The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-12
ALASKA BOUNDARY LINE.
Work on the Yukon to Determine It
Exactly.-Hardships Met Along
{ The Coast.


nails from Fort Egbert, Alaska, and
from Vancouver, Canada, the exact
boundary limo between the United
States and Canada ut the Yukon river
has recently been determined, says u
Washington correspondent Of the
New York Tribune. A shaft of granite
will be reared at the point agreed up
on by the observers, and with this as
a basis tho long boundary stretch on
the 141st meridian in the wild and
unexplored country from the arctic
ocean southwark to the st. Elias
mountains will be marked out at some
future time.
Tho signalling at the boundary line
was done within the last few days and
has been reported to the United States
coast and geodctic survey in Washing
ton by Professor Edwin Smith, the
American agent designated by the
joint boundary commission to repres-
cnt the United States. Fort Egbert
and Vancouver we're selected as the
two points from which to send the
message because their longitude is
known accurately and Fort Egbert is
the nearest telegraph station to the
Yukon boundary line, which is about
six miles distant. A telegraph wire
was run to the approximate boundary
station and an agent stationed there.
The three commissioners waited until
there was clear weather at all three
stations.
The problem involved was to deter
mine the exact point at which the
l41s, meridian crosses the Yukon, and
the scientific method Of doing this is
10 estimate the precise time at which
a certain star crosses the meridian.
On the night agreed upon the observer
al Vancouver flashed to the man wait
iny on the boundary line the time at
which he observed the star. and the
agent at Fort Egbcrt did likewise. The
boundary line man therefore got mes
sagcs from both sides and was able to
use these as the basis of calculation,
allowing time for the transmission Of
the messages. The signals were repeat
cd for several nights for greater ac-
curacy. When the figures are com
plctcd officially the result will be an
nounced by the joint commission.
Thrilling adventures are being ex-
pericnccd by the surveyors engaged
in marketing the boundary line on
the coast of tho gulf of Alaska, about
200 miles above Sitkn, according to
reports to the const and gcodetic sur
vcy. Frederick Morse, chief Of the
party at Yakutat, has Informed tho
survey that three Of the four subpar-
ties under his charge will finish their
work by tho end of this month, but
that the party working in the Alsek
valley is experiencing unusual diff
cultics and tho men are often in peril
Of their lives. They are making an
effort to get the SUBMITS of the
peaks between the Alsck valley and
the flat country west Of the river to
complete their surveys. The only
method Of reaching this country is by
water from the coast, through the
canyon Of the Alsck valley. Mr..
Morse reports that in July party,
led by Mr.. Blackwcldor, started
through the canyon and had got past
the worst place when suddenly half q
mountain slid down upon them and
their canoe was smashed, the party
narrowly escaping with their lives.
With their provisions all gone, they
Ind hard time getting back to tho
coast.
Another attempt was made in Au-
gust when Mr.. Brabazon and six men
started through the canyon in canoe.
Mr.. Rrabazon, attempting to dodge
the sliding hill which had given his
predecessor 50 much trouble, riskcd
paddiin% his canoe into close proyi-
nifty to two dischar@ing glaciers on
the opposite bank. lie had passed.
the glaciers safely when current
seized the canoe and driftcd it direct
ly under the sliding hill, where it
lodged. While the men wore attempt
ing to free the boat rock ,ycighin.
several tons came laundering down
toward them. Luckily for the men the
rock, when only few feet above,
met an obstruction and split in two,
so that the Fragments fell on cithcr
side Of the boat.
The surveyors arc trusting to get
through eventually with the aid OF
Indians, who are familiar with tho