The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-10-25
MASON AND D,xoN's LINE.
HI.roscAI SKETCH Br n. $. rassss.


HISTORICAL SKETCH BY n. s. Tasxss
ss,f .---@a sH ~ = tsesa-s.-
Although reference is constantly had 10
this line, there are, perhsps, but few per.
sons, comparatively, acquainted with lie To-
calily, and lsss with its history and ultimate
adjustment ss5
In the specification of limits between the
colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland,
there was certainly plausible ground for con.
isnlion, and The rival claims Of the propris.
taries formed fruitful source OF discon,ent
to themselves and annoyance 10 tho colo
nisis. Whatever might have been the sner.
its Of the case on either side, long, vexs-
tious, and bitter contest arose from the fret
attempt 10 act upon the charter of Pennsyl.
vania. After many Intellectual attempts 10
adjust the common limits between the colo
nies, the matters in dspn,e were referred To-
The Lords of the Conmi,tee OF Tfade and
Plantations; these, after hearing boz parties,
made their report TO King James II I,swho,in
November, 1856, by an order Of Copncil, dc.
termined the affair by ordering division Of
the disputed territory. By the terms Of this
order, the tract lying between The river and
bay OF Delaware, and line from the latitude
Of Cape ileniopen 10 the foriieh degree Of
north latitude, was adjddgod to beione5.o big
Majesty, King James II, and the retnaiidct
OF The disputed terri.ofy, (now part Of The
eastern shore Of Marylsnd,) was assigned 10
Lord Baltimore. The order of Council was
not acted upon. In the meantime fresh eau.
ses of contention arose, which .erved 10 con-
plica,e matters still more. One Of ,as orig
nal disputes was respecting tho for.ie.h de.
gree Of north latitude, Maryland contsndinz
that lae expression in lis charter, ITO the for.
iielh degree, meant forty degrees compis,en
the Assembly and proprietsries of Penn.
syvania on their part, insisting that in the
charter of Pennsylvania, the expression ss,o
begin at the fortieih degree of norh latitude.
onght 10 be construed to be where the tbirty..
ninth degree was completed"
This dispute involved tract Of coun,rv
nearly 5000 square rniles in extent: and
bad il been assigned 10 Lord Baltimore. The
snPerficies Of Pennsylvania would have been
reduced nearly one fourth.
Thus matters went until 1889 when 4,
August ct that year, compromise was ef.
iected and commissioners appointed 10 "de.
termine, survey and mark the respec,;v,
boundaries in controversy" The dutv a..
signed TO the commissioners was to trace The
following lines Beginning at Cape Henlo.
pen, and thence due west to the western side
o' the peninsula, which lies upon Ctesa.
peake bay, as far westward as the ss,c,
middle oftha, pan ofihe peninsula wbers
the SAID line is rum" thence north 10 The eY.
HeTne west par: of a ciicle, twelve miles ra.
aus, Newcastls on the Delaware beirs m,
centre. From the tangent thus Obtained
hne que north to the parallel is statute mile,
south of phiiadelphis, and thence BY The sx.
tension OF this parallel TO the western bonn.
dary Of Pennsylvania.
The commissioners met, bu, d;ffs,;nc !.
some important points, separated wiihoa, q.
'ccling anything. Difficulties created delays
whilst the inhabitants who had settled nas,
mo places where the lines wero supposed 10
run, were, in the meantime, subjected y
vexatious demands from bosh colon;e. Il.
ordinary process. Of ;u.,;os -. 'o1 'no
and the tenure of property rendered iase.
cure. 'fs
IN l735 the Penn family, desirous Of CID.
sing tho controversy on he s,,,.' 'of e.
promise of i7ao. ins,;,n,sd III, i - So 49,
Gerry of Grea, Bri,iao.a In ,7so ~. -,
HarIwick aes;,sd ,h,,s... .o'u
ticies of MAY 10, i7ss .bouId ~ c.,,:.s
10 execution. and ina, c,oos, co,,.,;..:s =,
should be appointed "a, ,hs, ,r,no..v So
commissioners also mai, % orsu.rt : .,.s'., ss.s
Inent, November rs. f7so IN, d;.s,.aa,, rrs.a
specting the mode Of ex,en,,,no ,hs az ~
circle around Newcastle. and l;L.,hs;,
lecss,o,s .en,,a.ed Y;boa, ,..t..~.:
pan o' 'oe'f dutiss
iweive years again elapsed before eff