The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-09
SPAIN 100 YEARS
OUT Of. ALABAMA.
Centennial Celebration Is to
Be Held in May.
According to the Requirements Of
Treaty Of 1895, Spanish Quit
North Of 81 Degrees.

While people all over the country are
rejoicing at the expulsion OF the Spain
iards from the outlying part OF the West
ern hemisphere, Aiabamla4.s are arrang-
ing to celebrate the centennial OF the ex-
pnisiop Of the spaniards from Alabama
soil north OF the line 81 degrees latitude.
The celebration will take place In May.
this year. ana vii be under the auspices
Of the Alabama Histcrscal Society. T.ac
committee met the other day In Mobile,
Ala, in the law office of HannIs Taylor,
former United States minister 20 Spain
The members are Haunis Taylor, l.. L.
Russell, president Of the Mobile & Ohio
railroad: r.. q. Bush. president of the Mo-
bile 4 Birmingham railroad; f. j. Harnil-
ton, former city attorney and author IT
Colonial Mobile and Thomas n. owen.
An excursion will be gwen by rail from
Mobile 10 jackson. Clarke county, from
thence by boat 10 st. stephens. Washing
ton county. the first capital OF Ala ALBANIA.
Addresses VIII be made by Gov, Joseph r.
Johnston. president OF the Alabama His
torlcal Society. Gen. Joseph Wheeler,
Hannis Taylor and Peter j. Hamilton.
After the addresses have been delivered
the remains Of the old town OF ST. Ste
piiens and the old fort and cemetery viii
be visited.
Andrew Elllco.t. Quaker surveyor.
was employed by the United States in TBS
to- survey the line of 81 degrees north Iati-
tuae, The survey began at tie east bank
OF the Mississippi river. al the line OF 81
degrees north. and extended east. This
WAS to be the boundary between the
American and spanish possessions as
agreed to by The treaty of i795. A few
days after beginning the survey Eilteott
WAS Joined by MAJ. stephen Minor and Sir
William Dunbar. commissioners on the
part Of Spain. Great difficulties were en-
eounsered IN making the survey II Is
said that n mound was thrown up at the
end OF every mile When Pearl river was
reached Es.iicott left the surveyors and
went down Pearl river in a canoe 20 New
Orleans. There he bought a small vessel
supplies and camp cqnipaEe. and sailed TO
Mobile. He then proceeded up the Mobile
river until he reached the camp of the
surveyors who had In the meantime
passed through the lands Of the Choctaw
nation. The line Of 81 degrees struck Mo-
bile river about SIX mlies below the juno
ton Of the Tomhighee ana Alabama rive
eys
The demarca,ion tine determined the old
the American boundary The Spaniarsis
deeply regretted this for the post was i'm
pofiant IN connection With Indian trade
and diplomacy. la point OF fact the treaty
not only cut OF Tire SpanaTds from the
Elghee and Alabama rivers bat opened
sherse river districts ~ American settle
ment. This WAS soon realized Mississippi
territory was created IN that year. reach
Ing frosn Georgia 10 the Mississippi river,
and the military road soon cut from eseor-
sta TO the Tensas. facilitated the popusat-
ing OF the RiShe- counfry. The beginning
Of AneloSaSon Alabama was on the lower
Tomsssgssc river. particularly at 81 Ste
phens. WIN Fort Slasidart. 3aist heis~ The
junction Of the rivers. as the port os en-
try. The acquisition of Mobile by the
Americans was then anly i question OF
time.
In making the survey az the demarea-
ton lisr EAliess3, erected "a piece OF sand.
stone at ChassAngx. near a sre%tle cr the
Mobile a. birmingham railroad This
sandstone has tsecssfno famous and today
Il the starting point * all surveying In
Southwest AiAhanaa