Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-07-10
SANTA FE, N. NJ, THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1902.
A new MEXICO
BOUNDARY SURVEY
The Line Between This Territory and
Colorado Is to Be Re-established by
a Survey That VIII Take Two
Years to Complete.
CONTRACT HAS BEEN GIVEN BY GENERAL
LAND OFFICE TO H. B. CARPENTER

| The general lanQ ONCE Oh IueSudy
entered into a contract with II. B. Car
penter for the re-survey and re-estab-
lishment of the northern boundary of
| New Mexico, which was provided for
by congress in the deficiency appropria-
| ton act.
| This line, 3S7 miles long, was origi-
nally surveyed in 1868, when the terri
| tory through which it runs was diff
cult of access on account of the absence
of railroad facilities and was also in
tested with hostile Indians, making the
survey one of exceptional difficulty.
The corners used to mark the line in
that survey have almost entirely dis
appeared while on the mountainous
portions of the line there are many
places where it was found Impractical
BILE to establish any corners at all, at
one place there being a distance of "a
miles upon which no corners were ever
set
The means used for determining the
latitude in that survey were very i'm
perfect as compared with the methods
which are employed at the present day
and on that account there has been
great uncertainty as to the original
survey having been upon 37th parallel
of north latitude which forms the boun-
Diary line. Two examinations of this
line have been made by the general
land office at different times in an en-
deavor to determine some disputed To-
cations and the conclusion was finally
reached that it would be impossible to
patch up the old line and make it in
any manner satisfactory or correct.
The contract with Mr.. Carpenter pro-
vides for the re-survey of this degree of
latitude from the 25th to the 32d de-
grees of longitude west from Washing
ton, by the most modern methods. The
location of the line is to be determined
by astronomical observations at fire.
quent intervals, which astronomical
points are to be marked by stone mon- |
uments.
The line between these astronomical |
points will be fixed by the geodetic sur
vey, that is, the curvature of earth is |
taken into account and will be marked |
at intervals of one mile with iron posts, |
surmounted by brass caps, upon which |
proper inscriptions will be nodded or
stamped
Mr.. Carpenter has had large experience
in government SURVEYS, having been en-
ployed upon them during the last 25
years in several of the public states and
His latest worl' was tho
survey of the boundary line between
Utah and Arizona, completed in July
last, This line was the most difficult
ever surveyed in this country. 1t ran
through an entirely unsettled country,
little water or food for stock,
far removed from any railroad transpor-
tation, while the line was broken by
mountain ranges and also by |
the Grand canon of the Colorado. Not |
these obstacles the line
was surveyed within the time prescribed
in the contract and to the entire satisfac-
tion of the department. Mr.. Carpenter
will begin the survey of the New Mexico !
boundary at once and the department
believes that the survey will be com
pleted as speedily as conditions will
permit and in satisfactory manner.
The survey will probably require two
seasons work.