Chapter 47. to authorize the appointment of a commission by the President of the United States to run and mark the boundary lines between a portion of the Indian Territory and the State of Texas, in connection with a similar commission to be appointed by the State of Texas
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CHAP. 47.— An Act to authorize the appointment of a commission by the President of the United States to run and mark the boundary lines between a portion of the Indian Territory and the State of Texas, in connection with a similar commission to be appointed by the State of Texas.Jan. 31, 1885. Whereas, the treaty between the United States and Spain executed*Preamble*.Reciting controversy, under treaty with Spain, between U. S. and Texas, as to point in boundary line. February twenty-second, eighteen hundred and nineteen, fixed the boundary-line between the two countries west of the Mississippi River as follows:
Beginning on the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Sabine River, in the sea, and continuing north along the western bank of that river to the thirty-second degree of latitude; thence by a line due north to the degree of latitude where it strikes the Rio Roxo of Nachitoches 297 FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 47, 50. 1885. or Red River; thence following the course of the Rio Roxo westward to the one hundredth degree of longitude west from London and the twenty-third from Washington; thence crossing the said Red River and running thence by a line due north to the river Arkansas; thence following the course of the southern bank of the Arkansas to its source, in latitude forty two degrees north; anti thence by’ that parallel of latitude to the South Sea; the whole being as laid down in Melish’s map of the United States published at Philadelphia, improved to the first of January, eighteen hundred and eighteen; and Whereas a controversy exists between the United States and Texas as to the point where the one hundredth degree of longitude crosses the Red River, as described in the treaty; and Whereas the point of crossing has never been ascertained and fixed by any authority competent to bind the United States and Texas; and Whereas it is desirable that a settlement of this controversy should be had, to the end that the question of boundary, now in dispute because of a difference of opinion as to said crossing, may also be settled:
Therefore *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,President of U. S. authorized to detail one or more Army officers to define the point where the one hundredth meridian of longitude crosses Red River.Report to Secretary of Interior for transmission to Congress. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to detail one or more officers of the Army who, in conjunction with such person or persons as may be appointed by the State of Texas, shall ascertain and mark the point where the one hundredth meridian of longitude crosses Red River, in accordance with the terms of the treaty aforesaid, and the person or persons appointed by virtue of this act shall make report of his or their action in the premises to the Secretary of the Interior, who shall transmit the same to Congress, at the next session thereof after such report may be made, for action by Congress.
Sec. 2. That the sum of ten thousand dollars, or so much thereof asAppropriation. may be necessary, to be expended under’ the direction of the War Department, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to pay’ the expenses of the United States in carrying out the provisions of this act. Approved, January 31st, 1885.