Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-23
The Maine New Brunswick Boundary


ago from Marietta, Ohio. to the effect
that long lost documents had been
found in the college library at that
place which would settle the boundary
dispute between Maine and New
Brunswick, cannot fail to cause some
amusement in this section of the con-
in either Maine or New Brunswick
knows that there is any boundary dig
pute in existence. If they do, they are
simply unfortunate enough to know
something which is not so. Since the
AshburtOn treaty of 1912 the line has
been regarded as settled and the con-
troversy which waged for many
years has been regarded as finally
closed.
The matter of the northeastern
boundary. as it was called. was long in
dispute and few subjects of interna-
tional bearing have caused more con-
troversy than that caused between the
United States and Great Britain, the
people of Maine and New Brunswick
being the most interested parties.
After the Revolutionary War this
northeastern boundary was almost
continuously in dispute until the So
called Ashburton treaty of 1912 when
Daniel Webster. then secretary of
state under President Harrison, was
the American commissioner who had
the settlement of the matter in charge.
BY that treaty the ST. Croix river
| was fixed as the lower boundary, but
the line as to the interior remained
unsettled. After the second war with
! Great Britain the British claimed
everything north of the 46th degree of
| latitude. which would include nearly
| one third OF the present State OF
| Maine. and the matter remained IN
! settled for many years "A generation
| later the disputed territory became
| the scene of the trouble known as the
| Aroostook War, or Madawaska War.
! There was an armed force upon both
sides and forts were established which
| are still standing, that at Fort Kent
being of special local interest and
pride War was averted by a Very
narrow margin and few years later
by the Ashburton treaty of 1912, the
| line was settled as it has since re-
manned.
| BY this treaty Maine lost about $500
square miles of territory which she
had claimed between the present
northern border and the ST Lawrence
river. and for giving up this territory
the State received the sum of $500
| in gold and Uncle Sam became the
possessor of tracts of land on the
borders of Lakes Champlain and
Superior Although the treaty of 1912
was never wholly satisfactory to
discussion has never been opened
again and the line may well be con-
sidered established for all time. 1t Is
said that there is a short stretch of
the boundary in the Lubec narrows.
| which involves possession of one small
island, which is still in dispute, but it
is such a trifling matter that it can
hardly be considered seriously.
The literature on the subject of the
northeastern boundary reaches nearly
100 volumes. embracing messages OF
presidents and governors. reports of
commissioners and discussions in
Congress. Parliament and in the
Maine and New Brunswick legisla-
lures. while more than a score OF
maps showing the territory in ques-
ton and the disputed boundaries, have
been published. 1t is not at all likely
that these mysterious document:
which have come to light in Ohio viii
lat all upset existing conditions.