Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-27
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
Those Maps at Marietta.

| (3angOf COmTlcTcldl)
| In the editorial which was published
| in the Commercial a few days since, 81!
| tho question of the northeastern boun-
| dairy OF Maine, relating to certain maps
and notes said t.. have been discovered
| at Marietta, Ohio, we RETAINED from
giving any particulars concerning ltu-
tus Putnam. our object in so CONG
| was to see what the press of Maine
| would say upon the subject; but as
nothing las been said, that we have
noticed, our criticism will now ne
| closed.
| The Marietta despatch and accounts
| 50 far given by the news press. say
| ''IAll the notes and maps made at TIE
| time of the survey Of the boundary by
Rufus Putnam were found: it is SAID
| the maps in the collection cover AL dis
puted points" Mr.. Booth, a Portland
attorney, said to the Portland Sunday
Times: In Massachusetts looking for
information | was told that the papers
OF Gen. Rufus Putnam had beer given
to Marietta college. There was Il map
which wanted. and so | wrote to Mar
ietta to see if 1t was in the college col
lection | have never received a reply
to my letter, but the map was located
at Augusta Il little later
In regard to Gen. Rufus Putnam and
his maps and notes. we have this to
say.
Rufus Putnam, d cousin of the dis
tEsuishcd Israel Putnam, was born in
Sutton Mass, April Q, 1893. He was
in the military service Of the country
IRON 1871 to 1852, particulars of which
l, IL. I,
In 1893 he was a United States com
missioner il conducting q treaty with
Indians at NincenncS, Ind, and from
1893 to 1868 was surveyor general of
the United States. In 111% Rufus Put
nam founded Marietta, Ohio, where lie
died May 4, 1924.
Rufus Putnam was never in Maine:
he did not make the survey of the
northeastern boundary line between
Maine ANA New Brunswick; he made
no notes ana maps" upon the survey;
he died III 1S24-scven years before the
dispute between the United States ana
Great Britain regarding the boundary
arose, and is years before the Webster
AshburtCn treaty was signed.
How, let us ask, could Rufus Putnam
make the maps and notes of the survey
Of the northeastern boundary after he
had been dead IA years? 1t is certainly
to be hoped that there We're. no dis
pnted points in the place where he
then was.
The map, which the Portland Sunday
Times sad Nj. Booth wanted, was
afterwards "located at Augusta" This
is undoubtedly the map referred To by
the Commercial III its previous editorial
upon this subject. This map is Z beau
tiful piece Of work in pen and Ink.
copied from the original map made at
the time Of the northeastern survey 1t
was found by the late Leonard D. Car
vcr, State librarian, among papers ana
manuscripts, when he took charge or
the library, and was regarded by him
as 1.-The most important map belonging
to the State"
IT may be added to what has pre-
Vlously been said by us upon this sub
Ject, to make the matter plain that the.
decision Of the king of the Netherlands
on the disputed boundary between the
United States and Great Britain, was
made public in 1881. This decision was
rejected by both countries. leading u
disput" ana to the appointment OF the
and documents relating to the Goings
OF the King of the Netherlands were
published in 1881
The important map Of S. L. Dashell
was published at Washington on four
sheets. in 1886. This is the most inpor-
tant map ever published relating to tile
SUI Jett. II showed the portion OF
Maine to which Great Britain laid
claim. reduced from the official map
with corrections from the latest sur
vc!;s." 1t may be copy of this map
that Is the one now on deposit in the
state library at Augusta
After considering all the points made
pablo thus far regarding the maps at
Marietta. we feel sure that the treaty
regarding the boundary between Maine
ANA Canada. signed by Daniel Webster
ana Lord Ashburton, will stand in th,,
future as it has in the past
NEWPORT