Melville Fuller

“ I have the honor to submit the following report upon the operations conducted under my direction for the purpose of enabling you to locate and mark by 'durable monuments,' as required by the decree of the supreme court of the United States dated February 3rd, 1896, that portion of the boundary line between the states of Missouri and Iowa which lies between the fortieth and sixtieth mile posts east of the old nothwest corner of Missouri, as marked in 1850 by H. B. Hendershott and W. G. Minor, commissioners. ”

“ These gentlemen brought with them a very complete outfit of instruments of the best description used in geodetic work, including all necessary equipment for astronomical observations as well as field work. We proceeded to the 40th mile point on the afternoon of April 8th ult., and arranged for the commencement of work the following day. On April 9th ult., a party for field work having been organized, and the necessary teams and wagons hired, the entire party proceeded to Pleasanton, Iowa, a point situated immediately on the boundary line, just east of the 45th mile point. ”

“ The distances and bearings of these trees from the point shown and claimed as the original Hendershott mile point also agree with the field notes closely. Beyond these coincidences, however, there is, in our judgment, nothing whatsoever to warrant a conclusion that they were ever marked as witness by Hendershott and Minor. In their report (10th Howard, pages 15 and 16) they state: 'In timber the number of the mile is marked on the witness trees with the letter appropriate to each state, there being one tree marked on each side of the line whenever possible. ”

“ A line run eastward with the bearings given by the Hendershott notes from their 51st mile point would pass at least 40 feet south of the point indicated by the 'elm and oak.' A line run eastward, as per the Hendershott notes, from the point claimed as the Hendershott and Minor 52d mile point, would pass at least 90 feet south of their 54th mile point. The commissioners carefully considered all the comparatively authentic traces of the Hendershott line, together with the topographical conditions given in the notes of the survey. ”

“ And on the same page: 'The general topography of the country, and especially the crossing of the streams, greatly facilitated us in following the line, and in some instances, when confirmed by the old blazes, enabled us to establish it with sufficient certainty.' Commencing some ten chains east of the 51st mile point, the country through which the boundary line passes was and is heavily timbered, and, as before stated, the Sullivan line in the timber is at this time readily to be found. ”

“ The commissioners have no idea that these stumps referred to were those of Hendershott's witness trees, but make this statement to show that coincidences such as shown by the 'elm and oak' are not impossible. To have crossed the 'Stokes' fence, in a distance of 30 chains, starting fron the suppositious 52d mile point claimed to be witnessed by the elm and oak, an angle of at least 2° to the left would have been necessary, and also another angle to the right equally great in order to run directly to the 54th mile point. ”

“ The 42d, 43d, 44th, 49th, 54th, and 58th mile points were identified and located by evidence entirely satisfactory to the commissioners. As regards the 50th mile point (iron monument) , concerning the reliability of which doubt had existed, the commissioners are satisfied that it is very little, if at all, out of its original position; its relation to the 49th mile point (which was clearly identified as Hendershott's original point) , as determined by the base line, confirming our judgment. ”

“ As the blaze shows a face of fully eight inches, it is evident it could not have been cut on a tree with a diameter of only five inches. The diameter of this tree at base, where 'B X' mark was found, is now 15 inches. Applying the proportionate growth of tree as shown by Prof. McBride, and its diameter at base could not have exceeded 8.5 inches 46 years ago, and its size was not sufficient to have received the blaze now shown.
'Regarding the elm tree, also claimed to be a witness tree for the original Hendershott 52d mile point. ”

“ A. L. Baldwin, also of the C. & G. Survey, was assigned to the party as assistant observer.
'In compliance with the request of your board, received through Mr. Morgan, we met you on April 8th, 1896, at Davis City, Iowa. A preliminary inspection of the western portion of the field of work was made on that day, and the organization of the party was completed by engaging laborers and teams. ”

“ This characteristic permits any desired local correction to be made at any point without necessarily affecting points on either side,-a feature which I consider very essential in work of this character. ”

“ N.
" " 41 8.8 = 29 " "
" " 42 14.3 =47 " "
" " 43 9.8 = 32 " "
" " 44 12.1 =40 " S.
" " 45 31.0 = 102 " "
" " 46 48.7 = 160 " "
" " 47 47.3 = 155 " "
" " 48 38.3 = 125 1/2 " "
" " 49 29.4 =96 1/2 " "
" " 50 29.6 =97 " "
" " 51 23.7 =78 " "
" " 52 7.6 = 25 " N.
" " 53 36.2 = 119 " "
" " 54 64.8 = 212 1/2 " "
" " 55 75.4 = 247 " "
" " 56 69.5 = 228 " "
" " 57 63.7 = 209 " "
" " 58 23.4 = 77 " "
" " 59 11.3 = 37 " S.
" " 60 46.6 = 153 " "
'Note on the Reduction and Results of the Astronomical Observations at Lineville, Iowa. ”