The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-17
BOundry Survey.

During the past summer the United
States Geological Survey and the Coast
and Geodetic Survey have been co-operat-
ing In work of unusual Importance and
interest In redetermining the line OF in
ternattonal boundary between the United
states and Canada from the crest of the
Rocky Mountains To the Pacific Ocean
The original treaty. signed in 1S4s, which
established the boundary at the .49th
parallel. did not provide for it's immediate
survey over this section This was due
partly To the extreme difficulty and even
danger Of conducting surveys IN this
region at the time, and partly To the
prevailing opinion that so rough
aud distant region would be settled
only I'm very remote future This view
still prevailed To certain extent when
In 1857 10 1851 surveys were actually carried
out, for IL WAS then agreed by the COM
missions representing both governments
that II was inexpedsnt TO incur the ex-
pense or locating aud marking the bound
airy continuously because. as they say
IN their official report, the country would
not he occupied FOR generations To come.
These commissions did. however. deter.
mine the 18th parallel by astronomical
observations Hnd established monuments
accordingly on each large stream aud
every important trail that crossed the
boundary.
Exploration and settlement have FAR
outstripped the expectations entertained
~ odd years ago: Ia those sections where
valuable mineral deposits are supposed
To exist the location OF the boundary has
FOR several years past been question
OF more or less interesting dispute The
old cuttings and monuments have become
obscured, and I'm some instances rumor
has with purpose circulated false reports
mat the monuments placed by the old
commission We're Incorrect. Canada and
the United States are both Interested I'm
having the line precisely fixed. and steps
are being taken toward the establishments
of a commission whose determination
shall he final. I'm the meantime provision
al but accurate work has been done by
the joint party of the Geological and
Coast and Geodetlc Surveys To redeter-
mine the 10Th parallel I'm the sharply dis
puted sections. while three other parties
OF the Geological Survey have reconnoi.
tered the entire stretch Of go miles from
the crest Of the Rockies 10 the Pacific
coast
The line traversed two mountain dis
trcts the Rocky Mountains and the Cas.
cades, aud an intermediate country which
though hilly. is not 40 high The noun.
tains carry heavy forests and along the
line arc difficult of access because the
trails, once kept open by the Indians
sre now greatly ohstructed by failou
timber The surveyors frequently nnd
tho game trails worn nv hear and deer
the oasiest routes to follow The ex-
trcme eastern range " the Rockies 20 of
alpine character. and glaciers end prcci.
plces We across The houndary line rho
work of the parties has hecn arduous
hui has hecn successfully carried out.
and = report will shortly NJ madc through
tho Interior Department FOR tho inforna.
tinn ~ our State Department
The Officers engaged in these surveys
vere q. ~ sinclair of tho Coast and
Vcodetir slrvsr sud ~ g. Rarnard. of
Tho tuited Ststes SURVEY who hntc car.
ried eut the astronomical and tonorrsph
ir,l work. aud NeSsrs. Rallsv WITS w.
T. Ransons and -. - SMITH rso,ozisfe
sho hayr had charRs ~ fhr fhres nsrfis-
shich carried out ths fsconneitanrs
Pfcoki,n Earie.