The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 53, July 1949 - April, 1950 Page: 23
538 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Claim of Texas to Greer County
line had been properly defined and marked by the two govern-
ments.
Jacob Thompson, secretary of the interior, submitted several
reasons why operations should begin on the Rio Grande rather
than on Red River.9 Because the boundaries to be run were
astronomical lines, requiring for their establishment the most
delicate and accurate observations of the heavenly bodies, he
believed a saving of at least six months could be effected by
commencing operations on the Rio Grande from an initial point
already properly determined. Thompson observed that by the
time the commissioners were prepared to begin their labors on
the one hundredth meridian, that line probably would have
been determined by Jones and Brown. He said that these sur-
veyors were
provided with a competent astronomer and excellent instruments,
and their line will probably require but simple verification on the
part of the joint commission; and for all purposes appertaining to
the interests of the citizens of Texas along and adjacent to the pro-
posed boundary line north of Red River, Brown and Jones' survey
must prove sufficient and satisfactory. If they vary from the true line
at all, that variation must prove to be inconsiderable, and in no
way detrimental to the interests of Texas, for, so far as fixedness and
certainty are concerned, there can be no locations of land, no per-
fection of titles, until the surveys are officially agreed upon and
accepted by both governments.
John H. Clark was the commissioner and surveyor on the part
of the United States. Thompson instructed him to take the one
hundredth meridian as laid down on the map of the southern
boundary of Kansas, or as determined and marked upon the
surface of the earth by Jones and Brown at its intersection with
the northern Creek boundary, or by independent observations,
whichever in his judgment from comparison might be found to
be the most correct method.'0 Clark was instructed to retrace the
one hundredth meridian to the Red River, making such obser-
vations and measurements as he might deem sufficient to verify it.
9Thompson to Runnels, August 17, 1858, ibid., 267-269.
o0Thompson to Clark, July 9, 1858, ibid., 264-265. In regard to Clark's field-
work, correspondence, and maps see ibid., No. 70. Maps numbered twelve and
thirteen relate to the one hundredth meridian. Marcus Baker, "The Northwest
Boundary of Texas," in House Documents, 57th Cong., Ist Sess., CII (4369), No.
635, is a valuable study relative to Clark's work. An illustrative map is included.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 53, July 1949 - April, 1950, periodical, 1950; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101126/m1/41/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.