The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-06
THE BOUNDARY SURVEY CORRECT.
1t Is Absurd to Suppose That an Error
Could Have Been Made.

VICTORIA, Dec. Especial. lin regard to the
boundary matter between Canada and the
United States, ex-Mayor Carey, OF Victoria, who
was one OF the American party, says:
In the year 1888 the American boundary COM
mission arrived at PORT Roberts, in charge OF
Commander Campbell. He was accompan ed
by Captain Parke, graduate OF West Point,
who was acting as chief astronomer, and Lieu
tenant Garner, Of Washington City. The latter
had just returned from the South. where he
had been the head OF party who surveyed the
Mexican boundary. He was second astronomer
to the parry. Under these was q corps OF ex-
celiently qualified surveyors, each man
being thoroughly trained in his duties.
The body stayed ut Port Roberts for year,
ami during the whole of that time they worked
at getting at the central polRt OF the survey. At
the end OF the year the British party arrived at
Point Roberts, accompanied by body OF royal
engineers. The party Was headed by Colonel
Hawkins, Captain Hagh, chief astronomer;
Captain Darrsgh. Lieutenant (now Geuerai)
Putner and Lieutenant Wilson. now Sir Charles
wilson, OF Soudau fame. Til tell you how the
line was established. The astronomical observa-
tons by which the American party, while wait
ing for the Britishers, had established the
initial point were proved by Colonel Hawkins
to be correct, and then the two parties started
east for Point Roberts. The United States
surveyors had the finest instruments in the
world. They were imported from Austria at
great cost, and no expense was spared in pick
ing out the best and most accurate. They were
timed to under half second. The British sur
veyors had also magnificent sets of instruments,
and in addition to this the men OF both parties
were probably the most intelligent and capable
in the world for carrying out this class of work.
They were the pick of the two nations.
As the parties moved along on either side
they camped at every eight miles of the course,
and each body at once proceeded to define the
spot where the line should pass through. This
operation took from four to six weeks neither
body approaching the other till the calculations
OF both were completed Then the notes were
ompared and spot fixed on, when the parties
moved on another eight miles, where the opera
ton was repeated. The manner in which these
observations were carried out shows how
particular they were to locate the spots ex-
tree was cut down to within
four feet of the ground and the larger instru-
ments securely fixed to the stump in order to
make them perfectly stationary and under no
earth action whatever. The camps were built
in 4 semi-circle round these instruments, and
the night observations were carried on with the
greatest care and attention. Then, when the
cded on, stone monument was placed over the
spot, aud this procedure was followed out right
TO the Columbia river, and believe throughout
the whole survey. Notwithstanding the
lifelong experience and the perfect
instruments of the two parties, Mr.. Stevenson
asserts that the sextant of the captain of
vessel, "taking the sum-" and the evidence of
boundary, should have no weight against the
careful work of such men as formed the survey
party. The boundary defined at present is,
/ firmly believe. perfectly correct There has
never been any evidence TO shake the truth of
the survey from the day IL was made until now.
and knowing, as / do, the status OF the men
who carried ii out and the very great care exer-
cised with unceasing vigilance all through the
expedition, it is incredible that q mistake
should have been made.