“ There has been considerable controversy and litigation over these last 3 miles of the boundary, and a number of witnesses have testified in the case of Virginia against Tennessee, Supreme Court, United States, October term, 1891, that there were none of the marks of the previous surveys remaining between Station creek and the summit of Cumberland mountain, owing to the destruction of the timber in that area during the military operations of the Civil War. ”

“ These tests showed that the marks were of the supposed age. The ages of the most important marks were verified by the United States Bureau of Forestry. As was found, in 1858-'59 the marking of the timber ceased (or began) on a comparatively low eminence, known as Burnt hill, which, from the neighboring heights of White Top or of Pond mountain, seems to be in the bottom of a hollow. ”

“ Your commissioners unanimously agree in recommending that the rights of individuals having claims or titles to lands on either side of said boundary line, as ascertained, remarked, and re-established by your commissioners, shall not in consequence thereof in anywise be prejudiced or affected, where said individuals have paid their taxes, in good faith, in the wrong state. ”

“ The frequent and heavy rains often stopped field-work, washed the few roads so badly that they became almost impassable, and raised the streams so high that sometimes, for days at a time, it was impossible to ford them.
It was not until September 21 that your commissioners were able to close work in the White Top region and return to Bristol, to start westward from that place toward Cumberland gap. ”

“ And said commissioners, in their said report, having ascertained and recommended the straight line from the end of the 'diamond-marked' or compact line of 1801-1803 to the corner of the states of North Carolina and Tennessee as the true boundary line between the states of Virginia and Tennessee between those two points, the court, approving said recommendation and finding of said commissioners, doth adopt the same. ”

“ For the remainder, not worn out, purchasers could not be found without the delay of a commissioner in the field, at a greater expense than they were worth. The proceeds of the sales made-$11.00-have been returned, one half to each state.
A. H. Buchanan, Treasurer.
Notes
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105) . ”

“ Hodgkins to Washington to attend to business of the commission and to draft a report of its operation; while Mr. Baylor remained on the ground until September 13, superintending the placing of monuments along the part of the line surveyed in 1902. ”

“ Remuneration of Commissioners, at $10 per day.................... $5730. Transportation to and from field..... 274. Transportation in field (about) ..... 1085. Stone monuments...................... 678. Labor, freight, etc................. 1707. ----------- Total ........................... $9475. Cash received from Virginia......... 4737. Cash received from Tennessee........ 4738. ----------- Total ........................... $9475.
The above is respectfully submitted.
A. H. Buchanan,
Treasurer of the Boundary Commission. ”