Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-27
The Nor,bwestern boundary.


1t is not impossible that our northwestern
boundary may become question as vexed.
as productive Of discussion, and as d ticult Of
solution, a. the northeastern boundary, at last
40 happily settled in the Ashburton treaty.
The northwestern boundary seemed to be set
tied in perfectly simple manner by the trea-
ty OF June Is, 1876 II vas tbere described
as running along the 49ih parallel OF north
latitude, westward, go ihe middle OF the
channel which separates the continent from
Nancouvers Island, and thence southcrlY
through the middle of the said channel, and
Of Fuca's straits, to the Pacif; Ocean" Inc
general notion plainly is that the 49.h parall-
ell shall form the boundary, except as regards
Vancouver's Island, which belongs exclusive
ly to Great Britain "the middle OF the chan
mel which separates the continent from Van.
couver's Island" being the boundary at that
place.
But it proves that Vancouver's Island is not
the only island in those parts. There are sew
eral other islands, smaller, yet OF considerable
size, fertile, heavily wooded, and likely to be
valuable. These islands lie 10 the waters be-
tween tue continent and Vancouver's Island,
so that there is OF course difficulty IN saying
ton is, whether these islands are TO he regard
ed as apeendages of Vancouver Island, or OF
the man land? The treaty speaks Of the
middle of the channel which separates the
continent from Vancouver's Island if this
be interpreted as meaning that boundary
line is to be drawn equidistant from the
shore of the continent on the one hand and
Vancouver's Island on the other, the line
would probably divide some of the smaller is
lands putting part OF each into separate ju-
risdictiOns, maDifostly announcement ar
rangement, and opposed TO the obvious spirit
of the treaty which refused to divide even the
large island OF Vancouver. If 1t be held that
the princiral channel must be taken as the
guide, il may be nice question OF geography
to decide which channel is the wider aud the
deeper. 10 short, 1t Is q case where geOgra-
ply and diplomacy have involved the two
great nations, and some good'nature and
com nonsense must at last be invoked to
settle the matter, as 10 the case Of the north
eastern boundary.
Meanwhile the British have two men-of-war
in the channel, TO accompany the party
engaged, with a similar party sent by our
own government to Establish the initial point
This preliminary point has been determined;
but in running the line inland, "a difficulty is
experienced that will doubtless necessitate a
deviation from the original plan. twas de-
signed to make broad path through the
woods upon the line, with monuments at sta
ed intervals, as was done in the case Of the
northeastern boundary. But on the north
western frontier, the woods are so dense--the
timber 80 large and heavy-that the prosecu-
ton of this design would involve an immense
expenditure OF time and money; An underta-
king indeed, nothing less than making road
across that part Of the continent 10 face OF
physical obstacles Of the most -eri us nature.
1t is now proposed, accordingly, to om.s the
pat upon the boundary connecting the mon
umcnts, but to establish them in convenient
places, at intervals OF % ar 80 miles, by OBJ
servatiOns Of latitude, which it is thought can
be obtained with sufficient correctness for the
purpose, with comparative ease. Even this
modification Of toe plan Of running the line,
will doubtless require three or four years for
its accom- plishment.-B Boston AdU.