Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-08

Sitka, Alaska, May 6.-Scarring bfoao
line across 800 miles of wilderness in the
far north, in order that the possessions
of the United States and Canada may
have a distinct separation at every point,
will be completed during the coming
open season. The work has been in pro-
gress since 1907 under the direction OF
Thomas Riggs, Jr., civil engineer, repre-
senting the United States Alaskan
Boundary Commission, and T. d. Craig,
representing a similar commission of
Canada.
Although the United States and Canada
have been neighbors in the far North for
over a half century, the exact dividing
line between their possessions, especially,
as to the northern portion, was, previous
to this survey, indefinite and conflicting
Many disputes arising, the two govern
ments decided, finally. through their
commissions, that an absolute survey
clearly established and marked for all
time. should be made along the Hist
meridian, from the Mt. St Elias Alps, on
the Pacific, to the Arctic Ocean, dis
tance of approximately COO miles.
The United States surveying party con-
sisted of from 60 to 50 men each season
since the work was undertaken. Chief
engineer Riggs, himself a young college
man. selected his aids from the hardest
classes-cowboys forest rangers, pros
pectors, timber cruisers and frontiers
men, with a liberal sprinkling of engi-
neers. New expeditions were organized
each spring, although many of the men
who started at the beginning have re-
NAMED in the service up to the present
time. 1t was the custom, too, to leave
a few men in the north each winter TO
care for equipment and supplies.
The actual visible results of the six or
seven years of efforts, a 2o-foot VISTA cut,
like a gigantic avenue, or lane, through
all timber and brush districts. together
with monuments set at intervisibie points
from three to four miles apart.
The monuments erected are of two
types, depending upon the Importance oil
the locality. At, prominent stream cross
ings and main points of travel the line
marker consists Of, a 5-foot aluminium
bronze shaft, weighing 800 pounds, set in
1000 pounds of concrete. At less tmpor-
tant points the monument is smaller, be-
ing designated as cone, cast OF the
same metal, and requiring only l0oo
pounds of concrete for the base. There
are approximately 200 of these monu-
ments along the 600 miles of boundary.
The work of conveying the heavy ma
terials for their construction. mostly on
pack animals. sometimes on the Should
ers of the men themselves, was very
slow and laborious.
This survey is declared by engineers to
be the straightest of the world for the
length encompassed. In speaking of it,
one of the engineers said
1.-THE start was made from one of the
desolate peaks of the Mt. st. Elias Alps,
on the southern extremity There we
laid our course straight for the North
ern Lights and thereafter swerved not
SO much as ir-breadth-peaks,
g,Lches, bottomless swamps-wherever
the needle pointed there We went. one
day cutting our way through brush
tangles, the next building track across
marshes, or crawling over rocks and
through creviees."
Small steamers, plying the Yukon and
Porcupine Rivers, co-operated with the
expedition, but they were able to reach
with supplies only small portion of the
actual route. South of the Yukon is a
vast region, over $50 miles in extent, over
which all supplies had to be transported,
for the most part, on the backs of horses
and mules, the commissary wagons be-
ing rendered useless by the terrible mud
which follows the escape of frost from
the soil n'that region.
AS might be expected. the greatest dill
ficulties We're encountered beyond the
Arctic Circle. Following the rough seal
ing of the southern portion of the sur
vey, the joint expeditions established
their base at Rampant House, an ancient
Hudson Bay station, on the Porcupine.
from whence several dashes were made
before the Arctial Ocean was finally
reached.
When the steamers landed the topog-
raphers and their equipment at Rampant
| House. the native Indians were amazed
at the drove of what they first took to
be huge dogs, but later decided must be
variety of hornless caribou. Inquiry
developed the fact that they had never
before seen nor heard of the horse.
Almost at the swater-iine of the Arctic
Ocean one of the farger Of the Tnonu-
ments stands today. marking the inter-
| national division. The final lap required
to place il there was over region fairly
bristling with natural difficulties, al