The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-02-06
TEXAS BOUNDARY.
A Question tina, II Now VI International
importance.
Some Interesting Pacs Barring ON the
subj cl.
Tho Whole cas, in a Nutshell

There have been intro uced in both
houses OF Congress bills authorizing the
president 90 appoint commission 10 run
and mark the boundary line between po..
ton OF the Indian Territory and the ttate 81
Texas, IN connection VITA similar COM
mission appointed by Texas, During tue
last congress the senate passed similar
bill, but DO was UOt acted on by the house
The house committee on tho territories ms
reported IN favor OF the appointments OF the
commission on the part OF the United states,
and tho hill containing the necessary pro-
visions In now on the calendar ana
II will probably DO disposed oil ~ ga early
day The Texas legislature IN los3 pass :
an net authorizing the, governor o. lha'
state 10 appOint a commission 10 act Ia con-
junction with o. Federal commission Tor the
purpose above Indicated.
This bound ny controversy, says Warh-
ington telegram % tho Missouri Repun.'
can, has been pending Tor twenty-five
wears, On the one hand Texas c'aim3 that
the boundary line between "a part OF the
Indian territory and that state is What Is
now known rs the north fork of Red river
mn to the degrees Of longitude
i0O west from I,oHdon aud % west from
Washington, and, on the other hand, II Is
claimed by the United States that the
true boundary Is what Is known as the
tory lying between these Two streams Is
that which Is in dispute, and IL IL known a5
Greer county ~ Texas ana 80
designated on the maps Of tho state. Tho
extent OF the disputed land is about 2, 100
square miles The issue between Texas
and the government grows out OF different
Interpretations of the treaty Ol 1919 be-
tween the United States and Spain and the
trsaty OF 1923 between the United States
and Mexico with reference to the boundary
line.
The repor, OF the house committee on
the territories says so much OF these trea-
ties AZ is pertinent reads rs follows: The
boundary line between the two countries
west of the Mississippi shall begin on the
Gulf of Mexico at the mouth Of the river
Sabine, In the sea, continuing north along
the western bank of that river to the thirty.
second degree OF latitude, thence by a line
due north to the degree OF latitude where
II strikes the Rio R)XO of Natchilochcs
or Red River, then following the course
of the Rio RoNl westward 10 the degree Of
longitude 100 west from London AID
% from WASHINGTON, the whole
being as laid down IN Heish's map Of tho
United States, published a. Philade phia,
improved TO the lst OF January, 1878"
Texas vas admitted into the union upon
this boundary line 27th OF December, 1915 }
The said Melsh map Is now on file IN the
state department, and upon 10 only one
steam 10 laid down as Red river, and that is
shown TO he continuous stream, without
fork or tributaries unlil alter % passes Tar
beyond the aaid meridian. At the dates Ut
said treaties but one stream was known as
Red river.
Subsequent explorations have discovered
the fact that there exists two streams
north aud south forks Of the Red river
which flow together before said degree O
longitude is reached, and the point OF con
troyersy is, which OF those streams is the
Red river contemplated and Intended by
said treaties, las laid down on Melish''
map BY the legislature of Texas thi.
territory has b9en indicated as an integral
mart Of the state defined and designated y!
Greer county. IL has been placed IN lane
districts. Its vacant and inappropriate
public domain has been set aparI-one-hol
for public schools for the education OF chill
dren in Texas, without reference to race Of
color, and the other for the payment Of tn
state debt. IL has been placed IN judicia
distrlcts. IL has been included in state
senatorial and representative districti, ant
isa part OF the Eleventh congressional dis
trict OF that state.
dicted in tue state district court Of Wheele
county, Texas 10 which the territory nov
In dispute had by statute been attached TO
judicial purposes), for the murder OF on
Brison, committed in Greer county. Tn
defendant was brought TO trlal. "A plea
the jurisdiction of the court was by him en-
tered upon the ground that Greer count
was not part OF Texas, nor subject 70 II
Jurisdiction. The district court, Hon
Frank Willis Judge, oyerruled the plea
held that Greer county was part OF Texas
and that her courts had cognizlnce OF tn
offenses therein committed. Irwin wa
convicted OF murder in the first degree, hi
punishment assessed by the jury at i'm
prisonment in the penitentisry for litt
sentenced accordingly and is now serving
life term in the state prison oil Texas.
In still more recent case before the sam
Judge IL was sought by parties ownin
property in Greer county to resist the pay
Inent OF taxes 10 the authorities of Texas
and by iniunc ion TO restrain the collectlo
thereof, because it was alleged that Gree
county was part Of the Indian territory
The court, upon hearing, dissolved the IL
junction and held that the assessment an
collection OF taxes in tho said territory b
officials OF Texas was legal, thus again d'
Gliding in favor of the jurisdiction and do
minion of Texas over tue tract oil countr
in controversy. This will serve TO slo'
with what earnestn,ss the claim OF Iexa
is asserted. On the other hand, 1t is mail
tanned with equal earnestness by the secr'
tary ofthe interior that the territory in col
troyersy is part Of the Indian TERRITORY
and much has been rected by the depar
ment of the interior in support OF the clan
of the United States.