Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-01-14
Otfora democrat.
,r.. orsoy,r County Meridian.


The oxford County Meridian.
In the Democrat FOR Nov. 2Sd. 1866. we
made some remarks upon the doclination
of the magnetic needle. At that time at
tention was called 10 the facts relating 10
this subject, aud the figures were given by
which Surveyors might make tho proper
allowance for the change which Is always
going on in the direction shown by the
compass. In Chapter 80, OF the Public
Laws for 1869, will be found an act APP
proved March llth, of the same year,
providing for the establishment OF true
meridian Rres. and for regulating the
practice OF surveying in this State. by
which it is mSde the duty of the County
Commissioners OF each County, within
two years from tho passage Of the act, 10
establish true meridian line, by means
Of substantial stone posts and brass or
copper points fixed in the tops of the same.
Ii is also made the duty OF every land
surveyor in the State. at least once IN
every year, to adjust and verify his
compass by the meridian line established
in his county. and to insert in his notes
the true as well as magnetic bearings OF
the lines of his surveys, and the day ON
which the lines were run. The Com
missiouers are farther directed to provide
a book. TO be kept at the office OF the
Clerk OF Courts, or ut some other con
venient place near 70 the meridian Inc
in which every Surveyo:, having adjusted
his compass. is to record the variation OF
his needle, and sign his name thereto, Tor
future reference. Any surveyor neglect
ing or refusing to comply with The above
requirements is subject TO fine of ten
dollars on complaint made by any person
interested in such survey before any trial
Justice in the County.
In accordance with the above law the
Commissioners OF Oxford County have
caused meridian line TO be established
at Paris. by means Of two granite monu-
lncnts, placed upon substantial iouuda-
tions, Al 4 distance apart Of about 900 feet.
The centre OF these monuments j. denoted
by strong and we'll finished gun metal
pins let into the stones and secured 10y
lead. These pins are precisely upon the
correct Astronomical north and south line,
as determined by series Of observations
upon the Pole Star, according 10 the
directions laid down in the report OF Hon.
Noah Barker. commissioner appointed by
the State 20 determine the variations of
the magnetic needle in Maine. BY
placing a compass upon one of the m"nu-
meuts, and sighting to the other one, the
north and south line Of the Instrument
will be on the true meridian; bat tte
north end Of the needle will point
degrees to the ives, of thetrue line. This
"A degrees l. the declination of the needle
at the present time at Paris; and this
difference between the true and the
magnetic meridians Is increasing at The
rate Of about one degree in - years. The
above angle Of Il degrees. has been
measured carefully by Mr.. 5. Il Hutchins
who WAS the first surveyor 10 put his /
compass upon the meridian. and the
result agrees almost precisely with the I
theoretical defamation determined by the (
I-nited States coast survey,
To enable the surveyors 10 retrace old /
lines, OF which the monuments ar~ gone. |
we add the following figures, furnished /
FROM the office O, the Coast Survey The /
defamation Of the needle at Portland was