The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-12
Work 81 the 0rsson-W Washington
Commission Yesterday.
~
SEVEN WITNESSES EXAMINED
Oregon Submits the Maps Upon Which
She Relies -- North Channel Still
y xists and IL Ayaiiable--Con-
tentions Of the States.

The state commissions on Che disputed
boundaries between the States Of Ore
gon aud Washington. convened at 10
o'clock Yesterday morning, at the Chat
sop county court house, the entire party
Of gentlemen named In yesterdays issue
Of this paper being present, towit: For
the State Of Oegon, Attorney General
A. NJ. Crawford; State Engineer J. II.
Lewis; State Fish Warden II. q. Van
Dusen; Commissioner John Reynolds;
u. n. Senator q. w. Fulton and Deputy
District Attorney C. II. AberrombIe. For
Washington. Assistant Attorney General
r. G. Mcdonald; Commissioner G. G. Dai.
toni State Engineer Edward Jussan;
Engineer q. II. Hegardt; Senator j. r.
Welch. and Ex.State Fish Warden 7. H.
kershaw.
The 0rcgonians submitted line of
valuable maps, six in number, bearing
dates Of lsti. 1851, 1854. 1875 and 1905;
while the Washingtonians handed in one
map Of 1905. This was preparatory 10
The taking Of the verbal testimony Of
q number OF witnesses, and formed the
predicate Of the respective claims.
The contention on the part OF the
State Of Washington Is practically based
upon the fact that the old. original north
channel, which for long years served as
tho constitutional basis OF territory as
between the states, has shifted TO the
southwark and now meanders along the
immediate harbor front Of the City OF
Astoria. The Oregon contention Is that
the channel upon which the original
boundary was predicated. still exists and
IN still the fundamental line Of demarca.
tion; and this Is Of course, the old north
channel that flows on the Washington
side OF Sand Island.
The first witness called for the State
Of Oregon was the state engineer. Mr..
Lewis, who gave official testimony to the
lines claimed and maintained by the
State Of Oregon.
He was followed by Captain p. H. Kin
dred, who has been familiar with these
particular waters since 1874. and he
aveired that the best channel has always
been, and Is yet, north OF Sand Island.
Captain p. Il. Ferchen, speaking from
an intimate experience Of ~ years in
the navigable waters Of this vicinity, as
pilot and master, said that there is, and
has always been, two channels, north.
and south. and that there was no
middle channel in the river until about
OF Tongue Point. That vessels entered
In the north channel and then cut across
to Tansey Point on their way to AS
toria; and had to pass close to Astoria
en- route to Portland.
During the afternoon session Captain
NJ, $. Staples, OF the Columbia bar
pilot service since 1867. took the stand
and among other things, stated that he
had used the north channel, at that time,
from Cape Disappointment to Point FL
lis, and thence up. along the Washington
shore, to Portland He used to tow
ships over what Is now Sand Island.
lat this juncture, Mrs, Crawford, wife
of the Oregon encouragement, present
cd to the 0Iegon commissioners a white
apiece, and to the Evergreen
representatives, q red carnation each. as
, compliment to all, with the spice, and
tone, of differentiation, Captain Staples
made It plain that II Astoria, as a port
# entry, had been on the Washington
'hore, ships would not have como
through the south channel at all.
Captain A. c. Fisher was on the stand
iuring the afternoon, and his testimony,
n part, was to the effect, that there
vas middle channel which started near
he Desdamona Sands, and north there.
If; and ran east to Tongue Point. That
he north channel was the better channel
up to and opposite Knappton; that be-
,ween Knappton and Harrington Point
here was shoal to IA feet at low
water.
Captain Peter Jordan testified that the
I'D north channel ran and still runs
rom Cape disappointment to Three
Tree Point, along the Washington shore.
Captain John Pickernell who has |
,oated here for so years out of the 67 |
lie has lived, bore witness TO the fact |
hat the north channel passes by, Knapp
on, and Harrington Point, 10 Three
Tree Point, on the Washington side of |
he river; that in times past there was
'lenty of water there, though it had now
hoaled in places.
AZ this point the commission adjourn
d until II o'clock this morning when
mother group Of witnesses will be
!