80 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 
In the year 1816 what was then known as the Indian bound- 
ary line and what became later a portion of the State boundary 
line was run north from the mouth of the Kansas river to the 
present Iowa line, and thence east to the Des Moines river. 
The survey was made by J. C. Sullivan, deputy surveyor, 
under instructions of William Rector, surveyor of the terri- 
tories of Illinois and Missouri. According to the original 
letter of instructions, attached to the field note book, the 
deputy surveyor was to run a line north ‘‘ agreeably to the true 
Meridian, which you will ascertain before you commence your 
survey. And ifthe weather should permit you will frequently 
make observation of the variation of the needle and will reg- 
ulate your compass according to the results of your several 
observations.’”? The line was run, in accordance with these 
instructions, 100 miles north from the mouth of the Kansas 
river and thence east a distance of 150 miles and 40 chains to 
the Des Moines river. 
In the year 1820 the State of Missouri was admitted to the 
Union. The boundaries are described in the act of admission 
as follows: — 
‘* Beginning in the middle of the Mississippi river, on the 
parallel of thirty-six degrees north latitude ; thence west, along 
that parallel of latitude, to the St. Francois river; thence up 
and following the course of that river, in the middle of the 
main channel thereof, to the parallel of latitude thirty-six de- 
grees and thirty minutes; thence west along the same toa 
point where the said parallel is intersected by a meridian line 
passing through the middle of the mouth of the Kansas river, 
where the same empties into the Missouri river; thence from 
the point aforesaid, north, along the said meridian line, to the 
intersection of the parallel of latitude which passes through 
the rapids of the river Des Moines, making the said line to 
correspond with the Indian boundary line; thence east from 
the point of intersection last aforesaid, along the said parallel 
of latitude, to the middle of the channel of the main fork of 
oC esate _ SETS thence down and along the middie 
mouth of the sie re k ~ sae enh oe * = vig nes 
I ae eae ze Komp nto the Misnippl ier 
e middle of the main channel of the Mis- 
