Hutchinson gazette., 1899-01-26
rHE STATE LIVE CONTROVERSY.
Brief sketch oreho Location OSthe Line
Between Kansas aud missouri.

/ "'b w Wv ANAANhAl Vi AbllllONNlhJ ONNl
lhe boundary line between Kausas
and Missouri at the Kaws mouth. Mr.
Mills states that ever since the sur.
veyor general made the survey and
report In 1855 relating 10 the eustern
boundary OF the then territories OF
Kansas and Nebraska, there has been
4 dispute as to the correctness OF the
survey, after following down the
channel Of the Missouri river 10 the
mouth Of the Kaw river, and then
passing south on u meridian line that
was made the western boundary OF
the state OF Missouri by the organic
act OF congress in 1898 fixing the
boundary lines OF the entire state OF
Missouri as then admitted into the
Union OF states. Inc statute hxed the
western boundary OF Missouri on q
true meridian that crossed the mouIh
Of the KNw river where II then, In
1923, emptled into the Missouri river,
The mouth OF the Kaw where II then
emptied its waters into the Missouri
became the monument or land
mark" that fixed the location OF the
true north and south line. No change
has ever been made since 1923 in the
boundary line OF Missouri from that
meridian south from the channel OF
the Missouri river where II at that
late received the waters OF the Kaw
The eastern boundary of the state OF
Kansas Is fixed by law by the terms,
'the westerns boundary Of the state
Of Missouri" The importance, there
fore, Of the exact location OF where
the mouth OF the Kaw emptied It's
waters into the Missouri river in 1923,
as fixing the spot to locate the true
meridian, will be readily understood
The floods since that date, and nota'
bly, in 1874, and perhaps earlier floods,
that filed the valley from blufr to
bluff, become important factors in The
changes OF the channel Of the Mis-
souri, river, and the place where It, at
the earlier date received the waters
Of the Kaw river. In running down
the Missouri in 1855, the surveyors
were to stop at the point where lhC
Kaw river emptied its waters into the
Missouri. Reaching that locality, The
changes by food had not only moved
the main channel OF the Missouri
river westward, and washed away tllC
law lands that had formerly confined
the bed and channel OF the Kaw In Ia
bend and flow eastward before Il
reached the waters OF the Missouri
but shortened and diverted westward
the place where the mouth Of lhnI
river deposited its waters in the Mis-
souri,. Other changes quite as i'm
portant have taken place since loo5 IL
the channel OF the Missouri river by
which thousands OF acres OF farm
land in the valley OF the Missouri has
been changed from one state or po
iitical jurisdiction to another by
foods.
The contention OF the Kansas peo
nle is that the true and legal wesierl
boundary Of the state OF Missouri al
Kansas City on the western or south
bank of the Missouri river, and from
there south TO Arkansas, were
changed from the meridian line as
located by the Land Mark" named in
1928. That when such meridian is
found it may place a large portion Of
the territory in what is now called
Kansas City, Missouri, and strip OF
land extending to the south boundary
Of the state, with the boundary and
jurisdiction of the state of Kansas
This settled successfully in favor oil
the state OF Kansas, adds many mil
lions OF valuable property to the taN
rolls OF the state and to each of ihe
municipalities in Kansas along the
east line.
Up to the present date, all effort Ia
get the question settled has looked Ia
congress for action. Mr.. Mills saw II
was question to be settled by the
courts, and that it was similar TO a
controversy between adjoining farm
ers over disputed boundary, and re-
solved ON enlistlng the attorney gen.
eral OF Kansas, as the law officer oI
The state, to take action, and to EN-.
ploy such assistance as he might
1eem best to do the work of preparing
and trying the case.
To defray the expense, and to feel
warranted in commencing so impor.
tant "a proceeding, The attorney gen.
ral asks the consent and instruction
of the legislature of the state in the
form of a bill to be passed by the leg
lslature for the purpose. That has
been the usual course in such mat.
ters, so ascertained by c, II, Hutch.
ings and Mr.. Mills, as shown by the
reported decisions and the history OF
boundary line controversies between
states. Such bill has been prepared
md will be introduced for the consid-
.ration OF the state legislature now in
session.
IL the suit Is successful, 1t will be
consumation most creditable TO the
administration, and be approved hear.
tily by every citizen OF Kansas. and
particularly by the whole people in
;he counties to which the territory is
added. It is claimed the value OF the
lands in controversy as now improvN
ed, Is upwards Of twenty millions.
Mr.. Mills states the titles in the In.
lividual owners will not be disturbed
by such proceedings. It only effects
the political division and state and
municipal jurisdiction Of the property
and the residence 81. the owners.
:, The Chicago. Rock Island & PAclG'