New-York tribune., 1906-09-12
FIX ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
Work on the YukoR-Hardships
uet Along the Coast.
IFrom TIE Tribune Bureau-l

Washington, Sept u-By the flashing OF teIs-
graphic signals from Fort Egbert, Alaska, and
from Vancouver Canada, the exact boundary line
between the United States and Canada at the Yukon
River has 3ust been determined. shaft OF granite
VIII be reared at the point agreed upon by the Oo-
servers. and with this basis the long boundary
stretch the list meridian in the Wild md unex-
plored county from the Arctic Ocean southward 20
the 81 Elias Mountains Will be marked out az some
future time.
The signalling at the boundary line done
within the last few days and has Just been re-
ported % the United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey IN Washington BY Professor Edwin Smith.
the American agent designated BY the joint bOun-
dary commission TO represent the United States
Fort Egbert and Vancouver were selected as the
two points Srom which 20 send the messages be-
cause their longitude is known accurately and
Fort Egbert Is the nearest telegraph station 10
the Yukon boundary line, which Is about six miles
distant. a telegraph wire was TO the approxi-
mate boundary station and an agent stationed
there The three commissioners waited untn there
was clear weather az all three stations
The problem involved was 10 determine the ex-
act point at which the last meridian crosses the
Yukon. and the scientific method OF doing this Is
% estimate the precise time ar which certain
star crosses the meridian. On the night agreed
upon the observer az Vancouver flashed 20 the
man waiting on the boundary line the time az which
he observed the star, and the agent at Fort Egber
did Likewise. The boundary line man therefore
got messages from both sides and was able TO use
for the transmission OF the messages. The signals
repeated fOr several nights for greater accu-
racy. When the figures are completed officially. the
result viii be announced by the joint commission
Thrilling adventures being experienced BY
the surveyors engaged IN marking the boundary
line the OF the CiuIs OF Alaska about two
hundred niles above Sitka- according reports
70 the Coast ana GeOdeIic survey. Frederick Morse,
survey that t6res Of the four sub-parties under
his charge viii Enish their work by the end OF this
month, but that the party working IN the Alse Val
ley Is experiencing unusual difficulties and the
making EFFORT 10 get 20 the SUBMITS OF the
peaks between the AIsek Valley and the hat coun-
t1y west OF the river 20 complete their surveys
The only method OF reaching this country is BY
Alsek Valley. Mr.. Morse reports that N July
party. led by Mr.. Blackweder. started through the
canyon and had got past the worst place when
suddenly half mountain sid down upon them and
Gaping with their lives. Win their provisions az
gone. the party had a hard time getting back %
Another attempt was made IN August when Mr.
IN canoe. Mr.. Brabazon, attempting 70 dodge
the sliding hill which had given MS predecessor
much trouble, rlSked padding his canoe into
close proximity 70 two dischargtng glaciers on
safely when a current seized the canoe and drfrred
IL directly under the sliding hill where IL lodged
While the men were attempting 20 free the boat q
rock weighing several tons came laundering down
only a feet above. met obstruction and
split IN two. SO that Jne fragments fell either
side Of the boat
UaIly with the aid OF Indians who ars familiar
with the operations OF the glaciers and tell
when they likely 20 be dangerous.