The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-19
IS SUMAS IN CANADA?
British Columbia Boundary
Line Again Questioned.
AN OVERLAP OF 500 YARDS.
Agitation Begun Against Montana's
Four Thousand Cinnamon.
The Decayed Corpse Of Suicide round
AN OVERLAP OF 500 YARDS.
The Decayed Corpse Of Suicide Found
Near Anacortes-A Skagit County
Man Killed While Loading a She'll
The walla WaIla Elopement.

VANCOUVER, Is. u, NOV. lS-tSpeclal. +
Attention is again called TO the dispute as to
the correctness of the international boun-
dary line between British Columbia and
Washington, by statement made by Rob
ert Stevenson, of Chilliwhack, one of the
earliest settlers in this Western country.
Mr.. Stevenson states that when the boun-
dary line was run in 1S60-61, a serious mis-
take had been made either by the British
engineers or by the Americans. The
latter worked west, whilst the British
worked east from Point Roberts, the
two parties meeting near Osoyoos. where
Mr.. Stevenson was then stationed as a
customs officer for the colony, then GOV
erned by Sir James Douglas. In compar-
ing notes it was found that the two parties
had overlapped each other by about 300
yards for a distance of several miles. Each
had cut a clearance of 100 feet wide in the
green bush, which is distinguishable even
to this day. Attention having been called
10 the matter last winter by an American
engineer, Mr.. Stevenson expresses surprise
that nothing has yet been said of the affair
hy the governments interested. He says
the matter was hushed up at the time
in the belief that the error would
be rectitied shortly. The parties in charge
of the surveys were well known to Mr..
Stevenson, and they stated repeatedly that
the British engineers had planted the
initial iron post at Point Roberts some
300 yards further north than it should
have been and that the demarcations of
the 10th parallel for distance of at least
300 miles is out by 300 yards, and that
considerable portion of Blaine and
nearly the whole of Sumas City
rightfully belongs to this province. Mr..
Stevenson appears to be thoroughly
familiar with the subject, and gives
many incidents connected with the
troubles which the discovery of the blum
der occasioned in the Osoyoos district,
which was then looked after by the late
Judges Cox and Haynes, both of whom
frequently discussed the situation with
Mr.. Stevenson. At one time fully 5000
miners were working in the district just
named, and it was found to be difficult
matter to collect customs duties or miners
dues from these in consequence of the un-
certainty of the ownership of the section.
The subject, now that it has been ventil-
ated, is one which should receive attention
from the government of Canada, this
province and the United States.
VICTORIA, Nov. lS.-[Special. THE fol-
lowing extract is made from Stevenson's
interesting article in tomorrow's CoIonist:
On the 18th OF April this year an article ap-
peared commenting on the statement of Ensign
Edward Moaies, of the American service, that
the 10th parallel had not been strictly followed
when the engineers OF Great Britain and the
United States were engaged in laying down the
line of demarcation between the respective
countries. | have waited all this time to
:,
but as nothing seems to come of it / will
give plain statement of what know concern
ing the affair. In September of 1850 was gold
mining on Rock creek, when the American en-
gineers and British engineers met near Bound
ary creek, the British engineers coming from
the West and the Americans from the East. The
parties themselves met, but their surveys did
not by over 800 yards. The British line was
north. Each party kept on, and before they
ceased operations the two lines had
Tapped fully thirty miles At first
il was presumed that the Americans
were in error, and some of Uncle Sans subjects
built stores close up to Northern, at Boundary
creek, and called the place Anericantowu At
the present writing no trace exists of tho place
except the remains of some stone chimneys
These storekeepers brought their goods in from
Portland and The Dalies. They would pay no
duty to our customs and Judge Cox could not
enforce payment. That winter commissioner
was appointed by each government, and they
met near 0soyoos lake in April, 1861 | was at
that time custom house officer on Osoyoos lake.
| rode over frequently to see the commissioners
as their work seemed to be principally done at
night. Each party had one astronomer. At the
end of six weeks or so the work was completed
and the decision was that the Americans were
right TO foot The British then commenced TO
pun down their stone monuments, but they
could not put up the trees that were
cut down for 100 feet in width along
the survey line, and to this day anyone may see
two avenues cut through the forest, each 100
feet wide, running parallel and over 800 Yards
apart OF course this can only be seen where
the line runs through belts of timber The
whole thing was kept very quiet, and there are
few living who know anything of the mistake,
aud during these thirty years never once saw
it mentioned in the dispatches, but nevertheless
it is the truth, and ii any party
doubts this statement will agree
20 show him l00-foot cuts through
the timber and also the demolished stone
monuments ami failing 10 do so | will forfei,
500. Now, were two mistakes made, or did the
British engineers first make a mistake at Point
Roberts ana carry it through for fully 200 miles?
NV belief is that there was only one mistake
made, and that il was at She starting place
viz, Point Roberts, and that the whole
boundary line is wrong clear through
from there to Osoyoos lake On a proper
re-spryey, would the United States give IL
back to Us, or would they claim that thirty
wears peaceab possession gave them a right 10
il? The American engineer who laid out the
town of Blaine openly stated that most of the
fown was in British territory and it is an open
secret amongst the population of that thriving
little community that they are living on British
soil, and strip OF land 800 miles long is well
worth looking after.