The morning call., 1890-07-01
rom ALASKA.
Locating the Boundary Line of
British Columbia.
The Surveying Party Encounters Great Diff
cuties-Rampart House Found to Be
on American Territory.

On June 14th Of last year an expedition
started from this city under the auspices Of
the United States Coast and GeOdetic Sur
vey Office to determine the boundary be-
tween Alaska and British America. The
expedition is in charge of j. Henry Turner,
sub-assistant of the GeOdetic Survey star.
Professor Davidson has received the fol-
lowing letter from Mr.. Turner from his
camp, which is situated in latitude GO %
north, longitude 14l9 west, about 200 miles
sast Of the mouth Of the Porcupine River
where It empties into the Yukon and about
200 miles farther north than AicGrath's ex-
rediu0n on the Yukon. 1t came via VIM
nipeg, Manitoba,
CAMP COLONNA, January 10, 1890.
Professor George DGUidson-DEAR SIR: l
iclo,e herewith copy Of my letter to the SU-
irintendent bearing date OF January l, 1890.
~ eau see from ii that we have been rather
fortunale as concerns weather. The FIRST nine
81 days Of this mouth have not Improved mat
fEs II has heeu cloudy aud f0ggy the whole
ule Such Work as does nor depend the
Gather suffers no injury. I fear very much mat
Indian reports can be depended uDOu the new
5amer Arctic, inundered at the mouth OF tie
river. is a 5erous accident as ia' as The Yukon
parry Is concerned nope to send messenger
scT3ss next month. All Of my party are in good
healII, though perhaps slightly depressed IN
spirits. natural consequence OF long nights and
low temperatures. The minimum has touched
4 below, not very low considering the aitI-
hide. With kind membranes 10 all at The sub
oLice, / remain yours. respectfully,
j. HENRY TURNER, SUB Assistant.
WHAT THE PARTY HAS DONE.
The letter TO the superintendent of the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey,
mentioned in the foregoing communication,
contains a summary Of the doings OF the
party from the time of its arrival in Au-
gust, 1889, Mt the mouth of the Porcupine
River to the date of writing January l,
1890. The party is known RS the 'P0rcu-
pine River Party" Alaskan Boundary Sur
vey.
Among other things the writer says: "On
the morning Of August g. 1889, Mr.. Turner
was Informed by Captain Petersen of the
steamer Yukon that he could not ascend
the river further, and the rapidly falling
water made his safe return over the Yukon
prOblematical if he delayed longer. The
Yukon was aground ten times before reach
ing .he mouth of the river. This was due
to ignorance of the river, as within two
days of the steamers departure the river
rose at least two feet, rendering navigation
to the boundary line perfectly practicable"
The party, together with its stores, ar
rived, and were landed at point on the
river thirty-seven miles west of the bound
airy line, the latitude being so north. the
longitude 14lo west. The whaleboat Lottie
which was taken up from San Francisco,
AMI one of the Alaska Commercial Com
pany's lighters were used TO take the sup
plies up the river, Besides the services of
the members of the party, excepting ID.
kiernoff and John Meade. who were left
at the lower camp, four Indians were hired
to assist in pulling the boats.
GREAT DIFFICULTIES.
Great difficulties were encoun tered on
the trip, the current proving almost too
mnpb for the the line One
Oscar POlta, was left behind in charge Of
an Indian, having met with an accident,
On August 18th Rampant House was
reached during a thunderstorm. Observa-
ti0ns taken showed that this place was
twenty miles west Of the boundary line.
On August 18th the party started up the
river for the purpose of locating the bound
airy line and selecting a camp site. On
August nth the boundary line was Oyersh0t
through negiecting to make any obSerya-
ttons OH the preceding day. The site of the
house was finally selected at the mouth of
the Sunaghun River, the only suitable spot
for miles. Three of the party were left at
this place, and Turner and the rest Of the
party returned to Rampant House. The
whaleboat Lottie and the lighter had al
ready arrived there.
HONEST INDIANS.
Mr.. Turner cOmmends the honesty of the
I1sLIens, B,It avs they ere rapecinUs IN the
matter Of wages, demanding four skins or
81 day for each man, together with an al
lowance Of tobacco, ten crackers and mo-
lasseS.
BY September nth the party was trans
ported fully fifty miles up stream against
rapid current. A space was cleared in the
forest and house erected 50x15 feet, with
a projecting I 15x20 feet. On October 4th
the house was ready for occupation. For
astronomical observations. a log structure
ten feet square was built and the meridian
telescope put in position. On account of
the signs Of an Arctic winter the observa-
tory was placed in a sheltered position in
stead of on a hilltop. The magnetic obser-
vatory was completed on October 18th and
observations were made. The temperature
fell TO 4j0 below zero.
Up to January l, 1890, nothing had been
heard OF the Yukon party, bat it was
learned that sub-Assistant McGrath had
reached his destination. 1t was learned
that the new steamer Arctic mad run ashore
and lost all her cargo or supplies which
were destined for the Yukon party. No
journals, accounts OF results were sent with
the letter to the Superintendent, and it is
not known when the party will return