The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-06-10
BOUNDARY COMMISSION.

June.
By the terms of their appointment,th the!
are required to run and mark the bound
AIRY according to the treaty between Spain
and the United States, OF the 22d of Feb
ruary, 1919.
The only part of the boundary not here
tofore determined is the line nOrthward
from Red river towards the Arkansas
river. BY the treaty referred to, the
boundary Is made to pass up the Sabine
river to the thirty-secord parallel OF
latitude, then north TO Red river, then up
Red river to the Tooth meridian of longi.
tude west from London, there crossing
Red river and proceeding due north to
the Arkansas river, then up said river tO
its source in latitude ~ , north, and then
west 10 the Pacific ocean, the whole be-
| ing as laid down on Melish's map of the
United States, improved to January l.
1878"
The points of controversy are: First
Whether the Tooth meridian, as laid down
on Melish's map, shall be the line of boun-
Diary northward from Red River, or snail
the Tooth meridian, DIS the same may be
scientifically acertaiped and located, be
that boundary.
Second it be conceded that the true
Tooth meridian, as it may be scientifically
determined, shall be the boundary, then,
in case that line shall cross both the north
and south fork of Red river, which is to
he deemed Red river, the north or the
south fork!
1t seems to be q fact not generally un
derstOOd, that, according to MelIsh'S map
which the treaty makes IL plat of the
boundary line, the lO0th meridian crosses
Red River about one and third degrees
east of the forks of Red river and
cuts the Arkansas river at the
point on that stream noted as the Great
Bend, and for miles skirts along the west
bank of the Negracka river, after cross
ing that stream; and this meridian is dis
tinctly laid down to the east of the Wich-
tia mountains.
If then the boun larry line is to be 'as
laid down on Melish's map" it must cross
Red river about ninety miles below the
forks of Red river, at Il point from which
line drawn due north would intersect
the Arkansas river at the Great Bend, and
this line will necessarily lie east of the
Wichita mountains, and cut off to Texas,
whole of the Indian territory. In that
event not only will Greer county fall to
Texas, but also territory within the
limits of the Indian territory large enough
for about fourteen other counties; and 1t
will not be matter of any consequence
whether the north or south fork of Red
river is the true Red river.
We suppose that the diplomatic cor
respondence between the Spanish minis
ter and John Quincy Adams, secretary of
state of the U. s., by whom the treaty was
negotiated, would throw light upon the
biect and indicate the intention Of the
treaty makers as to the location of this
line. At the time of the treaty, Spain was
claiming title to all the country west of
the Mississippi river, and the United
States we've claiming all of that territory
rs far as the Rio Grande river, and the
boundary adopted was a compromise
The comr.is sioners have doubtless been
searching into the documentary history of
the treaty and will be able to develop
facts much to the satisfaction of Texas
In case It should be conceded that the
boundary line is to be on the true
Tooth meridian, without respect to
Melish's map, the reference to that map
as a rule in the treaty would seem to be
unmeaning and foolish.
But if that concession be made, and the
true Tooth meridian be found
as it probably is, west of the
forks of Red river and west of Greer
county, then it becomes important to de-
termine which, the north or south fork,
is Red river; since if the north fork be
Red river, Greer county would be in Texas,
but if the south fork be Red river, that
county would be in the Indian territory.
If it should be found that among the old
Spanish aarchives of the government there
is record of survey from Santa Fe to
Nachitoches, made at very early day down
the south fork of Red river, in which that
stream is called White river, that docu-
ment ought to be an important factor in
the investigation of the commission, since
it would probably be the Oldest record of
the name of the south fork. If it was
called White river, and the north fork was
always known as Red river, there could
hardly be any question as to which stream
should be deemed Red river in tracing
the boundary.
PONDS EXTRACT, which sub
stitutes ease and comfort for pain and
suffering, is one of the most potent cura
tive agents known.
Governor Hill, it is rumored is preparing