This cause coming on to be heard on the report of Amos Stickney, Gustavus V. Menzies, and Gaston M. Alves, commissioners, hereinbefore appointed to ascertain and run the boundary line between the states of Kentucky and Indiana, and continued by the decree of this court herein entered May 18, 1896, for the purpose of permanently marking said line as set forth in their then report, which was approved by this court on that date, and to make report thereon to this court, which report now made is as follows:
'To the Honorable Melville V. Fuller, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States:
'The undersigned commissioners, appointed by this honorable court in the above-entitled cause, respectfully report: That pursuant to the order made in said cause at the October term, 1895, continuing the commission for the purpose therein stated, they gave notice for bids for the stone monuments and iron posts and setting of the same to mark the boundary line as established by the order of this court. The commission met at the custom house in the city of Evansville, Indiana, on the 9th day of April, 1897, and received and opened the bids for the above-named material and work. The casting of the iron posts was let to the Heilman Machine Works, of Evansville, Indiana, for the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00), it being the lowest and best bidder; the making and setting in place of the three stone monuments was let to F. J. Scholz & Son, of Evansville, Indiana, for the sum of two hundred and forty-five dollars ($245.00), said firm being the lowest and best bidder; the setting of the sixteen iron posts was let to Eb. Cross, of Evansville, Indiana, for the sum of one hundred and ninety-seven dollars ($197.00), he being the lowest and best bidder. That contracts were made with each of said parties, and bonds taken for the honest and faithful performance of the contracts. That on the 7th day of May, 1897, after the engineer in charge of the work had reported that the monuments had been erected, and posts placed in position, in conformity to the order of the court, and the location on the established line of each monument and p st had been verified by accurate observations and measurements, the commission, accompanied by the engineer, visited the line, and by observations and measurements satisfied themselves of the accuracy of locations, and that the work of making and placing the boundary marks had been well done, and in accordance with the order of the court.
'We herewith attach, as a part of this report, the report of the engineer in charge of the works. Also a statement of expenses incurred and compensation of the commissioners since making the former report, which we recommend be adjudged as cost equally against the parties to the suit. We further recommend that upon the confirmation of this report a certified copy of the same be sent to the governor of the state of Indiana, and one to the governor of the commonwealth of Kentucky.
'Your commissioners therefore pray that this report be confirmed, and they be discharged.
'Amos Stickney,
'Gustavus V. Menzies,
'Gaston M. Alves,
'Commissioners.' 'To the Honorable Commissioners on the Indiana and Kentucky Boundary Line at Green River Island:
'Gentlemen: In accordance with your instructions, I made plans and detailed drawings for stone and iron monuments, to permanently mark the line between the states of Indiana and Kentucky, at Green River Island, to replace the cedar posts as placed on it during the winter of 1896. Upon your approval of the plans and letting the contracts for the monuments, I proceeded to verify the line and angles to satisfy myself that no post had been moved. On the completion of the monuments I superintended the work of setting them.
'The three monuments of stone are of sawed Green River limestone, 18 inches in cross section and 6 feet in length. At the starting point on the section line between sections 14 and 15, town 7 south, range 10 west, the monument has the word 'Initial' on the side next section 14, on the north side the word 'Indiana,' and on the south side the word 'Kentucky,' cut horizontally in the stone near the top, in Egyptian letters.
'Near the midway distance along the line, and near the line between sections 8 and 9, the second stone monument is set. with the word 'Indiana' cut on the northerly side, and the word 'Kentucky' cut on the southerly side, similar to the first monument.