The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-10

within a small fraction of q second
Is an important consideration in fixin
a meridian, and In the days before tn
wide use Of radio 1t was necessary t.
get telegraphic wires to stations OF
the line and to have time signals sen
from astronomical observatories. II
the southern part of the line a differ
ence Of half a second would have
meant the location of the boundary
more than 800 feet from Its true posi-
ton. 1t was necessary even to cor
rect the observations to compensate
for the tiny lag in the passage Of the
electric current of the signals from Its
source to the surveyor.
Surveyed by Joint Commission.
Both the United States and Canada
were vitality interested In the proper
location of the Hist meridian, and the
work was therefore entrusted to q
joint commission with members from
the two countries. Work could be per-
formed only during the open summer
seasons, and more than five years were
required to complete the job. Wherever
there was timber, a vista 20 feet wide
was cut through 1t. Monuments, visi-
BILE from the adjacent ones on each
side, were placed along the line not
more than four miles apart. Finally
a detailed map was made of a strip
of country extending two miles on each
side of the boundary. Five-foot
aluminum-bronze shafts set in a ton
of concrete were placed at prominent
river crossings and at main-traveled
points. At less important points three
foot cones of metal were set In 4
lighter concrete base.
In the survey Of the 141st meridian
probably greater obstacles had to be
overcome than In most other surveys
of recent times. The transportation
Of supplies and instruments was one Of
the major problems. The meridian Is
in only two places by possible
routes Of water transportation-at the
Yukon river, navigable by large river
steamers, and at the Porcupine, on
which small craft may ply. For more
than 200 miles south of the Yukon,
food, feed for horses, camp outfit, In
,truments and personnel had to be
carried for the most part on pack
lorses whether the way led over
tundra, meadow or swamp.
Two miles an hour was as great speed
Is could be counted on, and the horses
.ould not be worked for more than
Ilx-hour day.
Among other things which the sur
veying parties did during their work
n the far north was to carry a knowl-
dge of the white man and his world
nto out-of-the-way places. They gave
he Indians their very first glimpse Of
orses and steamboats, in some cases.
Indians Were Alarmed.
When Indians at Rampant House
aw the party's little steamers, without
ow-line or sail and belching smoke and
team, push their way up rapids In the
'orcuplne, they had the most exciting
noments Of their lives. When tho
orses were unloaded, and In celebra-
on Of their freedom from cramped
uarters began running about and roll
IL on the ground. the Indians ran for
heller with feelings In their breasts,
o doubt such as those the Axtecs had
hen Cortez's centaurs rode into their
Iidst. Even the dogs, who had never
zen such beasts before, took to the
Ills. But novelty soon wears away;
sfore many days Indian children were
rowing stones at the queer horn
SIS caribou"
The American and Canadian parties
Of from 30 to 80 men each,
d not operate In one group. A num-
n Of small groups were organized,
Ich going It's own way. These sub
lrties consisted of SIX or seven men,
ch in charge of veteran surveyor.
the determination of the principal
,lnts on the meridian, however, a
Irty made up Of. both American and
madam surveyors worked; and their
dividual observations had to check
fore the points were fixed as off,
ally correct.
Every day had to count in the rela-
rely short summer season, especially
ong the northern portion Of the line.
that Sundays and the Fourth Of July
uld not be observed as holidays On
ose days the working period was
ortened by several hours, however, !
some concession to customs back I
me. An interesting feature Of the 6
b was working under the midnight c
n. So Interested were the surveyors 2
one party who happened to be ON e
e Arctic circle on June % one year, b
ut they insisted on working all .
jght.'