to this estimation. The accepted crossing on the 

Northern Pacific was found to be about one-fourth of a mile west of the 

true line and that of the Great Northern about 1 mile east of the true 

line along the railway track, but only about a half mile east thereof in 

direct longitude. Kootenai County, Idaho, spent a considerable sum 

of money in grading a road up the mountain from Leonia toward 

Sylvanite, which, when the boundary line was located soon after, was 

found to be in Flathead County, Montana.

Each monument is witnessed by pits and mounds wherever practicable, the pits being dug across the line distant 4 feet north and south 

of the post, and the mounds being 4 feet east and west thereof. The 

dimensions of the pits are 3 by 2 by 1£ feet, and the mounds were 

constructed from the excavated material. The monuments are further witnessed, usually by four blazed bearing trees, one in each quadrant. The two trees in Idaho at post 48, for instance, were deeply 

engraved ''Idaho P. 48 B. T.," and the two trees in Montana were 

marked in a corresponding manner. (See PL IX.) Under each monument was placed about a quart of charcoal. In the notes the distance 

and bearing to the witness trees were marked and the trees described.
U.. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN Nf>. 170 PL. VIM

DESIGN FOR IRON POST.
OOODB.I MONUMENTS. 49

Complete copies of these notes can .be found in the offices of the Geological Survey and the General Land Office in Washington and of the 

surveyors-general in Idaho and Montana.

A general description of the monuments is given below. The figures followed by the letter " M " indicate the distance in miles and 

hundredths of a mile from the initial monument.

Initial monument: Stone masonry monument, 6 feet long, 10 by 10 

inches square, consisting of ten sections cemented and bolted together. 

An aluminum bench-mark tablet is set with cement in the top of the 

monument stamped "1899, Elev. 4500." The monument stands amid 

tall, dense timber on west slope of ridge, about a half mile east of 

creek.

1. Iron post, stamped "0.40 M.," on west slope of ridge, amid tall, 

dense timber.

2. Iron post, stamped "1.15 M.," on west slope of ridge, amid tall, 

dense timber.

3. Iron post, stamped "1.82 M.," on west slope of ridge, amid tall, 

dense timber.

4. Iron post, stamped "2.85 M.," on top of a ridge making out from 

the west slope of the main ridge, amid tall, dense timber.

5. Iron post, stamped "3.68 M.," between two branches, 30 feet 

apart, of a small creek flowing west, about a half mile east of the 

junction of said creek with a creek flowing north, amid dense timber.

6. Iron post, stamped "4.66 M.," 30 feet south of a creek flowing 

west and about one-fourth mile east of the junction of said creek with 

a creek flowing north, amid dense timber.

7. Iron post, stamped "5.415M.," amid dense timber, 300 feet south 

of a small creek flowing west, and about) one-fourth mile east of creek 

flowing northwest.

8. Iron post, stamped "6.295 M.," 2.5 miles north of the Buckhorn 

mine, on bare grassy ridge, 100 feet east of edge of green timber. A 

lone fir tree stands 200 feet east of the post.

9. Iron post, stamped "6.825 M.," If miles north of the Buckhorn 

mine, amid heavy fir timber, on west slope of high timbered ridge.

10. Iron post, stamped " 7.53 M.," 1 mile north of the Buckhorn mine, 

on top of ridge, amid fir timber.

11. Iron post, stamped "8.21 M.," in north end of basin, at south 

edge of green timber, 100 feet east of foot of slope.

12. Iron post, stamped "8.61 M.," on top of bare ridge, a half mile 

east of the Buckhorn cabins.

13. Iron post, stamped "9.03 M." (post should have been stamped 

"9.00 M."), on top of bare rocky ridge, a half mile south of the Buckhorn mines, about 600 feet southeast from the highest point on the 

ridge.

14. Iron post, stamped "9.505 M." (post should have been stamped 

Bull. 170 4
50 SURVEY OP IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. no.

"9.47 M."), on south, edge, about* half way between the top of ridge 

and creek, on a small secondary ridge bearing S. 60° W., amid scattering fir timber, just north of an open space.

15. Iron post, stamped "10.16'M.," amid dense timber, on south 

bank of a creek flowing west, about 330 feet north of another creek 

flowing in same direction.

16. -Iron.post, stamped "11.005 M.," amid heavy timber, on top of 

a ridge on main west slope.

17. Iron post, stamped "11.49 M.," amid dense timber, on top of 

high ridge bearing west.

18. Iron post, stamped "12.12 M.," on top of a heavily timbered 

ridge south of creek in deep ravine, and a half mile east of creek 

flowing northwest.

19. Iron post, stamped "12.915 M.," 20 feet north of creek flowing 

northwest, about 1 mile north of Windy Pass trail.

20. Iron post, stamped " 13.70 M.," on top of timbered ridge, 30 feet 

south-of Windy Pass trail, three-fourths of a mile north of Skin Creek.

21. Iron post, stamped "14.40 M.," on top of north bank, 100 feet 

distant from Skin. Creek, amid heavy timber.

22. Iron post, stamped "14.86 M.," 1£ miles north of summit of Yak 

Mountain, a half mile south of Skin Creek, on top of heavily timbered 

ridge bearing northeast. . -

23. Iron post, stamped "15.62 M.," a half mile north of summit of 

Yak Mountain, on rocky ridge one-fifth of a mile northeast from Buckhorn triangulation station, amid scattering fir timber.

24. Iron post, stamped "16.215 M.," 10| miles north of Leonia, on 

summit of Yak Mountain, 30 feet east of the highest point of the 

right-hand peak of three which are on the northwest end of the range 

as seen from the vicinity of Leonia. A signal tree stands 32 feet south 

and 2 feet east of the post. This post is visible from the whole surrounding country. . .

25. Iron post, stamped "16.81 M.," 9f miles north of Leonia, amid 

heavy timber, on slope of Yak Mountain, 0.6 mile south of the summit.

26. Iron post, stamped "17.50 M.," 9.1 miles north of Leonia, on 

top of a heavily timbered east-west ridge, on slope of Yak Mountain.

27. Iron post, stamped "18.05 M.," 8^-miles north of Leonia, onefourth of a mile north of Curly Creek, on the south edge of a bench, 

at southern edge of thick growth of small pines.

2.8. Iron post, stamped "19.06 M.," 7| miles north of Leonia, 1 mile 

north of Kinzie's ranch, at foot of mountain 2 miles west of Cross 

triangulation station, one-fifth of a mile north of Kingsley Creek, 

amid heavy timber.

29. Iron post, stamped "19.79 M.," 6f miles north of Leonia, amid 

heavy timber, 300 feet north of edge of meadow at Kinzie's ranch and 

10 feet north of trail leading northwest from that ranch.

30. Iron post, stamped "20.40 M.,".6.1 miles north of Leonia, one-
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVE

POST 48, AT SUMMIT OF TIMBERED R
GOODE.] ' MONUMENTS. 51

fourth of a mile north of Newton's house, at north end of meadow, 

where a large spring comes out, 10 feet south of wagon road, 200 feet 

west of foot of hill.

31. Iron post, stamped "21.22 M.," 5.4 miles north of Leonia, a half 

mile south of Newton's house, at southeast corner of large meadow, 

at west edge of timber, and 75 feet east of Curly Creek.

32. Iron.post, stamped " 21.73 M.," 4.9 miles north of Leonia, about 

1 mile north of Lang's ranch, 500 feet south of Curly Creek, and 10 

feet north of wagon road.

33. Iron post, stamped "22.23 M.," 4.4 miles north of Leonia, 0.3 

mile north of where the line crosses a valley just west of Lang's ranch, 

amid heavy timber on side hill, about midway between valley on the 

west and top of hill on the east.

34. Iron post, stamped "23.12 M.," 3.5 miles north of Leonia, 0.2 

mile south of where the boundary line crosses Curly Creek, amid 

heavy timber on west slope, about 600 feet east of Curly Creek.

35. Iron post, stamped "24.10 M.," 2.5 miles north of Leonia, on 

top of a ridge bearing N. 30° E., where the line ascends from Curly 

Creek bottom, amid dense timber.

36. Iron post, stamped "24.965 M.," 1.7 miles north of Leonia, on 

high ground, 0.2 mile north of Lime Creek.

37. Iron post, stamped "25.79 M.," 0.9 mile north of Leonia, 10 feet 

south of wagon.road, amid heavy timber.

38. Iron post, stamped "26.14 M.," a half mile north of Leonia, on 

top of east bank of Kootenai River, 180 feet above surface of water.

39. Stone monument, 6 feet by 10 inches by 10 inches, with an aluminum bench-mark tablet, stamped "26.64 M.," cemented in its top, 

located at Leonia, near foot of hill west of Great Northern Railway 

monument; bears S. 5° W., 584 feet distant from depot chimney. (See 

PL XI, A.)

40. Iron post, stamped "27.45 M.," 0.9 mile south of Leonia, at 

north edge of large timber and at south edge of brush, on steep east 

slope.

41. Iron post, stamped "28.215 M.," 1.6 miles south, of Leonia, on 

flat amid heavy timber and dense underbrush, a half mile southwest 

of the Keeler cabins.

42. Iron post, stamped "29.115 M.," 2.5 miles south of Leonia, 0.3 

mile south of a creek flowing east and 0.4 mile north of a creek flowing southeast into Star Creek, on top of a ridge bearing S. 45° E., 

amid thick small pines. (See PL X.)

43. Iron post, stamped "30.03 M.," 3.4 miles south of Leonia, on top 

of south bank of deep ravine, one-fifth of a mile west of where it joins 

a creek flowing southeast; amid heavy timber.

44. Iron post, stamped "31.03 M.," 4.4 miles south of Leonia, 1 mile 

north of Star Creek, amid heavy timber, on small ridge 200 feet north 

of small stream flowing east.
52 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170.

45.. Iron post, stamped "32.17 M.," 5.5 miles south of Leonia, 200 

feet south of Star Creek, a half mile below the mouth of a creek which 

empties into Star Creek from the southwest, about 600 feet above 

the mouth of a ravine which enters Star Creek from the southeast, 

and about 50 feet higher than the bed of creek; amid large timber.

46. Iron post, stamped "33.01 M.," 6.4 miles south of Leonia, 0.9. 

mile south of Star Creek, amid large scattering pine trees and dense 

small pines, on top of an east-west ridge about midway between Star 

Creek on the west and the top of high ridge on the east.

47. Iron post, stamped "33.74 M.," 7.2 miles south of Leonia, on 

steep slope draining, west into Star Creek, 150 feet north of a small 

stream bearing N. 45° E., amid dead and scattering live timber.

48. Iron post, stamped "34.755 M.," 8.2 miles south of Leonia, on 

top of high timbered ridge, bearing SW.-NE., which forms the 

divide between Star and Callahan creeks. .A line 20 feet in width 

was cut in the timber and can be seen from the summit of Yak 

Mountain and intermediate points' to the north and from the summit 

of the Cabinet Mountains and intermediate points to the south. (See 

PL IX.) - /

49. Iron post, stamped "35.37 M.," 3.4 miles north of west fork of 

Callahan Creek, on top of a heavily timbered ridge bearing east-west, 

about a half mile east of the junction of said ridge with the main 

ridge, the point of junction being the highest point on the main ridge.

50. Iron post, stamped "36.31 M. 3 " 2.5 miles north of the west fork 

of Callahan Creek, on top of a timbered ridge bearing NW.-SE., 

about 1,000 feet northwest of a trapper's cabin, in saddle on said 

ridge.

51. Iron post, stamped " 36.86 M.," 2miles north of the west fork of 

Callahan Creek, on west point of ridge, amid dead and scattering live 

trees about one-fourth of a mile west of top of high ridge bearing 

east.

52. Iron post, stamped "37.52 M.," 1.3 miles north of the west fork 

of Callahan Creek, on top of a bare ridge bearing southeast, about 

halfway between the top of the ridge on the west and a deep ravine 

on the east.

53. Iron post, stamped "38.57 M.," 0.25 mile north of the west fork 

of Callahan Creek, one-fourth of a mile west of a deep ravine from 

the north, on point of ridge bearing southeast, amid scattering trees 

and brush.

54. Iron post, stamped "39.59 M. } " on top of high timbered ridge, 

between the west and main forks of Callahan Creek.

55. Iron post, stamped "40.51 M.," in Callahan Creek bottom, 50 

feet west of bank of creek and just east of the old Lightning Creek 

trail, amid large, dense timber.

56. Iron .post, stamped "41.51 M.," 1 mile so.uth of Callahan Creek 

on high, flat ridge bearing nearly east-west, amid tall timber.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

POST 42; AND LINE CUT THROUGH TIMBE
GOODE.] MONUMENTS. 53

57. Iron post, stamped "42.35 M.," 1.8 miles south of Callahan 

Creek on top of timbered ridge, bearing NE.-SW.

58. Iron post, stamped "43.50 M.," qn top of high-timbered ridge 

which forms the divide between Callahan and Keeler creeks, near the 

head of the east fork of Callahan Creek.

59. Iron post, stamped "44.16 M.," on point of ridge between and 

about 300 feet west from the junction of two gulches which form the 

north branch of Keeler Creek, amid dense timber.

60-. Iron post, stamped "44.72 M.," on top of heavily-timbered ridge 

bearing S. 60° E., between two forks of Keeler Creek.

61. Iron post, stamped "45.10 M.,"in deep canyon, 50 feet south 

of the west-fork of Keeler Creek, amid heavy timber.

62. Iron post, stamped "46.01 M.," on top of high east-west timbered ridge between two west forks of Keeler Creek.

63. Iron post, stamped "46.68 M.," amid heavy timber on top of 

bench 600 feet north and about 100 feet above the west fork of Keeler 

Creek, about a half mile west of the junction of the west fork with 

the main branch of that creek.

64. Iron post, stamped "47.78 M.," 150 feet.north and 40 feet above 

Keeler Creek, which bears K 30° E., nearly opposite the mouth of a 

canyon in the cliffs on east side of creek, at the east edge of timber.

65. Iron post, stamped "48.67 M.," 2.35 miles north of the east fork 

of Lightning Creek, on top of the east-west rocky ridge which forms 

the divide between Keeler and Lightning creeks, about 400 feet west 

of a saddle and 100 feet east of a hump on the ridge.,

66. Iron post, stamped "49.54 M.," 1.5 miles north of the east fork 

of Lightning Creek, on top of a grassy east-west ridge, about 600 feet 

east of a peak where the ridge joins a north-south ridge, amid scattering fir trees.

67. Iron post, stamped "50.09 M.," 0.9 mile north of "the east fork 

of Lightning Creek, at the top of slope, in top of rocks on southeast 

end'of a ridge.

68. Iron post, stamped "50.99 M.," on bench 435 feet north of the 

east fork of Lightning Creek and about 200 feet higher than the 

creek, amid heavy timber nearly opposite the mouth of a ravine on 

south side of creek.

69. Iron post, stamped "51.85 M.," on top of high rocky ridge 

between two east forks of Lightning Creek, in top of rock ledge. 

 70. Iron post, stamped "52.725 M.," 10 feet south of the east fork 

of Lightning Creek, amid large timber.

71. Iron post, stamped "53.24 M.," a half mile south of the east 

fork of Lightning Creek, 1 mile north of summit of Cabinet Mountains, on top of ridge bearing N. 15° E., amid scattering pine and fir 

trees.

72. Iron post, stamped "54.22 M.," on summit of Cabinet Mountains, between the head waters of East Lightning and West Blue
54 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BDLL.ITO.

creeks, about 1,000 feet northeast from a peak, at west edge of small 

fir trees and grass, where rocks begin in ascending the peak, about 

one-third mile west of a saddle on summit ridge. This point is visible from post 24 on the summit of the Yak Mountains and from all 

prominent intermediate points, also from, post 92, on the summit of the 

Bitterroot Mountains and from, intermediate points.

73. Iron post, stamped " 54.905 M.," on top of narrow rocky ridge 

bearing S. 36P E., 0.7 mile south of the summit of the Cabinet Mountains, 0.4 mile south of basin at head of West Blue Creek, amid scattering fir and pine trees.

74. Iron post, stamped "55.58 M.," on top of rock ledge 1.4 miles 

south of the summit of the Cabinet Mountains, 0.7 mile north of West 

Blue Creek, on east slope of rocky ridge, 0.6 mile east of the triangulation station Blacktop, and 900 feet south of a small stream flowing 

east.

75.- Iron post, stamped "56.285 M.," 2.1 miles south of the summit 

of the Cabinet Mountains, 30 feet easfof West Blue Creek, 120 feet 

south of where line crosses creek under high cliffs on east side of creek, 

8 feet south of a 36-inch hemlock stump and amid heavy timber.

76. Iron post, stamped " 57.14 M.," 2.-9 miles south of the summit of 

the Cabinet Mountains, on west side of West Blue Creek and 173 feet 

south of where line crosses it, opposite almost perpendicular cliffs on 

the east side of creek, about 0.25 mile above the mouth of a canyon 

from the northeast, amid large timber just west of an old trail.

77. Iron post, stamped " 57.975 M.," 3.7 miles south of the summit 

of the Cabinet Mountains, on a small bench on steep rocky slope, 

one-fourth mile east of West Blue Creek.

78. Iron post, stamped "58.93 M.," 4.7 miles south of the summit 

of the Cabinet Mountains, on top of a narrow ridge, 200 feet above 

West Blue Creek and about opposite the south end of a long ridge on 

the west side of the creek, amid scattering pine trees.

79. Iron post, stamped "59.975 M.," 3 miles north of Clark Fork 

of. Pend Oreille, on top of north bank of West Blue Creek at south 

side of large flat; in open ground.

80. Iron post, stamped "60.79 M.," 2.1 miles north of Clark Fork, 

on flat ground, amid heavy, dense timber, about 600 feet west of edge 

of bench, where the surface descends to West Blue Creek. An old 

trail crosses the line 150 feet south of the post. 

81. Iron post, stamped "61.605 M.," 1.3 miles north of Clark Fork, 

on top of flat ridge, amid heavy timber, 30 feet southeast of a pond 

100 feet in diameter.

82. Iron post, stamped "62.35 M.," 0.5 mile north of Clark Fork, 

on top of flat east-west ridge, amid heavy timber.

83. Stone monument 6 feet long, 10 inches by 10 ^nches ; square, 

with an aluminum bench-mark tablet stamped "63.03 M." cemented
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

A. GRANITE MONUMENT ON BOUNDARY LINE NEAR LEONIA, IDAHO.

Ji. SECTIO
' MONUMENTS. 55

in its top, located 7 feet north of the Northern Pacific Railway, 1 mile 

eastward from Cabinet, Idaho, 450 feet eastward from sign".!'mile 

to Cabinet," 150 feet eastward from a cut at sharp curve in railroad 

track.

84. Iron post, stamped "68.98 M.," 1 mile south' of the Northern 

Pacific Railway, 0.2 mile northward from Baker's house, amid heavy 

timber on south bank of small stream flowing N. 75° W.

85. Iron post, stamped "64.95 M.," 1.9 miles south of the Northern 

Pacific Railway at the foot of mountain, 100 feet west of the mouth 

of a small stream in deep ravine; amid heavy timber.

86. Iron post, stamped "65.70 M.," 2.7 miles south of the Northern 

Pacific Railway, under west brow of a long, narrow ridge, about 300 

feet south from where the ridge begins steep descent; amid dense 

timber.

87. Iron post, stamped " 66.50 M.," 3.5 miles south of the Northern 

Pacific Railway, on top of high east-west ridge, about 300 feet east 

of its junction, with a north-south ridge; amid scattering large timber.

88. Iron post, stamped "67.46 M.," on top of high east-west timbered ridge, 1 mile north of the west fork of Elk Creek, about onefourth mile east of where the ridge joins north and south ridge.

89. Iron post, stamped "68.475 M." (post should have been stamped 

"68.44 M."), in heavily timbered bottom, 60 feet north of the dry bed 

of the west fork of Elk Creek, about 1 mile west of tlie mouth of a 

creek from the southwest.

90. Iron post, stamped "69.08 M.," on top of narrow east-west 

ridge between the west fork of Elk Creek and a small stream from 

the southwest, amid timber.

91. Iron post, stamped "69.76 M.," on top.of nearly bare ridge 

between two ravines bearing northeast.

92. Stone masonry monument, 6 feet long, 10 inches by 10 inches 

square, consisting of ten sections cemented and bolted together. An 

aluminum bench mark stamped " 92-70.717 M., 4,850 feet" is cemented 

into the tjpp of the monument. The monument stands on the top of 

a bare grassy ridge, amid scattering dead trees, at the junction of a 

ridge from the west with said ridge. The ridge at this point bears 

NW.-SE. and forms the summit of the Bitterroot Mountains. (See 

PL XI, B.} 

It will be recalled that it, has been previously mentioned that an 

error was made in the field computation, the result of which was to 

locate the starting point of the random line 177 feet east of the true 

point. The transitinan did not know of this error when he surveyed 

the random line, but as a result of a personal equation introduced into 

his work his Jine varied from a true line by a constant swing toward 

the west, so that when he reached the international boundary the 

point on the random line was 43 feet east of the true point. Thus, in
56 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINK. [BULL. 170.

about 71 miles the transitman ran a line which at its terminal point 

was 134 feet "out" in azimuth. With this explanation the following 

table is self-explanatory:

Table showing number and kind of monuments, distances, elevations, magnetic 

.declinations and time of magnetic observations along the boundary.

Number of 

monument.

0......

1 ..

o

3......

4......

t>......

8......

9......

10......

11......

19

13......

14 

15......

16......

17......

18......

19......

20......

21......

22

23......

24

25

26......

27......

28

29......

30......

31...... 

32...... 

33...... 

34...... 

35...... 

36...... 

37......

38......

39...... 

-40...... 

41......

42......

Distance 

 from international boundary.

Miles. 

0.00

0.40

1.15

1.82

2.85

3.68

4.66

5.415

6.295

6.825

7.53

8.21

8.61

«9.00

69.47

10.16

11.005

11.49

12.12

12.915

13.70

14.40

14.86

15.62

16.215

16.81

17.50

18.05

19.06

19.79

20.40

21.22 

21.73 

22.23 

23.12 

24.10 

24.965 

25. 79

26.14

26.64 

27.45 

28.215

29.115

Elevation at 

monument.

Feet. 

4,505

4,691-

5,008

5,186

5,4%

5,223

5,167

5,477

6,124

5,954

6,069

5, 712

6,116

6,161

6,612

4,595

5,514

5,407

5,200

4,375

5,700

4,374

5,448

6,290

6,627

5,406

4,966

3,817

2,864

2,523

2,504

2,490 

2,520 

2. 694 

2,541 

2,418 

2,425 

2,199

1,978

1,833 

2,678 

3,021

3,546

Distance 

west 

from 

random 

line.

Feet. 

43

49

59.5

65

74

79.8

82

82.5

83.5

84.

85

86

87

87 '

88

89

90

91

91.5

93

94

95

95

96

96

97

98

98

99

100

100.5

101 

102. 

102 

103 

104 

105 

106

107

107 

.107 

108

109

Kind of monument.

Stone ....

Iron post.

..... do 

.....do....

.....do....

.... .do... .

.....do. 

.....do....

.....do....

....Mo... .

.....do....

. .do .

.....do....

... ..do....

. do...'.

.....do....

......do....

-....do. 

.... .do. 

. .do 

.... .do....

... '..do....

.....do... .

.... .do....

.....do 

 .do... .

 do 

.....do '.

..... do... .

..... do....

.... .do 

.... .do 

.'... .do 

 .do....' 

.....do.... 

.... .do 

... ..do 

 .do 

. .doStone .... 

Iron post. 

.....do....

.....do....

Magnetic 

declination 

(east).

O '

23 10

23 02

23 15'

23 18

23 06

23 00

23 08

23 08

23 02

23 02

23 03

22 54

23 05

23 02

22 55

 22 52

23 12

23 05

22 45

23 01

22 57

22 43

23 03

23 25

22 30

23 00

23 08

23 05

23 02 

22. 59 

22 50 

22 56 

23 00 

22 50 

22 08

22 45 

22 48 

22 39

22 35

Time of magnetic observation.

9 a.m., Oct. 31, 1898.

1p.m., Oct. 30, 1898.

8 a.m., Oct. 30, 1898.

1.30 p.m., Oct. 28, 1898.

3 p.m., Oct. 27, 1898.

3 p.m., Oct. 26, 1898.

8.30 a.m., Oct. 26, 1898.

11 a.m., Oct. 25, 1898.

3 p.m., Oct. 22, 1898.

8 a.m., Oct. 22, 1898.

1p.m., Oct. 21, 1898.

10 a.m., Oct. 21, 1898.

1p.m., Oct. 20, 1898.

4 p.m., Oct. 19, 1898.

2 p.m., Oct. 18, 1898.

3. 45 p.m., Oct. 17, 1898.

9 a.m., Oct. 17, 1898.

1p.m., Oct. 15, 1898.

2 p.m., Oct. 10, 1898.

8 a.m., Oct. 10, 1898.

8.30 a.m., Oct. 8, 1898.

Noon, Oct. 7, 1898.

5 p.m., Oct. 3, 1898.

1p.m., Oct. 3, 1898.

5 p.m., Oct. 2, 1898*

10.30 a.m., Oct. 2, 1898.

1p.m., Oct. 1,1898.

9 a.m., Sept. 30, 1898. 

4.30 p.m., Sept. 28, 1898. 

11 a.m., Sept. 28, 1898. 

1.30 p.m., Sept. 26, 1898. 

8.30 a.m., Sept. 26, 1898. 

1.30 p.m., Sept. 24, 1898. 

4 30 p.m., Sept. 23, 1898.

1p.m., Sept. 23, 1898. 

8 a.m., Sept. 23, 1898. 

1.30 p. m., Sept. 20, 1898.

2.30 p.m., Sept. 19, 1898.

a Stamped 9.03. (. Stamped 9.505.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

CLARK FORK OF COLUMBIA RIVER JUST WEST OF BO
aoouK.] MONUMENTS.

Table showing number and kind of monuments, etc. Continued.

57

Number of 

monument.

43......

44......

45......

46......

47......

48......

49......

50......

51......

52......

53.......

54......

55......

56......

57......

58......

59......

60......

61. ...

62......

63......

64......

65......

66 ...

67 ...

68......

69

70

71

72. ..

73

74......

75. ..

76......

77. ..

78......

79. ..

80.....L

81......

82......

83......

84.......

85......

86...... 

87...... 

88..^.. 

89...... 

90...... 

91...... 

92......

Distance 

from international boundary.

Miles. 

30.03

31.03

32.17

33.01

33.74

34.755

35.37

36.31

36.86

37.52

38.57

39.59

40.51

41.51

42-35

43.50

44.16

44.72

45.10

46.01

46.68

47.78

48.67

49.54

50.09

50.99

51.85

52 725

53.24

54.22

54.905

55.58

56.285

57.14

57. 975

58.93

59.975

60.79

61.605

62. $>

63.03

63.98

64.94

65.70 

66.50 

67.46 

a68.44 

69.08 

69.76 

70.717

Elevation at 

monument.

Feet. 

3,533

3,357

3,162

4,410

4,392

6,127

5,993

5,535

5,572

4,740

3,498

4,433

3,089

4,792

5,446

5,870

4,887

5,107

3,992

5,176

3,867

4,052

5,666

5,781

5,822

3,623

5,902

4,084

5,366

6,780

6,197

5,349

4,139

3,774

3,856

 4,206

2,655

2,662

2,667

2,487

2,225

2,416

2,501

3,990 

4,953 

4,793 

2,667 

4,341 

3,555 

4,848

Distance 

west 

from 

random 

line.

Feet. 

110

112

114

115

ne

118

119

120

121

182

109

123

125

. 126

127

129

131

132

133

134

135.5

137

139

139

139

141

141

142

142

163

163

164

165

166

166

167

168

169

169

170

170

171

172

173 

173 

174 

175 

176 

176 

177

Kind of 

monument.

.....do....

.....do....

.....do 

.!... do... .

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

......do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do 

.....do....

.....do....

.....do...;

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do....

.....do..:.

 do .

.....do....

.....do 

.....do....

..... do .

 do 

 do....

...... do 

.....do.... 

.... .do 

.... .do . 

.....do 

.....do.... 

.....doStone ....

Magnetic 

declination 

(east).

22 33

22 45

22 27

22 40

22 38

22 25

22 15

22 43

21 26

22 39

22 35

22 25

22 10

22 12

22 15

22 05

22 23

25 20

21 45

22 02

22 20

.22 a5

22 28

22 20

23 10

22 35

22 30

23 14

22 28

21 50-

23 10

22 30

22 52

23 05

22 33

22 15

22 27

22 32

22 22

22 22

22 26

22 20 

22 -04 

22 20 

22 20 

22 20

22 15

Time of magnetic observation.

1p.m., Sept. 14, 1898.

4.30 p.m., Sept. 12, 1898.

11 a.m., Sept. 10, 1898.

2 p.m., Sept. 9, 1898.

12.30 p.m., Sept. 7, 1898.

12.30 p.m., Sept. 5, 1898.

2.30 p.m., Sept. 4, 1898. '

4 p.m., Sept. 3, 1898.

2.30 p.m., Sept. 2, 1898.

12.30 p.m., Aug. 29, 1898.

1.30 p.m., Aug. 27, 1898.

3 p.m., Aug. 26, 1898.

9 a.m., Aug. 26, 1898.

2.30 p.m., Aug. 24, 1898.

5 p.m., Aug. 23, 1898.

4.30 p.m., Aug. 20, 1898.

2 p.m., Aug. 19, 1898.

9a.m., Aug. 19, 1898.

2.30 p.m., Aug. 13, 1898.

2.30 p.m., Aug. 12, 1898.

10 a.m., Aug. 11. 1898.

10 a.m., Aug. 9, 1898.

3 p.m., Aug. 8, 1898.

8 a.m., Aug. 8, 1898.

7.30 a.m., Aug. 6, 1898.

1p.m., Aug. 5, 1898.

8.45 a.m., Aug. 3, 1898.

11 a.m., July 30, 1898.

6.30 p.m., July 28, 1898.

10 a.m., July 28, 1898.

1.30 p.m., July 27, 1898.

Noon, July 26, 1898.

4 p.m., July 24, 1898.

1.30 p.m., July 22, 1898.

3 p.m., July 21, 1898.

3.45p.m.,Julv20,1898.

9. 30 a.m., July 19, 1898.

12. 30 p.m., July 18, 1898. 

10. 30 a.m., July 16. 1898. 

4 p.m.. July 14, 1898. 

11 a.m., July 13, 1898. 

11 a.m., July 12, 1898.

10. 30 a.m., July 9, 1898.

o Stamped 68.475.
58 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. no.

THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY WEST OF THE SUMMIT 

OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, AND THE MOOYIE TRAIL 

MONUMENT.

On August 11, 1856, a law was passed by Congress authorizing the 

appointment of a commission to unite with a similar commission to be 

appointed by Great Britain for the purpose of carrying into effect the 

first article of the treaty of June 15, 1846, that is to determine and 

mark the boundary line between the United States and British possessions westward from the summit, of the Rocky Mountains. In 

February, 1857, Mr. Archibald Campbell was appointed commissioner 

for the United States, and-Lieut. John G. Parke, United States Army, 

was appointed chief astronomer and surveyor. Three commissioners 

were appointed by Great Britain. Captains Prevost and Richards, of 

the Royal Navy, were first and second commissioners, respectively, 

their duties being limited to the determination of the water boundary 

referred to as " the channel which separates the Continent from Vancouver's Island." In the summer of 1858, Col. J. S. Hawkins, Royal 

Engineers, appointed by the British Government commissioner to 

determine the boundary line along the forty-ninth parallel, arrived 

in the United States prepared for field operations. At a meeting of 

the joint commission the following agreement relating to the plan of 

work was entered into:

After discussing plans for determining and marking the line as far eastward as 

the Cascade Mountains, it was concluded to be inexpedient at the present time, 

in consequence of the great expense, consumption of time, and the impracticable 

nature of the country, to mark the whole boundary by cutting a track through 

the dense forest.

It was therefore agreed to ascertain points on the line by the determination of 

astronomical points at convenient intervals on or near the boundary and to mark 

such astronomical stations, or points fixed on the parallel forming the boundary, 

by cutting a track of not less than 20 feet in width on each side for the distance 

of half a mile or.more, according to circumstances. Farther, that the boundary 

be determined and similarly marked where it crosses streams of any size, permanent trails, or any striking natural feature of the country.

In the vicinity of settlements on or near the line it is deemed advisable to cut 

the track for a greater distance and to mark it in a manner to be determined 

hereafter.

Under this plan it seems that the work was prosecuted through the 

field seasons of 1858, 1859., and 1860, but owing to the war between 

the States, which followed soon after, all operations were suspended, 

and no detailed report was ever published.

The following is an extract from a short report by Mr. Archibald 

Campbell, United States commissioner, published in House Executive 

Document No. 86, Fortieth Congress, third session:

The work of running and marking the land boundary was carried on through a 

country previously almost unknown. The forty-ninth parallel extends over rugged and precipitous mountains that attain great elevation, and in the Cascade
UOODE.] THE LINE WEST OF THE SUMMIT. 59

Range, on and near the boundary, perpetual snow covers many of the peaks, 

whose northern gorges are filled up with immense glaciers. The timber on the 

western slope of the Cascade Mountains is dense, being a heavy growth of pine 

and fir that in many places stands over a fallen forest not yet decayed. This is 

the character of the country as far eastward as the valley of the Similkameen 

River, one of the tributaries of the Columbia. Here the timber becomes more 

open and surveying operations less difficult.

After passing the Okinokane River, which is the lowest line of the great valley 

between the Cascade and the Rocky Mountains, the country again becomes rough 

and the timber more dense, but less so than the western slope of the Cascade 

Mountains.

It being impossible to follow the forty-ninth parallel continuously, the line of 

survey was carried over the nearest practicable route for a pack trail, connecting 

each astronomical station, making a total length of line of survey of about 800 

miles. Astronomical stations were established by parties of the joint commission 

at almost every accessible point from which the boundary line is ascertained, and 

marked by a vista across all valleys and trails, where rough stone monuments 

were erected over posts buried in the ground to indicate the exact line.

The reconnoissance work extends over an area of about 30,000 square miles. 

Withip this space the barometrical heights of over 800 points have been obtained. 

- A magnetic survey, extending over a range of 30° 20' in latitude and 4° in longitude, with the necessary observations of the magnetic elements of the astronomical stations, was also made.

The entire length of the land boundary line is over 9° in longitude, or about 410 

miles, and the length of the route traveled in surveying it is double that distance. 

Trails had to be opened for three-fourths of the distance traveled, involving great 

labor in cutting, grading, and bridging to make the route practicable for packmule transportation. The water courses were numerous and rapid, rendering the 

fords frequent and dangerous, and a slight rise of many of the streams would have 

made them impassable but for the timely precaution of building bridges at small 

streams and ferryboats at the river crossings. Many of the trails opened are now 

traveled routes to the mines then and since discovered, which are rapidly developing that section of the country, where almost every valley of any extent affords 

facilities for agricultural pursuits.

In collating the results of the survey reports upon the geology, botany, and 

natural history of the country reconnoitered were prepared and complete maps, 

on a large scale, made of the entire boundary and the adjacent country. A general map has also been made, showing the extent of the country traversed. And 

to facilitate the survey of the public lands photographic duplicates of the detailed 

sheets, showing each monument on the boundary line, with its geographical position, were furnished to the General Land Office. Photographic duplicates of the 

detailed sheets of the water boundary have also been made and furnished the 

Department of State in illustration of the question of the boundary channel.

Copies of the maps referred to in Mr. Campbell's reports are in 

existence. The boundary-line maps are in 14 sheets, with the title, 

Detailed Maps of the Northwest Boundary, from Point Roberts to the 

Rocky Mountains, between $he United States and the British Possessions, under the treaty of June 15, 1846, showing monuments, cuts, 

and other marks. The scale of the maps is 1:60,000, and the topography is shown in hachures. The general map referred to is in contours and apparently on the same scale as the detailed maps.

From an inspection of the detailed map it appears that there are
.60 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. no.

two portions of the boundary line which seem to be adequately marked, 

one of them being from Point Roberts, on Juan de Fuca Strait, 

eastward for a distance of about 41 miles, and the other being from 

Similkameen River, across the northern boundarj^ of what was formerly the Colville Indian Reservation, to the Columbia River, a distance of about 91 miles; the eastern part of this latter portion, however, 

is not so well marked as the western part.

The portions which are inadequately marked in fact, not marked 

at all comprise intervals as follows:

Portions of international boundary west of the summit of the Rocky Mountains and 

the Mooyie Trail monument which are not marked.

Miles 

(approximate).

West slope of Cascade Mountains .........-...-....-...-...-.-._.---..-.--.---. 16

Across summit of Cascade Mountains to Pasay ten River...................... 54

Pasayten River to one hundred and twentieth meridian ........................ 24

One hundred and twentieth meridian to Similkameen River ................ 15

Columbia River to Clark Fork.......-......--......_-..-_....-....-.-.._...'.... 10

Clark Fork to Kootenai Mountain. ............................ f.............. 11

Kootenai'Mountain to Kootenai River ......^.................................. 28

Kootenai River to Mooyie Trail................_........-...---....-....--.--.- 15

Moo'yie River to Yaak River................... ............................... 25

Yaak River to summit west of Kootenai -River ............................... 17

Summit west of ; Kobt~enai River to Kootenai River . ................._......... .5

Kootenai River to summit ............ ...^...........i...... ..:.i.............. 5

Summit to Wigwam River .............._-.----.........._.-............ .... 14

Wigwam River to Flathead River.......... l'_ ............................. 14

Flathead River to Kishemeen Creek. 1........................................ 4

Kishemeen Creek to summit of Rocky Mountains .........................._. 13

There is no question as to the desirability of properly marking the 

boundary line, although it is true that the unmarked portions are in 

a rough, mountainous, and unsettled section, and the expense and 

labor connected with making the necessary resurveys and placing 

monuments would be large.

When the boundary line between Idaho and Montana was run 

northward to the international boundary, it was not possible to locate 

its terminal point as satisfactorily'as might have been desired, because 

of the fact that there was no monument on the international boundary within a reasonable distance with which a connection could be 

made. The same is true of the boundary line between Washington 

and Idaho, and also of a guide meridian run by the Geological Survey 

northward from the thirteenth standard parallel in Idaho. The 

Washington Forest Reserve, the Priest- River Forest Reserve, and 

the Flathead Forest Reserve abut against this boundary, and in 

making the topographic survey of these reserves, as well as in projecting the public-land lines northward, it is very important that 

there should be well-defined monuments to which these surveys can 

be connected. There are, of course, many other apparent reasons
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

SUMMIT OF BITTERROOT MOUNTAINS, SHOWING PACK TRAIN LOADE

MONUMENT,
GOODE.] S1V\TE DEPARTMENT RECORDS. 61

why the international boundary should be permanently and conspicuously marked, but special reference is made to those mentioned, for 

they have a bearing on the work of the Geological Survey.

As the instructions relating to the Idaho-Montana boundary line 

provided for a connection by triangulation or other methods with a 

monument on the international boundary, inquiry was made at the 

State Department for information on the subject and permission was 

granted to examine the records of the Northwest Boundary Survey. 

A visit was made to the manuscript room of the Department, and 

several lists of geographical positions were found. As these positions 

have not been published heretofore, two lists are given below. The 

second list gives geographical positions, and is signed by officers of 

the British and American commissions.

Extracts from, State Department records of United States Northwest Boundary

Survey.

[In lead-colored chest in manuscript room.]

Camp Columbia.... ....' 117° 37' 33".9 on brink of hill, west bank of river.

1 117° 37' 05".2 near east bank of river.

Camp Kootenay West.. 116° 35' 44".9 on side of mountain, west side of valley.

116° 31' 05".9 on brow of first hill, right bank of river.

Camp Mooyie .......... 116° 12' 22".3 on side of mountain, west side of valley.

116° 11' 54".5 on plateau above creek. Position approximate.

116° 11' 25". 6 on left bank of creek close to water. 

116° 11' 24" on high bluff left bank. Position approximate. 

Camp Kootenay East... 115° 16' 01".4 on east bank of ravine beyond which the

mountains rise.

115° 11' 11".2 on right bank of Kootenay River. 

115° 10' 11 ".6 on second plateau, left bank of river. 

115° 03' 28".7 at foot of mountain, left bank small creek. 

(N. B. This station was moved from its position as 

placed by the United States surveyors by the British 

surveyors. Description is of the new position.)

Camp Columbia ................ ..............

Fort Shepherd Station. . ......................

Junction of Salmon River with darks Fork . .

PendO'Reille Station. .................. .... .

Kootenay Mountain Station ..................

Triangulation pole ..........................

Sinyakuateen depot ............................

Camp Kootenay West ...... ...................

Junction of trails near Acklewcache ..........

Mooyie Trail monument .......--.---.-......

Camp Mooyie. ....... ..'........................

Yaht Station .._....................._.........

..... 48

..... 49

..... 49

..... 49

..... 49

...... 48

..... 48

..... 48

..... 48

..... 49

.... 49

48

Lat.

59

00

01

00

00

58

09

59

54

00

01

59

N.

50.

00.

32.

03.

12.

48.

23.

55.

21.

01.

26.

55.

Long. W. Or.

4

0

4

5

8

0

8

1

4

3

0

4

117

117

117

117

117

117

116

116

116

116

116

115

37

37

23

21

10

00

43

31

22

14

12

38

41.

19.

24.

 52.

48.

33.

42.

16.

02.

59.

40.

51.

8

4

5

9

4

1

9

2

1

2

5

0

' Monuments changed by English commission after verification.
62 SURVEY OF IDAffO-MONa&Kfe- BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. no.

From the foregoing list it appeared that the Mooyie Trail monument was the point on the international boundary nearest the IdahoMontana boundary line, and Mr. Perkins was instructed to make a 

search for it. The monument is about 32 miles from Bonners Ferry, 

Idaho, and is easily reached by the new Wild Horse trail. It is on 

the west side of and near the trail between Round Meadows hay ranch, 

or Walters Prairie, and Mooyie River, and about 5 miles from the 

former. It is about a half mile beyond a section of the trail which 

for a distance of about one-fourth mile is filled with loose rock. 'As 

the monument is approached the trail passes through a heavy growth 

of timber and underbrush. The monument consists of a large pile of 

partly angular rocks, now knocked down by fallen trees. Originally, 

the trees in the immediate vicinity of the monument were cut down. 

" It will be observed that the latitude for the Mooyie Trail monument given in the list signed by the officers of the United States and 

British commission's is 49° 00' 01".3, or 1".3 (about 132 feet) north of 

the parallel constituting the international boundary, and it was supposed that the point marked by the monument was in that latitude, 

and therefore not exactly on the international boundary. During the 

field season of 1898 the triangulation was extended so as to locate 

this monument, and its position deduced from the Spokane base is 

as follows:. Latitude, 49° 00' 01".515 longitude, 116° 14' 19".48.

The check in latitude, 21 feet, was considered very satisfactory, 

and even the discrepancy in longitude, about 2,647 feet, was not 

more than might be expected, considering the lack of telegraphic 

facilities at the time of the Northwest Boundary survey. The point 

determined as the true one for the intersection of the international 

boundary and the Idaho-Montana boundary line was located with 

reference to the Mooyie Trail monument, so that there need be no 

large discrepancy, except that due to station error;" when the international boundary is ultimately traced and marked, it being assumed 

that the work already done by the Northwest Boundary survey will 

be accepted and utilized.

The distance from the point on the Idaho-Montana boundary line 

at the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains to the international boundary, 

used in placing the initial monument, was computed as follows, the 

constants being taken from United States Coast and Geodetic Survey 

Report, 1884, Appendix No. 6:

Latitude.

Transit station, crest of Bitterroot Mountains....................... 47 58 35.56

International parallel.--..-..-.....-.-...-..-..--.-... ............ 49 0 0.00

Difference.................................................. 1 01 24.44
UOODK.] FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 63

1° =69.097 miles=364,832 feet.

1' =1,853.16 meters, 

log. 1" =30.886 meters, 1.489762 

log.. 24".44 1.388101

log. 754.85 meters = 2.877863

1,853.16 ,

log. 2,608.01 meters, 3.416309 

log. meters to feet, 0.515984

log. 8,554 feet = 3.932293 

364,832

373,386 feet. 

Correction' = x +21

373,407 feet, total distance.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

A financial statement is presented below showing how the amount 

appropriated for the survey of the boundary line was expended. As 

already mentioned, however, this amount does not represent the 

entire cost of the work, for the greater portion of the animals and 

outfit were transferred from other localities, where they had been 

used by parties of the Geological Survey working under other appropriations. Further, it was possible to use a portion of the triangulation done in connection with the forest surveys, and the expenses of 

the party while engaged in sketching topography were charged in 

part against the appropriation for topographic surveys. No portion 

of the salary of the geographer in charge of the work was paid from 

the appropriation for the boundary line, nor were any office salaries 

charged against it. But for this material assistance, which did not 

in any way detract from other work, the cost of the boundary survey 

would probably have been increased more than twrofold. On the 

other hand, a large portion of what was accomplished in connection 

with the boundary line can be utilized in other directions. The appropriation of .$7,650 was originally made for expenditure during the 

fiscal year ending June 30, 1898. The unexpended balance on that 

date was, however, made available by act of Congress for the year 

ending June 30,1899, and again, in a similar manner, the unexpended 

balance at the latter date was reappropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900. The appropriation became practically exhausted 

in October, 1899.

1 By triangulation connection with Mooyie Trail monument, the position of this monument 

is O."21 farther north than as given by the international boundary survey, hence to reduce all 

positions to the international-boundary survey system, latitudes of United States Geological 

Survey triangulation are decreased 0".21, or its equivalent, 21 feet, the distance from initial 

point on Bitterroot Mountains to forty-ninth parallel being increased 21 feet.
64 SURVEY OF IDAHO-MONTANA BOUNDARY LINE. [BULL. 170

Financial statement relating to appropriation for survey of boundary line between

Idaho and Montana.

Date.

1897.

July 3

10

10

10

10

10

10

12

12

15

24

29

31

A no- 7

17

17

19

25

31

4

8

11

28

30

Oct. 11

14

18

30

31

Nov. 11

15

Dec. 4

8

20

1898. 

Jan. 13

17

Feb. 10

12

Mar. 12

15

15

31

Apr. 8

14

May 10

10

To whom paid.

.....do........ . ......................

G.M.Metzler. .........................

Co.

S.H.Rusli .............-..,......... 

 E.T.Perkins.jr .......................

portation Co. 

.... .do. ....................... ....... ....

... ..do. ................................ .

-...do..................................

portation Co. 

P. Morrison.- .... . .. ......

For what paid.

Saddlery, etc..........................

Services, July, 1897....................

Freight,..:............................

.... .do. ........I.... ................... .

.... .do... ....................... ........

.....do..................................

Pasturage ..--.'..............-. ....

Amount.

J101. 10

60.75

23.00

13.57

61.04

19. 90

52.50

43.48

32.50

33.75

 160.56

30.00

73.05

241.60

15.00

143. 10

116.12

46.57

12.50

241.00

129. GT>

34.50

75.00

50.69

50.65

213. 80

.30

20.00

255.00

192.56

236.60

. 4.25

196.44

193.97

 208.33

108.45

4.50

2.85

36.50

4.50

4.50

3.84

.80

15.00

4.50

15.00

4.50

15.00
STATEMENT. 65

Financial statement relating to appropriation for survey of boundary line between 

Idaho and Montana Continued.

Date.

1898.

11

July 13

Aug. 3

11

11 

11

17

Sept. 13

13

13

13

. . 13

13

21

21

21

Oct. 11

H

Nov. 7

7

16

26

26

Oct. 19

19

T>or> 19

. 1899.

Feb. 16

Mar. 20

20

July 17

31

Aug. 8

Sept. 12

16

To whom paid..

Holly, Mason, Marks & Co ............

.... .do. ............................ .....

R.U.Goode. .............. ......... ....

Gordon Daugherty.... ................

P. B.Collow. ......... ... ....... .....

.....do ..................................

.....do.... ...... .......... ...... ........

.....do ..................................

.....do..................................

.....do... ...............................

For what paid.

Services, July, 1898 ....................

Hardware ..............................

.....do ..................................

.... .do .............................. ....

Subsistence supplies. .................

Field expenses.. .......................

Subsistence supplies ..................

Services, October, 1898 .. .... ..........

.....do........ .. ..................

.....do.......-..-.--. ................

.....do............... ................

.....do ..................................

... ..do .................. ................

.....do. ...... ................ ......

Amount.

$15. 00

,1 <U1

59.45

414.67

36.00

10.90 

15.00

59.08

35.30

23.15

49.41

473.06

58.00-

49 77

16.65

77.54=

32.10

AUK. no

79 80

425.00

189.68

101. 12

137. 17

9.90

38.00

17.05

13.65

15.15

10.65

.90

.48

316.67

213.75

352.10

2.12

152.96

21.40

7,649.50

7,650.00

.50

Bull. 170-

U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

BOUNDARY BETWEEN IDAHO AND MONTANA

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY TO THE CREST OF THE B1.TTERROOT MOUNTAINS, 

BEING THE 39 MERIDIAN WEST FROM WASHINGTON, AS SURVEYED AND MARKED BY THE

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

UXHKH ACT OK (M)XGKKSS APPROVED J I'NT; '1'" 1897 

Seale

(!*ont.ou! - inleryul lOoTcol 

I);Hiun is mean sea level 

 Iron monuments 

..*.; Stone rnoTiumt-nts

48°3<>'
INDEX.

Page. 

Astronomic piers at Spokane, Wash., plate

showing............................ 22

Azimuth, observations for.................. 25-29

Base line, measurement of................. 25

Bitterroot Mountains, character of......... 18

plate showing monument at summit of 54

plates showing views of summit of..... 16,60

Blacktail, Idaho, triangulation station at... 32-33 

Blacktop, Idaho, triangulation station at... 37 

Blue, Idaho, triangulation station at........ 35

Border, Canada, triangulation station at.... 38-39

Boundary line, map of...................... 66

Boundary lines, classes of................... 16-17

Boundary lines in the Northwest.......... 15-18

Buckhorn, Idaho, triangulation station' at.. 37 

Cabinet Range, plates showing views of.... 18,20

Campbell, A., extract from report of........ 58-59

work of................................. 58

Carl ton, Wash., triaugulation station at .... 32

Chilco, Idaho, triangulatioirstation at...... 33

Clark Fork, plate showing view of ......... 56

Cross, Mont., triangulation station at....... 38

Divide, Idaho, azimuth determinations at.. 26

triangulation station at................ 34,40

Doust, Idaho, triangulation station at...... 35-36

Ewing, Mont., triangulation station at ..... 38

Financial statement........................ 63-65

Gannett, S. S., work of................... 19,21,26

Hawkins, J. S., work of..................... 58

Hell Roaring, Idaho, triangulation station

at................................... 36

Idaho, boundaries of....................... 16

description of post at corner of Montana

and................................. 17

International boundary, surveys of........ 58-63

Latitude,'observations for............:..... 21-22

Leonia, Idaho, plate showing view of monument near.......................... 54

Little Baldy, Wash., triangulation station at 31 

Longitude, observations for ................ 23-24

Page. 

Montana, boundaries of.................... 16

description of post at corner of Idaho

and...............................'.. 17

Monuments, description of................. 47-48

location of.............................. 49-56

plates showing......................... 46,54

table showing number and kind, distance, elevations, etc............... 56-57

Mooyie Trail Monument, triangulation station at.............................. 34-35

Moran, Wash., triangulation station at..... 30-31

Newton, Mont., triangulation station at.... 37

Parke, J. G., work of........................ 58

Perkins, E.T., jr., work of .................. 18,19

Prevost, , work of........................ 58

Reaburn, D. L., work of............... 19,20,21,28

Richards, A. V., work of.................... 17

Richards, , work of....................... 58

Round Top, Idaho, triangulation station at. 34 

Scotchman, Idaho, triangulation station

at...............................: 33-34,36

Scotchman Peak, plate showing view near

summit of.......................... 20

Skalan, Idaho, triangulation station at.... 32

Spokane, Wash., measurement of base line

at .................................. 25

observations for latitude at ............ 22

plate showing astronomic piers at ..... 22

triangulation stations at................ 29-30

Stadia and transit work.................... 40-47

Stadia rod, design for ...................... 41

Stadia work, remarks on ................... 47

Tomkinson, Wash., triangulation station at 31 

Transit and stadia work.................... 40-47

Transit station, plate showing view of..... 40

Transit station 154, triangulation at........ 39

Transit station 949, triangulation at........ 39

Triangulation, diagram of................. 80

work in................................. 29-40

Walcott, C.D., letter of instructions by .... 11-15

67

O