, 1860-12-21
Tho Northwest Boundary.


On the 7th inst. Gov McGnL sent the
following interesting communication to the
Legislature p
Executive OFFICE,
Olympia, Dec. !, 1860.
Hon. LYMAN SHAFFER .r
Speaker qfhs House Of Representatives.
SIR:-The interest naturally felt by the
citizens Of Washington Territory, as well as
The Executive, in the prosecution of the
survey Of the boundary between the United
States and British Possessions, induced mo
to solicit information rs to the progress Of
that work, and l nave now the honor to
submit the following statement
In consequence Of the deusely wooded
and mountainous character Of the country
generally, along the line Of the 49th par
allel, between the Gulf of Georgia and the
Rocky Mountains, the Joint Commission,
at the commencement Of their operations,
instead Of undertaking to mark the boun-
Diary throughout its whole extent, decided
10 con6ne its determination and demarcatiOn
to important points at convenient intervals
such as its intersection with permanent
trails; the crossing Of rivers or streams Of
considerable size, or any striking feature Of
the country-except over such portion Of the
earth's surface as might be deemed suitable
for settlement, or such ns indicated the
existence Of mineral resources, where, il was
agreed, to mark the line more minptely.
In accordance with this arrangement,
points Of the 49th parallel have been de.
termined astronomically and otherwise, BY
the United States and British Commission
ers, from the Gulf OF Georgia to the Co
lumbia river, at intervals averaging twenty
miles, and these points have been connect
ed by on accurate survey along, or as near
y along the line as the rugged character Of
the ground would permit embracing the
Typographical features Of the frontier for q
considerable distance 90 each side Of the
line. Stone monuments have been placed
at the various points thus determined. east
Of the Cascade Mountains and on It's vest
ern slope and where these points are ID
the woods or in the vicinity Of woods, a
vista Of from twenty 10 thirty feet has been
opened along the line on each side Of the
monument, 50 as TO mark the boundary
distinctly as far as the character Of the
gropud rendered Il important or desirahlo
to designate Il Between the Gull Of
Georgia and the western base Of the Cas-
cade Mountains, the line has been marked
by cut through the heavy timber,
throughout which iron monpinenis viii Be
placed at intervals Of a mile or thercabouia
Eastward Of the Columbia river, points
have been determined and marked By the
United States Commissioners, as follows
Where the 49th parallel intersecn the east
and west bends Of the Kootenay The
Mooyle river, tributary Of the Kootenay
within the bend the Flathead or ClarRs
Fork, the Nish.e-nehu, tributary Of tho
Flatbead, at the base Of the Rocky noun
tains; aud party (not yet heard ,from)
were engaged late in October 10 an AZ
tempt to ascertain and mark 0 poini Of the
line on the divide between the waters Of
the Columbia and Saskatchewan rivers
the eastern terminus Of the boundary line
Of Washington Territory. From previous
Typographical reconDoissances It Is probai
bic that this point viii be found TO be mac
cessible 7''
The British Commission have marked
points between the Columbia river and
west bend. .of the Kootenay, and next year.
will continue 10 mark intermediale points
between those fixed BY the United States
Commission east Of the Columbia.
Between the Similkameen and the Co
lumbia, the country presents more favora-
ble ground for the demarcation Of the line;
and the discovery Of gold, and large col.
lection Of miners IN that region, have deter.
mined the joint Commission to mark that
portion Of the line with stone monuments,
at intervals Of a mile, or thereabouts &C.
cording to the circumstances.
/ have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully,
TTrShy M Mcf1ur z