The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-17
SURVEYED THE LINE.
American Engineers Back From
Alaska Boundary.
THEY HAVE GOT IT DOWN FINE.
Complete Information for international
Commission-No Canadians Met
A Salvation ship.

United States steamer Patterson. OF the
coast and geodetic survey. returned from
her summer cruise in Alaskan waters
yesterday with the company OF experts
sent out by the United States government
10 make a detailed survey OF that part
Of the boundary line in dispute which Is
in the neighborhood OF Portland channel.
The party is staying at the Rainier
Grand and consists OF z. +. Dickens.
senior officer: 2. A. Welker, second in
command: C. c. Yates and .. B. French,
aides, and r. L. Livingston and Henry A.
Grady, extra observers and recorders.
They left here in April. and have since
been engaged in making survey TO de-
termine the general location OF points on
the southern line OF the international
boundary TO furnish data for the bound
airy commission in locating the real
boundary. They had three astronomical
stations, one at Port Simpson. another
on Mary's island. and the third at the
head Of Portland channel. These were
for making astronomical observations for
the location of initial points for The work
\ triangulation was first made connect
ing the two first stations. and vas then
carried TO the third. from which tri-
angulation was carried 10 the Efty-sixth
parallel, which is the turning point OF
the boundary and what rural surveyor
would term a disputed corner"
None of the Canadian surveying parties
were met with. One stopped at Port
Simpson early in the season, but went
north TO Chi.kat.
The survey made discovered several
minor discrepancies in the older surveys.
as is usually the case. for the reason that
the latter are merely preliminary, and in
this instance they were made only with
a view TO the coast line with no pur-
pose of combating possible dispute. as
to boundary lines. The work Of the party
Sx~-f "A fS CafI hnA
thorough on every point in this southern
part of the boundary line, and will I'M
doubtedly prove of great value in the set
Element of the controversy between the
two countries.
Messrs. Dickens and. ,Welker, of the
geodetic survey, have by special detail
been engaged in the Alaska boundary
survey for the past two or three years.
Both gentlemen selted last evening that
reports of inactivity of American sur
veyors We're entirely unfounded, and that
the work done by them was much more
thorough and complete than that of the
Canadians.
1t has been stated by recent arrivals
from Alaska that the Canadian survey
consists merely of mass of Photographic
views, which, as an actual basis for
boundary line. are of little value. On the
other hand. the Americans are reported to
have had parties of thirty men and up
a report, based upon the most accurate
checked field notes, taken by the latest
improved instruments, and supplemented
by photographs.
The Patterson has been making annual
trips to the North, carrying coast survey
parties. She has spent this summer be-
tween Sitka and Killisnoo, and while no
dangerous unknown rocks or reefs were
discovered, several were found to be
wrongly located on the old charts.
She brings an account of how the Fort
Simpson Indians have appropriated the
little tug Portland, which was wrecked.
to their own use. The tug. on a trip to the
Yess bay country. was hung upon a sharp
pointed rock, as will be remembered, and
her owners abandoned her there on the
British coast. The Indians in that local
ity belong to the Salvation Army. and
finding that the vessel was consigned 10
the waves, they removed her from the
rock and patched up the leak, and have
now started to use her on gospel errands.
At her bow waves the American flag, and
at her stern the British. At her mast
head floats the well known banner of the
Salvation Army. An observer remarks
that another flag would obscure the boat
entirely
Mrs. Moore accompanied her husband,
the captain on the summer cruise and for
three months she did not see one of her
sex. Finally, some of the Killisnoo Indian
women, who are educated and live in COM
parative wealth, were visited and found
to be a surprise in womanly refinements.
The Patterson will remain on the Sound
for the winter.