The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-18
A Joint Engineering Commission to at
Once Mark Out the Frontier.
Have the Hudson Bay Company
Trespassed Upon Ameri-
can SOil2
Another Chance for Diplomatic Difficulty
with Great Britain.
Three Years Required for the Task Of Survey
ing-Provision Made by Congress for Defray-
ing Expenses-Past History Of North
west Official Surveying Expeditions.

ing Expensos-fan History Of North
west Official Surveying Expeditions.
few days since 1t was announced by tele-
graph that the British government had ap-
pointed Captain Cameron as Joint Commits
si0ner to run the boundary line through
the forests lakes and rivers from an initial
point to the Rocky Mountains. The boundary lines
between the United States and the British posses
sions are well defined on the eastern and northern
frontiers from the Atlantic to Lake OF the Woods In
the northern part OF Minnesota. The treaty OF ls46
fixed the dividing line between the colonies and
this country on the forty ninth parallel from Lake
OF the Woods to the Pacific; but comparatively little
has been done up to the present time TO determine
the northwestern line and place monuments on the
ground. The dispute as to the possession OF San
Juan Island did not attain any Importance until
1855, when Mr.. Marcy instructed Governor
Stevens, Of Washington Territory, to allow mat
tiers 10 stand, as the question was oc.
cupying the attention Of the two govern
ments. The treaty Of 1s46 provided for the appoint
ment OF joint commission to run the boundary
but 1t was not until 1856 1857 that anything was
done in the premises. The border country before
and at that time was but little known and what
was known did not commend 1t to favorable no.
tice. 1t was rugged supposed to be sterile. with
most inhospitable climate, and inhabited by nu-
merous hostile bands OF Indians. There were no
roads, and rapid and treacherOus rivers were be-
lieved to run through the country On the south Of
the line are now the prosperous Territories OF
Washington, Idaho, Montana and Dakota On the
north side Of the line is British Columbia bounded
west by the Pacific Ocean, and Manitoba north Of
Minnesota. The latter was the theatre Of q rebel
lion, headed by Riel, few years SINCE against the
itv NJ tho
ground.
WORK OF THE FIRST JOINT COMMISSION.
About fifteen years since joint commission was
organized to run the northwestern boundary,
under the provisions Of the Oregon Treaty. Mr..
Archibald Campbell was appointed Commissioner
on the part Of the United States and Captain Pre-
vost on the part OF the British government. A
scientific party, under command of Lieutenant
NOW Major GeneraD John G. Parke, United States
Engineers, acting with an English party, CON-
menced work at the northern point OF Washington
Territory south OF the Gulf Of Georgia, which they
prosecuted until 1860 towards the Rocky Mountains
on the orty-ninth parallel. The American expedi-
tion consisted Of two astronomical, two surveying
and one reconnaissance parties, with company OF
regulars as an escort. During 1858 reconnoissances
were made as far east as Skagt and astronomical
observations necessary for marking parallel in the
in the valley Of Childoyuck completed. In 1859 OBJ
servatlons were taken and latitude determined and
marked to rivers Pasayten, Smulkaymeen, Osoyoos,
Nehoilalputkwa on to third crossing OF the Column
bia River.
OCCUPATION OF SAN JUAN.
While this work was in progress General Harvey
took military possession of San Juan, on the ground
that the Vancouver Island authorities had forcibly
arrested an American citizen on the island, and on
the further ground that the territory was the prop
n os.vhk
companies OF troops, 500 men, with twelve heavy
guns on the island in presence OF fve English men,
Months who ssn Bas hs au fy
settled by the interposition Of General Scott,
who proceeded to the Pacific for the
drawn the military escort from Lieutenant Parke
to strengthen the garrison at San Juan, and the
eV w hayS out s icy
monuments, the boundary from the Pacific Ocean to
the east side Of the Rocky Mountains. The line on
the Rocky Mountains, distance of $50 miles, has
not yet been determined, though the Manitoba
Captain Pope took observations at Pembina in
1850 and fixed the exact spot where the fOrtyninth
parallel crosses Red River
RECENT ACTION OF CONGRESS.
Important questions which have arisen during the
past few years, particularly questions growing out
ton in the Dominion of Canada have made it desr-
able to have the work commenced by Lieutenant
Parke flnished-that is carrying it on from the
Congress passed an act giving the necessary author
ity, and made the necessary appropriation. AS
Secretary of War to entrust the work to the Engi-
neer Bureau OF the Army, instead Of placing the
survey under civil control The following officers,
under the act in question, have been detailed for the
purpose Lieutenant Colonel Francis U. Farquhar,
United States Engineers Lieutenant Colonel VIM.
j. Twining, United States Engineers; Lieutenants
James r. Gregory and John H. weeden, United
States Engineers; LeutenantsF. w. Greene, Fourth
Artillery, and c. Pafrey, First Artillery These.
ofYlp oorn nu In VA In
structions and preparing for the expedition. The
English party are expected In few days.
ORGANIZATION OF PRESENT COMMISSION
The organization OF the Commission 1t Is under
stood, is to consist OF two astronomical and two
was found necessary by Lieutenant Parke in 1850
and the military escort will be dispensed with on
the present OCCASION The country along the north
ern boundary Of Minnesota and the adjoining west
ern territories IL now wen known, and military
posts and settlements have been long established
there. The four engineer and two artillery officers
detailed for the service will I'LL the places OF COM
missioner, chief astronomers and surveyors There
are to be six assistants to the latter, besides sur
geon and quartermaster. The rest Of the expedition
IL to consist OF six men at $75 per month, twenty
six men at $4s per month, four cooks at 500 per
$&5, eighty pack mules, or twelve wagons and fifty
six mules The party is to be supplied with subsist-
ence by the government at the rate OF MY cents
CHARACTER OF COUNTRY WEST OF ROCKY NOUN
TAINS
Lieutenant Parke found during his operations
west OF the Rocky Mountains the country he ira
versed mountainous, and with the exception OF
few localities eminenty unfit for occupation or set
tlement The mountains were rugged and precip
tous and attain great elevations, the ridges and
peaks being covered with perpetual snow. Glaciers
were discovered; and during the months OF June
and July snow to the depth of two feet was en-
countered on every route OF travel. heavy
growth OF pine and FIR abounds throughout the en-
tire line, from the Gulf OF Georgia several hundred
miles inland. The thermometer fell to ten degrees
below zero, and the animals suffered severely. In
1859, when the escort was withdrawn by General
Harvey, Lieutenant Parke was forced 10 seek early
winter quarters at Fort COville.
NEW LINE FIXED AT PRMBINA IN 1870.
The question OF fixing the boundary along the
forty mn tn parallel east OF the Rocky Mountains,
was raised In 1870 by complaint made by the Lieu
tenant Governor Of Manitoba through the British
Minister, that party OF United states engineers
had in selecting site for military station at Penn
bina made series OF astronomical observations
which threw the Hudson Bay COmpany's fort into