The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-07
INTERNATIONAL
LINES TO BE DRAWN
Work of Marking Two BOunda-
ries i'm Far Northwest Soon
to Begin.
Globe Special Washington Service,

Globe Special Washington Service,
1417 G Street.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 6.-Two
international boundary lines are to be
marked by the government during the
coming season, and the work will begin
as soon as the snow has melted suffi-
GENTLY to permit the survey parties to
travel The lines in question are those
which separate Alaska from the British
Northwest possessions, and British Co
lumbia from the state of Washington
The work of laying down proper
demarcatiOn between British Column
bia and Washington was begun two
years ago and was continued last sum-
mer. The preliminary work, however,
was devoted to surveys to determine
the course which the line should take
In the localities where the old monu-
ments have disappeared. This year
the engineers detailed from the coast
and geOdetic survey will begin the
work of actually erecting visible mon
umentS along the boundary line This
project is regarded as highly impOr-
tant, in view Of the mining develop
ments along the Canadian border
When the first survey was made. many
years ago, the engineers performed
their work rather carelessly, for the
region through which the line passed
appeared to them to be worthless, and
nobody cared whether there was visi-
bic boundary or not
The surveyors who worked along this
boundary line last year say that the
travelling was exceedingly difficult, and
that 1t was impossible to make rapid
progress. The mountains are Of the
most rugged description, and nearly the
whole boundary line is in the noun
talns. The work will probably occu-
py several more seasons, but the first
monuments will be erected this year.
DR.. Tittman, superintendent of the
coast and geOdetic survey, has nearly
completed the negotiations with Chief
Astronomer King, of the Canadian
government, looking to the demarca-
t1on OF the boundary between Alaska
and British territory. Within the next
week or ten days the names of the en-
g1neers who will make the necessary
surveys will be announced. There win
be at least two or three of these to
represent each country, and they will
go to Alaska in June, accompanied by
a party of WOodSmen and labOrers
There Will be no difficult surveying for
the survey Of 1894, which formed the
basis Of the boundary tribunals DELHI
erattons at London, will be followed
closely.
It is proposed to begin the work Of
erecting marks in the ChiIkat region.
the policy being to take up the work at
a point where the greatest necessity
for definite marking exists. The
work VIII occupy several years, for
the greater part of the line to be mark
ed extends through a rugged and at
some points almost impossible country.
Inc open season is so short that the
operations can be carried on only dur
ing the months of June, July and Au-
gust. The appropriation at present
available for this work is 100000. but
more will be needed before the task is
completed.
1t will be the duty Of the survey
party to mark the line not only in the
region which was 50 long under dis
pute but along the 141st meridian also,
where there has been no controversy.
but where it is desired to establish Wis
lbIe marks. Some of the work in this
region will have to done in the winter.
because a part of the tundra country
is practically impossible in summer.
Walter Z. Clark.