Report on the Northern Boundary |
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| Home | REPORT ON THE INAUGURATION OF THE MARK AT THE NORTHERN TERMINAL OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN SURINAM AND BRITISH GUIANA. 1. On 5th July, 1936 the Heads of the Netherlands and British Boundary Commission met at No.63 Village (Benab) Courantyne, for the purpose of drawing up this report on the inauguration of the Northern Terminal Point Mark of the Surinam/British Guiana Boundary. 2.
Identification of the approximate position of the
Mark. The Mixed Commission first plotted on the latest 1927 Dutch chart of the Courantyne Mouth the co-ordinates given in their instructions for the proposed site. (60 00'25" N.) (570 08' 10" W.). Astronomical observations were then made by both Commissions for Latitude, Longitude and Azimuth near the Government Rest House at No.63 Village (Benab). From the astronomical stations a theologize traverse was made Northwards along the coast. It was found that the point 60 00' 25" N. 570 08' 10" W. was actually in the sea owing to the chart being incorrect as regards Longitude. The traverse was therefore continued along the coast to the Latitude of 60 00' 25" N. but there the land was found to be most unsuitable for the constructions of the pillars. The most suitable position was found to be on a wide stretch of grass land behind a low sand dune. Here the ground was comparatively firm and did not appear to be subject to the erosion by the sea. In fact it appeared to be being built up here if anything. The coast at this point made a slight bend from North towards the North West similar to the coast shown on the chart at the point indicated by the co-ordinates. The sandbank shown on the chart opposite this bend was also visible at low tide in the corresponding relative position. 3. The Netherlands Commissioner considered it was essential that the continuation of the Boundary in the territorial waters should leave the navigation channel in the same territory throughout its length. Other difficulties would arise over lighting, buoys, etc. A line drawn on a True Bearing of 280 E, from the site selected for the Boundary Mark would not leave free the whole channel. The British Commissioner believed that the bearing of 280 was only chosen because it was thought that this would possibly allow a direction mark to be placed on the sandbank mentioned above. The Mixed Commission therefore decided to indicate the direction of the boundary line in the territorial waters on a True bearing of 100 E, this direction being parallel to the mid-channel line as indicated on the chart. 4. Geographical Co-ordinates of the Terminal Mark The values found by the British and Netherlands Commissions and the accepted Mean Values are as follows: Latitude Longitude British 50 59' 54" .05 North 570 08' 51" .59 West Netherlands
50 59" 53" .60 North
570 08' 51" .41 West Accepted Means
50 59' 53" .8 North
570 08' 51" .5 West The above values refer to the buried mark 'A', about 3 meters from the visible pillar 'A'. 5.
Description of the Mark a. The Mark proper, whose co-ordinates are given above, is a concrete block (40cms.cube) with a brass center bolt embedded in the top. On the top surface is engraved the letter 'A' and the year '1936'. The top of the block is buried 10 cm. below the surface of the ground. b. At a distance of 220 meters inland on a true bearing of 1900 from the center bolt of Mark 'A' is a similar buried block, marked 'B'. The line joining the center bolt of 'B' to that of 'A' and projected out to sea gives the direction of the boundary line in Territorial waters i.e. 100 East of True North. c. The real marks being buried below the surface of the ground two visible pillars have been erected on the line joining the two marks 'A' and 'B' but 3 meters beyond the buried mark in each case so that the line between the marks is uninterrupted by the pillars. The pillars have been marked 'A' and 'B' corresponding to the marks which they indicate. Both pillars are truncated square pyramids, with the sides 40 cm at the top and 50 cm at ground level. They are buried 60 cm. in the ground and project 60 cm above the ground, with a rounded cap about 5 cm high, making the total height above ground about 65 cm. Both pillars are set diagonally on the line joining the two marks 'A' and 'B' and thus have two adjacent faces towards the sea and two towards the land. d. Pillar 'A' has engraved on its N.W.face the words "BRITISH GUIANA", on its N.E. face "SURINAME", on its S.E.face 'A' and on its S.W.face "1936". It is about 215 meters from the present low water mark, but this measurement is of little value as the coast is continually changing here. It is however situated on comparatively firm grass land immediately inland of a small sand dune which follows the high-water mark. Pillar 'B' has only the letter "B' on the S.E. face and the year "1936" on the S.W.face. e. The situation of the pillars and marks relative to each other and the neighboring landmarks is shown on the attached sketch. The general position of the Marks is about 1720 meters North of the Government Rest House at No.63 Village (Benab) Courantyne. 6.
Erection of a large Mark visible from the sea. Owing to the fact that there is no stone available within a 100 miles and the ground on which the pillar has to be constructed consists of sand supported on liquid mud and considered impracticable to erect a large concrete mark visible from ships at sea. As such a mark is necessary a high wooden structure has to be built. This mark has to be placed in the above mentioned line of 100E. The lookout seawards is here unobstructed. The mark must be kept up and renewed when necessary. 7. As a further safeguard for the replacement of the Marks referred to in para.5. a small concrete mark has been made at the British Astronomical Station. This is 8.5 meters from the N.E. corner of the Rest House and 14.4 meters from the N.W. corner. Latitude
50 58' .09" N. I.
Phipps Majer R. C.C.Kayser |