The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-12-04
4istorieat.

Historical.
THE BOUNDARY SURVEY.
There having been some discussion relative to
the particulars Of the survey of the boundary be
tween Kansas and Nebraska, or rather in fixing the
base Of operations, copy Of the original report Of
Capt Thomas j. Lee, who conducted the business,
has been procured from the General Land Ofice.
We have had the document for some weeks bnt .
press Of other matter has delayed it, We now give
it publications.
Report upon the Determinaffon Of the In.
sersecti0n of the Parallel OF 40 Degrees
N. Latitude with the Missouri River.
WASHINGTON, December I'D, 1854.
SRI have the honor to report that, in obedience
to your instructions Of the Dist of October, imme-
diately repaired to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Ter
ritory, in the hope of meeting the Surveyor General
of Kansas and Nebraska, and TO procure such an
outfit as might be necessary.
Learning, upon my arrival, that Mr.. Calhoun had
left, few days before, with party of men, to be-
gin the tracing of the boundary between the two
Territories, proceeded, possible, up the
river, and fortunate in finding him at Oregon,
Mo.
From some failure of the mails, he had not been
advised Of my coming, and he informed me that -
johnson, Esq, and party Of surveyors, ETC., were
already eneamped about IA miles of, with instruc-
tons from him to determine the initial point and be-
gin the running of the line at once
Upon reaching Mr.. Johnson's camp, and confer
ring with him, thought it best, the season was
far advanced, and his daily expenses considerable,
not to additional delay by crossing the river
to establish m camp at proper point for the oser
walton, 1.-TWO days journey for teams, owing to
distance from ferryl; but, locality near his
camp offered very extensive view in all directions,
Immediately set to work. with the assistance of his
party, to fix my observatory where We then were.
The river being unusually low, an extensive sand
bar dividing the channel offered excellent sur
face for making such measurements as might be
deemed necessary TO determine point on the re-
qnred parallels when the positions Of our station be-
came known.
With this view, having scertained, by transits
with the zenith telescope the true north caused
signal TO be put up upon the sand bank at right an-
giles TO my meridian, near enough for our purpo-
ses, in the parallel of latitude within my sta
ton.
Whilst my observations for the latitude were 60
ing on, Mr.. johnson employed his party in tracing
by means Of this signal and my station combined,
true north and south line along which the requisite
northing or southing would eventually be laid off,
This being done, Mr.. Johnson's party moved their
camp to the opposite shore, to await the result of
my observations, and the 10th of November / de-
lirered to messenger sent by him letter. of which
the following is a copy:
"CANP, 10th Nov. 1854
''MY DDAR SIR IL now send you ms agreed upon
the hnal result of the observations with the zenith
telescope for the latitude of my station which is 40
deg 0 min. 1913 sec., 237l .0i yards north of the
parallel of 10 deg
THE initial point on the opposite bank will there
fore be l01 s7-lOO chains due south of the signal
liked together the sand bank in the middle of the
river"
AS the iron post have ordered, agreeably to my
Instructions to be put up at your starting point, has
not arrived, will detan you longer, but be
Obliged to you to put up such permanent mark as
yon may see nit, or as yOu may have been directed
10 do by the Surveyor General.
"On the other leaf YOU will find the separate re-
suits from which this mean was obtained. Wishing
you prosperous trip, am, etc.
Capt. L. s. Top. Engineers.
You will thus perceive that to save time, and to
keep his men employed entrusted all the measure
ments upon the ground to Mr.. johnson, combining
myself to the astronomical work.
must refer you to his report for the requisite de-
tails
Nor did deem the setting mp of the iron post so
essential as TO incur the expense Of delay Of his
party or mine for an indefinite time.
one OF my hrst duties at st. Louis was to order
the easting 10 De made and forwarded up the river,
with the least delay; but from the low stage of wa
Ter ana the ateness oil the season. the boats had be-
come SO uncertain in their trips that I had my
aouots "hetner we would get II at all tins season.
oPoh my arrival at 81 Joseph, on my return,
iouha that the casting had just been delivered there,
anu stored IL Win Messrs. Donneii, Sa1fon q Pa
SUBJECT 10 the oruer OF the surveyor GENERAL ad-
fising MIN OIL II. IL can oe planted next year. where
the department may see MT; perhaps the most suit
aoe point Wouid now oe the intersection OF the prin
cipal meridian with the boundary
A part OF your instructions suggested as desirable
that should TEST with my instruments the accura-
cy OF the solar compass IN adherng to the parallel OF
~ deg.
1t was not Mr.. Johnsons intention to rely solely
upon the solar compass in tracing his line He pro-
posed TO run a straight line perpendicular to the
meridian oil his starting point and to lay of eonp"t
I'd onsetts to the northward, to bring him back to
The parallel from which the perpendicular would
always diSerge.
ms was not, therefore, proper opportunity for
,'nctiy testing Inc accuracy Oh the Solar Compass
we TOOK OCCASION however, 70 test together the &C
,nraey OF the method he intended to adopt for COM
putting the lengths OF the required offsetts
ms instrument, with winch the following observa-
ons Tor the latitude were made, is zenith and
a Inah laval