Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-30


The actual taxable wealth of the dis
put.d district Is now, perhaps, In ex-
cess Of 81 100000, which will be rap
idly and largely increased II
the title Of this state is confirmed
and stable government established
there. Such a source Of taxable wealth
Is worth an effort TO acquire.
THE GAzETTE has explained the
nature Of the controversy between the
state of Texas and the government OF
the United States in regard TO Greer
county, and from this it appears that
the only question to be determined to
settle the dispute is, which branch, the
northern or southern, OF Red river,
was intended when the treaty of 1919
between the United States and Spain
was made, which lays down the chan
mel of Red river as the boundary line?
The authorities OF Texas contend that
this channel was the North fork Of Red
river, and every evidence supports
this view. That treaty specifies the
Red river las laid down in Mellsh's
map of the United States, published
at Philadelphia, improved to the first
of January, 1881 1t could not have
been the South fork that was intended,
for il was not laid down on Mellsh's
map, and indeed was not known to ex-
list until ls49, and was not explored
until 1852. So far as known in 1919
and for long time subsequent to that
date, the northern branch of Red river
was the main channel, and the one
most evidently referred 10 in the
treaty making Red river a boundary
line. For the federal government to
uphold an opposite position is not only
absurd but unjust to one of the states
of the Union.
Several efforts have been made on
the part of Texas to have congress take
notice of the matter and bring it to
settlement, but so far without avail.
The same question of boundary was a
disputed point as long ago as 1860,
when Gov. Houston appointed Maj.
VIM. II. Russell to survey and estab-
lish the line on the part of Texas. In
his letter of instructions to Maj. Rus
SELL the governor said: "rhe tradi-
tional history of Indian tribes along its
banks. the evidence of Marcy's survey,
and the prominent features laid down
in Melish's map, alike establish the
fact that the North fork is the main
prong of Red river;n sin the prosecu-
ton, then, Of the survey you will be
guided by Melish's map, and insist
upon the North fork as the main Rio
Roxo, or Red river, and as the true
boundary line as described in the
treaty Of lsl9.n Gen. Houston's inh-
mate acquaintance with the Red river
qualified him to speak with special
authority of that river as boundary,
and 1t is to be observed that he in
structs the Texas commissioners to In
sist upon the North fork of Red river
being taken as the dividing line.
Congress went so far toward recognize
ing the claim OF Texas TO Greer county
as to sever it, by special enactment
in 1870, from the Indian territory,
and made it part of the Northern ju-
dicialdistrict of Texas. Senator Maxey
introduced a resolution in the United
States senate in 1882, providing for the
appointment of a commission on the
part of the United States, which was
to act with like commission on the
part of Texas in investigating and de-
termining the true boundary line and
establishing the status Of Greer county.
The bill passed the senate, but failed
in the house. A like bill was again
introduced last winter, and again IL
was defeated in the house, chiefly
through the opposition of Congress.
men Reed of Maine and Chace of
Rhode Island, whose inveterate hostil.
ity TO any measure promising an adj
vantage to the South at the expense of
the United States, prompted them to
fight 1t with extreme bitterness. Our
representatives in congress will likely
bring up the subject again this winter,
and make another effort to secure ac-
ton that will confirm Greer county
finally to Texas or place it in the In
dian territory. 1t would be better fol
the settlers in that district that it be
turned over TO the Indian territory
than to go on as they now are, with
! their citizenship underlined, and the
likelihood OF having to pay taxes t.
both the parties contending for them