HUMPHREYS, Brigadier General and Chief of Engineers to William W. Belknap, November 23, 1870

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Sir: In reply to the communication of the 7th instant, from the Department of State, asking for an estimate of the probable cost of surveying and marking the boundary between the United States and the British possessions, from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, I beg to reply that a properly-organized commission, with two sets of astronomical and surveying parties to expedite the work, would require, from the estimate hereunto annexed, an expenditure of about $100,000 yearly while actually engaged upon field duties.

But it is not possible to state with certainty the length of time required to trace and mark the whole line, as the progress that would be made depends upon the nature of the country to be passed over.

The line is about eight hundred and sixty miles long. The season for working to advantage is short, and although the country is generally an open one, the number of astronomical stations to be occupied, upon which the rate of progress mainly rests, depends so much upon the distance of prominent points of elevation from each other that they cannot be estimated.

From one month to six weeks would, no doubt, making due allowance for bad weather, be required to establish, astronomically, a point on the parallel to trace its connection with a preceding one and to move the party to the next. Should these points average fifty miles apart, there would be some seventeen stations, or say eight stations for each astronomical party, to occupy which would consume from eight to twelve months actual field duty for the completion of the line.

It is not probable that the parties can be kept in the field continuously for this length of time, but that the work would have to run through two seasons at least, if not longer.

The services of the officers and the greater part of their assistants would be required for another year on office-work to complete the records of the survey, so that the probable expense which would be incurred for completing the work might be set down at $325,000.

Officers of engineers have been frequently assigned to perform such duties as these, and if the demarcation of this boundary should be confided to them the estimate should be modified.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,