The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-15

Special Correspondence Post-Tntelligencer
NHATtOM, Sept. i3.-As the result of
me boundary dispute In the vicinity of
Red mountain, the owners of as many
as 100 claims In the Mount Baker dis
trict are now in doubt as TO whether
their property Is on British or American
SOIL. Reports Just received from the
district are TO the effect that the domin-
ion government has engineers at work
locating the 4ath parallel and by this
survey British Columbia hopes to make
good her claim to a strip OF territory
from one to three miles wide and a score
Of miles in length along the northern
boundary of Whatcom county. Claim
jumping has been prevalent for the last
few weeks, but there is in no sense open
dispute or trouble among the miners.
The far-seeing claim owners, knowing
the closeness OF the boundary line 70 their
property early In the game filed on Their
locations In British Columbia as well as
In Washington. and some Of the more
valuable claims are protected In this way.
over three-fourths OF the claim holders
are Americans. however, and would great
ly regret seeing the strip revert to British
Columbia, which would take a growing
trade away from this city.
The heretofore generally accepted
boundary mark on Red mountain has
been wooden post that was evidently
erected many years ago. 1t Is about
three feet in height and has an iron
spike In the top. The timber around
IL was cleared out many years ago II
now seems probable that this was merely
stake used by the boundary commission
I'm making astronomical calculations. as
the country was too rough for ordinary
field work. That this is the case is par
TALLY borne out by the following letter re-
Gently received by Judge Elmon Scott OF
this city. who is interested In some OF the
most promising claims In the strip. The
letter is from the department of the in
terror. general land office;
49,. Washington. D. G: Aug: y. 1900.
Mr.. Elmon Scott, New Whatcom
Washington-Sir: Your letter dated Aug
ust 2 1900. to the secrettrs' of the In
terror has been referred 10 this office
You ask therein for advice and Informal
ton respecting the location of the inter-
national boundary, stating that mineral
locations have been made in the vicinity
OF ranges and O. Willamette meridian,
which require the position OF the bound
airy to show whether they are on Ameri-
can or Canadian soil.
I'm reply, you are advised that re-
peated calls have been made upon this
Office for such Information. which can
not be supplied. for the reason that the
report of the boundary commission maxi
ing the survey has not been found. The
only record available is the map pre-
pared 70 accompany the report which was
completed In manuscript ready for print
state department, where IL can now be
found.
From certain notes found. II is be-
lieved that the commission erected forty
three iron pillars at irregular points near
trails and valleys. between the coast and
Whatcom TRAN, 10 mark the exact bound
airy. and that from that trail to the
Rocky mountain divide the occasional
monuments are all stone pyramids seven
feet hlsh. lane forty feet wide was
cut clear OF timber across valleys with
the boundary In the middle or nearly so.
THE commission selected suitable
camps at which 10 reside while taking
star observations through long period
60 determine latitude, and erected astro-
nomtcal stations. When the exact lati-
tude Of such Astronomical station was
calculated they measured either north
ward or southwark the required distance
60 establish the parallel Of % degrees and
built their monuments This fact may
explain the difference OF about mile he
tween the old wooden posts you describe
and the place where the surveyors Of the
dominion government are at work Very
respectfully.
''w r. RICHARDS.
Assistant Commissioner"
Since tho receipt Of this letter Judge
Scott aud others would not he surprised 10
learn that the disputed strip. or a por-
bla. J II Is said that even the owners
81 the Poss-isambort properties ana adj
iaining claims are preparinE 70 Gle On
mining laws ir order 20 be on the safe
side The miners OF the district are
however disposed to quietly await tho
result ~ the dominion survey, and N II
Is unsatisfactory to them they will then
ask the government AZ Washington also
90 locate the parallel
Red mountain IS generally conceded 20
he one - tho most promising portions 81
the Mount naker district ard q e. saia
that certain claims IN that vicinity have
produced the richest rock that ever cafae
0ut % the district Development work
~ nos vet fer advanced on thorn huf this
has been a season - great activity in an
that vicinity ON Red mountain and
iu this disputed stf.p are iocatctd the Gold
Basiu group. on which Charais - Lane
of san Francisco. ans q Carlisle ~
Seattle. have had a forve ~ men at work
ala summer Contiguous 70 these claims
are the Climax Black Hawk. bunker ana
ki0udike claims az the Red Mountain
Mlniuk and Milling Company. which are
among the most prurnlal IN the Hi4-
trict. II is in these elaine that Judge
Scott "a Interested
C. Anderson. g W Beth ana C. l.
scrimsher other members 30 THIS corn
PAM. have 3ust returned from Red
mountain and report the Elnndke claim
showing the ledge Tor CO feet With the
width from one o. four feet A tunnel
has hcen driven iu she ledge ihirtv fert.
and che rock shows free gold plainly to
the naked aye They report a rich strskr