The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-11
THE NEW MEXICAN QUESTION.

interesting Lecture Of J. n. Bartlett, Esq
Before tho Geographical Society, ON TN
boundary Line, dc.
The Geographical and Historical Societies OF this cit
have taken high rank. In no part OF the worl
have many important and valuable papers been rea(
before these Institutions during the past season. Til
paper read at the May meeting Of the Biographies
Society was on the Mexican boundary and the adjacen
country, "by John r. Bartlett, Esq, the late Commis
aioner.
MR.. BARTLETr's LECTURE.
Having been invited to read paper before the Geo
graphical Society of New York. explanatory Of the Mex
can boundary and Of the region contiguous that bouu
dairy, beg leave 20 present the following statement
had the honor Of being appointed Commissioner oil
the part of the United States under the fifth article
the treaty of Guadalupe Hdalgo, in June 1850 This
tice requires that Commissioner and Surveyor shall
be appointed by each for the purpose Of
ming and marking the line Of boundary separating thu
United States from the republic Of Mexico.
Ny instructions from the Secretary Of the Interior
feriDg to the boundary to be surveyed repetition
of the words embraced in the fifth article of the treaty
and follows -
the IN
as
osies shaaa, Than
New thence wsstw.rSy along the Whole southsrn
tho
e. po o s sas
a a e
said river until empes into the Rio Colorado thence
Upper and cafOrna to oSssn as
In continuation, the Secretary says
This portion Of the line only be by exam
receive aid In the determination of this line and
ss shss s s.s aas
laid down on the map Of the United Mexican States pub
when treaty You arc fur
nished with certified copy OF this map.
In conformity with my instructions, proceeded to Ell
Paso del Nore point the Rio Grande at which place
the joint commission had agreed to meet on the first
Wednesday in November 1850 for the purpose OF resum
ing the survey (Which had been commenced California;
at he point where the Rio Grande strikes the southern
boundary of New Mexico"
To ASCERTAIN this point thsn was the rst labor to 20
performed. glance at the map 10 which the commits
boners confined shows the southern boundary of
New Mexico where it strikes the Rio Grande TO be ABOUT
oIehird Of degree north OF the thirty parallel
1t also appears to be eight miles north Of the
town Of ii Paso that town is laid down On the man
Int aicuty occurred at the very outset and before
TINS point was nxed In consequence Of two in the
map.
The FIRST Of these was the position OF FL Paso,
which is there laid down in 80 deg 10 min, north lai
tuce while its true position the ground Is in 81 deg
As min showing difference of about 80 mixes or half
tsgres This it 70 true did no. ass! or alter the posi-
mode of determining it. It merely placed that town fur.
ther from the line than it appeared to be by the map
The second error was in the position of the Rio Grande
which Is about two degrees Of longitude too far East
There were other errors in the map but involving
difficulties to prevent agree nent as to the dsmar,a
ton of the southern boundary of New Mexico except
those referred to.
By reference the treaty map it will be seen that by
southern boundary Of New Mexico degree instead
Of three degrees, IS shown on the correct map The
where the Rio GraAde strikes the southern boundary Of
New Mexico extends "westwardy along the whole
Southern boundary Of New Mexico, (Which north Of
the town called Paso to its Western termination Tho
tent in degrees miles west Of the river not stated 1t
commended by the Mexican Commit ssoner til at the
in the position of the river should not change the
boundary That the longitude Of the Western termua
ton Of the southern boundary Of New Mexico where 1t
placed on the treaty map should be determined by astro
nomica the invarabe method cases where
no natural object, such as town, mountain river,
is pointed out as sft He insisted that the United
States possessed the two degrees the side Of
the Hio Grande and the western it had all that
the treaty demanded.
by astronomical observation had not discovered the
roneous position Of the Rio Grandc to have done which
would have given New Mexico but instead of three
degrees Of longitude for its southern boundary
then demanded three degrees west f. ON the initial
point the Rio Grande for the southern boundary Of
New Mexico, believing that the words Of the treaty
authorized to do; it says the line sha extend
wetwardy along the whole southern boundary Of New
General Condo, the Mexican Commissioner objected to
this the ground that extension of the line three
the State Of Sonora to the extent of two degrees
in length by some twenty Ave thirty miles in BREADTH
extending south Of the river Ga which neither that
State nor the general government would consent to.
The error in the position of the town OF Fl Pase
was another obstacle, though not serious ono,
to settlement Of the boundary, for 1t
was my intention to measure the distance from the
town to the southern boundary Of New Mexico. l
disappointed in finding that the town
to the line than appeared to be by the map although
the result neither lessened extended territory
Tie map which the Commissioners obliged strictly
reason for ,ng boundary because Ell Paso was
wrongly placed on it. There is evidence that the line
was consequent to the and because one gross error
After much discussion by the two COMMISSIONS was
feared that should not be able to upon the tive
points in question, viz the initial point the Rio
Grande, where the southern boundary of New Mexico
strikes It, the extent Of that boundary Westward and
SO informed the Secretary of the Interior But General
Condo anxious was for amicabe and speedy
agreement that we might commence the i'm portant work
TO proong the southern boundary Of New Mexico three
degrees from the Rio Grande instead of limiting
1t the longitude where it is laid down on the map the
same time consented that the point where the Rio
(rande strikes the southern boundary Of New Mexico"
should be determined by it's latitude.
In accordance with this understanding resolution
was passed by the Joint Commission on the Goth Deoem
b 1885, directing the chief Of the two COM
missions viz Mr.. SalaEar the part OF Mexico and
Lieutenant Whppe the part Of the United States TO
examine the treaty map, measure from the "a parallel
boundary Of New Mexico The following is their report
In accordance with the resolutions passed on the th
inst oss meeting Of the United states and Mexican
Boundary Commission the nndersigned have this day
met for the purposes tnorein indicated
q .sss y ne uis.
into H su. parts the length Of that Of q
dssrees ana "a degrees Of north latitude.
IN similar manner we found scale OF minutes OF lon
tude for latitude which through points
southern boundary Of Now A0xico indicated upon
Then measuring the distance from the pont whore the
the Rio Crande strikes the southern boundary OF
New Mexico south the parallel Of latitude marked b de-
70 ee applying to scale Of minutes Of latitude
found the equal to ~ minutes Of This reduced
BY tables equal to 1853 metrss-2o English
miles Fl 90 geographical miles.
Finally taking the distance from the point to
the western limit Of the southern boundary of New
Mexico and applying this distance scale of minutes Of
in latitude found TO be three degrees which, in
this latitude according to Franco tables Is equal TO
zsscQ metIes-l75.2 English mes-l52 geographical
miles. .
Therefore, according this detorminson the point
where middle Of the Rio Grande strikes the southern
boundary New Mexico - minutes of north Of the
parallel Of latitude marked 90 degrees upon the map From
tie thence the southern boundary New Ncx
extends three degrees to its western termin ston