Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-07-11
BOUNDARY SURVEY.
Line Between New Mexico and Colo
rado to be Re Established.
THE CONTRACT LET.

The general land Office on Tuesday
entered into contract with H. 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 appropri-
alton act.
This line, 3S7 miles long, was origin.
ally surveyed in 1868, when the terri
tory through which it runs was diff
cult of access on account of the alb
sence of railroad facilities and was
also infested with hostile Indians, MAX
ing the survey one of exceptional diff
Guilty.
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
bic to establish any corners at all. at
one place there being a distance of
twenty-four miles upon which no cor
ners 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-
dary line. Two examinations of this
line have been made by the general
land Office at different times in an en-
deayor 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 il 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 32nd
degrees of longitude west from Wash
ington by the most modern methods.
The location of the line is to be deter
mined by astronomical observations at
frequent intervals, which astronomical
points are to be marked by stone mon
uments.
The line between these astronomical
poins 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 expert
ence in government surveys, having
been employed upon them for the last
twenty-five years in several of the wes-
tern states and territories. His latest
work was the survey of the boundary
line between Arizona and Utah, com
pleted in July last. This line was the
most difficult ever surveyed in this
country. 1t ran through an entirely
unsettled country. containing little wa
ter or food for stock, far removed from
any railroad transportation. while the
line was broken by numerous noun
tain ranges and also by the Grand Can.
yon OF the Colorado. Notwithstanding
these obstacles the line was surveyed
within the time prescribed in the con-
tract and to the entire satisfaction 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 rapidly as conditions will
permit and in satisfactory manner.
The survey will probably require
two seasons work.