Table showing number and kind of monuments, etc.-Continued.

a Stamped 68.475.

THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY WEST OF THE SUMMIT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, AND THE MOOYIE TRAIL MONUMENT.

On August 11, 1856, a law was passed by Congress authorizing the appointment of a commission to unite with a similar commission to be appointed by Great Britain for the purpose of carrying into effect the first article of the treaty of June 15, 1846, that is to determine and mark the boundary line between the United States and British possessions westward from the summit of the Rocky Mountains. In February, 1857, Mr. Archibald Campbell was appointed commissioner for the United States, and Lieut. John G. Parke, United States Army, was appointed chief astronomer and surveyor. Three commissioners were appointed by Great Britain. Captains Prevost and Richards, of the Royal Navy, were first and second commissioners, respectively, their duties being limited to the determination of the water boundary referred to as "the channel which separates the Continent from Vancouver's Island." In the summer of 1858, Col. J. S. Hawkins, Royal Engineers, appointed by the British Government commissioner to determine the boundary line along the forty-ninth parallel, arrived in the United States prepared for field operations. At a meeting of the joint commission the following agreement relating to the plan of work was entered into:

After discussing plans for determining and marking the line as far eastward as the Cascade Mountains, it was concluded to be inexpedient at the present time, in consequence of the great expense, consumption of time, and the impracticable nature of the country, to mark the whole boundary by cutting a track through the dense forest.

It was therefore agreed to ascertain points on the line by the determination of astronomical points at convenient intervals on or near the boundary and to mark such astronomical stations, or points fixed on the parallel forming the boundary, by cutting a track of not less than 20 feet in width on each side for the distance of half a mile or more, according to circumstances. Further, that the boundary be determined and similarly marked where it crosses streams of any size, permanent trails, or any striking natural feature of the country.

In the vicinity of settlements on or near the line it is deemed advisable to cut the track for a greater distance and to mark it in a manner to be determined hereafter.

Under this plan it seems that the work was prosecuted through the field seasons of 1858, 1859, and 1860, but owing to the war between the States, which followed soon after, all operations were suspended, and no detailed report was ever published.

The following is an extract from a short report by Mr. Archibald Campbell, United States commissioner, published in House Executive Document No. 86, Fortieth Congress, third session:

The work of running and marking the land boundary was carried on through a country previously almost unknown. The forty-ninth parallel extends over rugged and precipitous mountains that attain great elevation, and in the Cascade

Range, on and near the boundary, perpetual snow covers many of the peaks, whose northern gorges are filled up with immense glaciers. The timber on the western slope of the Cascade Mountains is dense, being a heavy growth of pine and fir that in many places stands over a failen forest not yet decayed. This is the character of the country as far eastward as the valley of the Similkameen River, one of the tributaries of the Columbia. Here the timber becomes more open and surveying operations less difficult.

After passing the Okinokane River, which is the lowest line of the great valley between the Cascade and the Rocky Mountains, the country again becomes rough and the timber more dense, but less so than the western slope of the Cascade Mountains.

It being impossible to follow the forty-ninth parallel continuously, the line of survey was carried over the nearest practicable route for a pack trail, connecting each astronomical station, making a total length of line of survey of about 800 miles. Astronomical stations were established by parties of the joint commission at almost every accessible point from which the boundary line is ascertained, and marked by a vista across all valleys and trails, where rough stone monuments were erected over posts buried in the ground to indicate the exact line.

The reconnoissance work extends over an area of about 30,000 square miles. Within this space the barometrical heights of over 800 points have been obtained. A magnetic survey, extending over a range of 30° 20′ in latitude and 4° in longitude, with the necessary observations of the magnetic elements of the astronomical stations, was also made.

The entire length of the land boundary line is over 9° in longitude, or about 410 miles, and the length of the route traveled in surveying it is double that distance. Trails had to be opened for three-fourths of the distance traveled, involving great labor in cutting, grading, and bridging to make the route practicable for packmule transportation. The water courses were numerous and rapid, rendering the fords frequent and dangerous, and a slight rise of many of the streams would have made them impassable but for the timely precaution of building bridges at small streams and ferryboats at the river crossings. Many of the trails opened are now traveled routes to the mines then and since discovered, which are rapidly developing that section of the country, where almost every valley of any extent affords facilities for agricultural pursuits.

In collating the results of the survey reports upon the geology, botany, and natural history of the country reconnoitered were prepared and complete maps, on a large scale, made of the entire boundary and the adjacent country. A general map has also been made, showing the extent of the country traversed. And to facilitate the survey of the public lands photographic duplicates of the detailed sheets, showing each monument on the boundary line, with its geographical position, were furnished to the General Land Office. Photographic duplicates of the detailed sheets of the water boundary have also been made and furnished the Department of State in illustration of the question of the boundary channel.

Copies of the maps referred to in Mr. Campbell's reports are in existence. The boundary-line maps are in 14 sheets, with the title, Detailed Maps of the Northwest Boundary, from Point Roberts to the Rocky Mountains, between the United States and the British Possessions, under the treaty of June 15, 1846, showing monuments, cuts, and other marks. The scale of the maps is 1:60,000, and the topography is shown in hachures. The general map referred to is in contours and apparently on the same scale as the detailed maps.

From an inspection of the detailed map it appears that there are

two portions of the boundary line which seem to be adequately marked, one of them being from Point Roberts, on Juan de Fuca Strait, eastward for a distance of about 41 miles, and the other being from Similkameen River, across the northern boundary of what was formerly the Colville Indian Reservation, to the Columbia River, a distance of about 91 miles; the eastern part of this latter portion, however, is not so well marked as the western part.

The portions which are inadequately marked-in fact, not marked at all-comprise intervals as follows:

Portions of international boundary west of the summit of the Rocky Mountains and the Mooyie Trail monument which are not marked.

West slope of Cascade Mountains.

Miles (approximate).

16

Across summit of Cascade Mountains to Pasayten River.
Pasayten River to one hundred and twentieth meridian

54

24

One hundred and twentieth meridian to Similkameen River

Columbia River to Clark Fork.

Clark Fork to Kootenai Mountain.

Kootenai Mountain to Kootenai River

15

10

11

28

4

13

Flathead River to Kishemeen Creek.

Kishemeen Creek to summit of Rocky Mountains

There is no question as to the desirability of properly marking the boundary line, although it is true that the unmarked portions are in a rough, mountainous, and unsettled section, and the expense and labor connected with making the necessary resurveys and placing monuments would be large.

When the boundary line between Idaho and Montana was run northward to the international boundary, it was not possible to locate its terminal point as satisfactorily as might have been desired, because of the fact that there was no monument on the international boundary within a reasonable distance with which a connection could be made. The same is true of the boundary line between Washington and Idaho, and also of a guide meridian run by the Geological Survey northward from the thirteenth standard parallel in Idaho. The Washington Forest Reserve, the Priest River Forest Reserve, and the Flathead Forest Reserve abut against this boundary, and in making the topographic survey of these reserves, as well as in projecting the public-land lines northward, it is very important that there should be well-defined monuments to which these surveys can be connected. There are, of course, many other apparent reasons