Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-29
MEXICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION.

since the continuation OF Mr.. BARTLETT as
Commissioner for running the boundary line be-
tween the United States and Mexico, he has been
busiy occupied in organizing his corps Of En-
gineers, Surveyors, &c. which is to constitute the
Commission and we now learn that it has been
completed.
The point of departure as we have before stated,
has been changed from the Pacific side to the Rio
Grande. The Commissioners of the United States
and Mexico viii meet at Ell Paso, on the first of
November, when the survey Of the boundary will
be resumed. The plan, we understand, is to begin
by tracing the line westward. The treaty of Gau-
dalupe Hidalgo provides for running the line as
follows:
Beginning at the point where the Rio Grande
strikes the southern boundary of New Mexico
: thence westwardly, along the whole southern
boundary of New Mexico, (which runs north of
ton; thence northward, along the western line Of
New Mexico, until it intersects the first branch of
the river ella, or if it should not intersect any
branch of that river then to the point on the said
line nearest to such branch, and thence in direct
Zine TO the same"
The determination of this line is the most diff.
cult part Of the whole survey, il extends along an
imaginary line, which has been the boundary be-
tween the States of chihuahua and New Mexico
since the earliest settlement of the country But,
as nothing is known of the country along this line,
and as the maps all differ in defining it, it may
prove serious obstacle at the outset The treaty,
however, will tend to remove some of the obstacles,
as it provides for the boundary as laid down in
Disturnells map of Mexico, published in ls47,
which map, we believe, is a Mexican map, re-
printed in New York, with some additions After
striking the river ella, the difficulties as far as deter
mining the line are overcome. This is natural
boundary, and the Commissioners will only have to
trace this river to its junction with the Colorado
near the head of the Gulf of California. After
completing this portion of the line, the Commission
ers will return to Ell Paso and trace this river some
twelve hundred miles, until it mngles its waters
with those Of the Gulf of Mexico.
This will be the most extensive line of surveys
ever made in the. United States; extending more
than two thousand miles, from the Atlantic TO the
Pacific, and mostly through country scarcely
known, except by the rapid march of an army,
without any opportunity to examine its resources.
To accomplish such work, beyond the bounds
Of civilization, where for seven or eight hundred
miles there exists neither village nor hamlet, and
where the lords of the soil still maintain their indie
pendence, in numbers and in strength far SURPRISING
that of any tribe east of the Rocky Mountains, is
task not unattended with difficulties. The organi.
cation Of a party of eighty or a hundred men, con.
sisting of engineers, surveyors, and their assist
ants, and large body of mechanics and laborers,
to take the field for two or three years. is matter
reqairing much preparation.
In regard TO the organization of the Commission,
we learn that it will consist of three complete and
separate parties Of engineers, surveyors, and their
attendants. One Of these is to run and mark the
boundary between the United States and Mexico,
agreeably TO the treaty; the others to make exami-
nations, surveys, and run lines of level from the
Rio Grande to the Pacific, as required by the sixth
article of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidago, which
provides for the examination of the country, and
the collection of information relative to the con-
structon Of" road, canal, or railway
Such an examination as is contemplated in this
article must be an accurate survey, to be of any
value. MILITARY reconnaissance was Mduc ny
Colonel Emory, in his rapid march with General
Kearny which, as far as it goes, is very good; but
no examination was made beyond the line Of march,
as it was not possible hence, we are in total gnor
ance as to the practicabilty of communication
across for either road or railway. 1t is posi-
BILE that an accurate survey of the country both
sides of the ella, as provided for in the treaty, may
open to us valleys which may present direct and
practicable route to California. If it should prove
practicable for railway, then the most serious OBJ
stace is obvated in the construction of the great rail-
way connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific. From
the Rio Grande, this great channel Of communication
whether mere road or railway, might be connect
ed with the contemplated railroad TO Missouri, Ark
ansas or Texas, as might be found most expedient
1t is to be hoped that the opportunity which will
be presented by the slow movements Of the engi-
neers necessary in an accurate examination of the
extensive region north and south Of the ella, may
be embraced to send corps of scientific men to
the Commission. This corps should
consist of skilful biologists and mineralogists Boz
tanists naturasts, artists, &C. 1t is of the highest
importance that we should know, as soon as posi-
BILE, what are the resources Of the vast and unex-
pored region lying north of the ella, between the
Rio del Norte and the Pacific. Much of it is