TO THE COPPER MINES. 205 
* 
‘Under these circumstances, being unwilling that 
any blame should attach to the United States, by a de- 
lay in the proceedings of the Joint Commission, I have 
thought proper, by and with the consent of the Mex- 
ican Commissioner, to designate you to act as Surveyor 
during the temporary absence of A. B. Gray, Esq. 
You are therefore requested to be present at the spot 
fixed upon for the Initial Point, to take part in the 
ceremonies as acting Surveyor. 
“Tam very respectfully, 
“ Your obedient servant, 
“ JOHN R. BARTLETT, 
“* Commissioner U. 8. Mexican Boundary Survey.” 
“To Lieut. A. W. Wuippe, Topog. Engineers, 
“ Acting Chief Astronomer, U. 8. B. Com’n. 
“In Camp, near Initial Point, New Mexico.” 
Lieutenant Whipple immediately complied with 
my request, and the Commission proceeded to the 
place which had been designated by the Astronomers 
as the Initial Point on the Rio Grande, escorted by 
Captain Buford of the Ist Dragoons, with his com- 
pany. 
We found General Condé with the Mexican Com- 
mission, the civil authorities of El Paso, and a body of 
Lancers already on the ground awaiting our arrival. 
The Joint Commission then held a meeting to agree 
upon the order of ceremonies to be observed on the 
occasion; after which we assembled around the spot 
Which was to be marked, where a post had been 
