44 TITTMANN : OUR NORTHERN BOUNDARIES 



and topographic survey, extending about 2 miles on each side of 

 the boundary. Aside from its immediate purpose this monu- 

 mented line and attendant triangulation will serve as a most valua- 

 ble base for the orientation of future topographic and economic 

 surveys both sides of the line. In the main this distance was a 

 transit line, but owing to the difficulty of traversing the ice 

 fields and rugged mountains, between Mount Natazhat and 

 Mount St. Elias, a trigonometric survey was carried for a distance 

 of about 150 miles, around by way of the Scolai Pass to the merid- 

 ian south of Mount Natazhat to a point on the slopes of the 

 Elias Alps. 



It gives me pleasure to announce to the Academy that the 

 Commissioners believe that the field work along the 141st merid- 

 ian is completed. The reservation implied by the word ''believe" 

 means that the final plotting of the work between Mount Natazhat 

 and Mount St. Elias has not been completed and that this plotting 

 may develop a topographic lacuna in the ice fields of that region. 



The other section of the line extending from Mount St. Elias to 

 the Portland Canal and thence thru Dixon Entrance to Cape 

 Muzon shared the fate of our other boundaries in being a subject of 

 controversy which was happily settled by the Tribunal of London 

 which rendered its decision in 1903. It is interesting to recall, 

 however, that at the time of the Alaska Purchase, Senator Sumner, 

 in advocating the purchase, began his scholarly speech with the 

 following words: ''In endeavoring to estimate its character, I 

 am glad to begin with what is clear and beyond question. I refer 

 to the boundaries fixed by the treaty." 



The correctness of this statement was not borne out by subse- 

 quent events. Thirty-six years elapsed before the ensuing dis- 

 putes were settled by arbitration. Under the terms of the arbitral 

 award, Messrs. King and Tittmann were appointed to effect the 

 delimitation on the ground. Excepting some trigonometric 

 determinations and a final monument or two this has been ac- 

 complished. The boundary peaks have been determined trigono- 

 metricall}^, a photo-topographic survey has been made and 

 monuments have been placed at important and accessible points 

 and now the preparation of the final maps for the whole boun- 



