Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-10-15

side and and an NJ on the other The stones
with the arms were all sent from Ergland-
This was done on the parallel of latitude as far
as Sideling Hill but here all wheel transpor-
tation ceasing in 1866, the further marking Of
the line was the vista of eight yards wide with
piles of stone on the crests of all the noun
tain ranges, built some eight feet high, as far
as the summit of the Allegheny, beyond which
the line was marked by posts, around which
stones and earth were thrown the better to
preserve them.''
All the efforts of Mr.. Latrobe to discover
some information in regard TO the characters
and personal appearance of these two remark
able individuals proved fruitless. ssTheir let
ters," he says, care the merest business let
ters, their journal is the most naked of re-
Cords" and he therefore amused himself by
diyining their characters from their respective
autographs. From these he very inceniously
deduces that ssMason was 4 cool, deliberate
pains-taking man, never in hurry; man of
quiet courage, who crossed the MonongaheIa
with fifteen men because it was his duty to do
so, though he would have much preferred
thrice the number at his heels" From Dix
er man, more active man a man of an i'm
patient spirit and a nervous temperament;
just such a man as worked best with q sobersi-
ded colleague"
In note he tells lis that Lalande, in his
photographic .4stronomiqne, says that Dixon
was born in coal mine. lie died in Durham,
England, in 1777, but Mason survived him ten
years. and according to the Encyclopedia f.
mericana died in Pennsylvania in 1897. One
Of the stoncs-that which marked the north
cast corner Of aryland-being undermined
by brook, in the course of .ime fell, and was
removed to form part of chimney to
neghboring farm house. Upon the stone be-
ing missed Mr.. Latrobe says ssthe Legislatures
of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware took
the matter in hand, and joint commi ssion
was appointed, which, obtaining the services
of Lieut.. Col. James d. Graham, distinguish
ed officer Of the Typographical Engineers of
the United States, caused the work of Mason
and Dixon to be reviewed as far as necessary.
Col. Graham's work corroberated in all impor-
tant particulars the work of his predecessors.
Some errors were discovered, however,"
By the correction of one of these errors the
State of Maryland gained addition to her
territory of ''one acre aud etghty-seren han
Gredtbs Of an acre. but whether the loss fell
upon Pennsylvania or Delaware does not sp-
pear. Another of the errors corrected was of
a rather singular character. Colonel Graham
says in his report s'hr. W. Smith, gentle
man who has once served as a member of the
Legislature of Delaware, resided a full hall
mile within the State of Pennsylvania and
Christiana church, by the same re-survey, was
found to be in Pennsylvania.
These are all curious facts, well worthy to
be made the subject of an address to any his
torical society and the manner in which Mr..
Latrobe executed his task shows the discrimi-
mating judgment of the Pennsylvania society
in selecting an individual so every way COM
Petent to its satisfactory performance.