Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-07-26

parellcl of lati,udc fifteen miles south
of tho southern boundary of tho city
of Philadelphia. Having determined
the southern boundary of the city,
they measured fifteen miles due south,
and then ran due west until thoy in-
tersccted due north line from the
tangent point aforesaid, and here they
set up the corner stone between Mary
land and Pennsylvania, and ran due
west two hundred and thirty-eight
miles to near path called the Indian
war path, but were prevented BY the
Indians from continuing the line to
the end of five degrees of longitude,
as they would not suffer it to pass
westward Of the war path.
AT the time of fixing these boun.
darics there were only Maryland and
Pennsylvania in the controversy; the
three counties on the Delaware, New 4,
Castle, Kent and Sussex, being part
Of Pennsylvania (; and, according 10
tho agreement, boundary stones were
prepared in England and sent over to
be placed at the distance of a mile
from each other, every fifth stone
being larger sizc, aud having tho
arms of Lord Baltimore Oh one side,
and those of the Penn family on the
other, and on the intermediate stones
the letter NJ on tho side next Mary
land and p on tho side next Penn.
sylvania. The stone at the northeast
corner Of Maryland having been set
near u stream of water was washed
down and lost, and commissioners
were appointed by the three States,
namely: II G. s. Key, of Mary land,
Joshua p. Eyre, of Pennsylvania, and
George Read Riddle, of Delaware. to
restore the lost boundary, who called
TO their assistance Colonel J. d. Ora
ham, United States Typographical
Engineer, TO assist in tracing the lines
as laid down By Mason and Dixon.
These parties met on the ground in
lS47, and finding some discrepancies
in the measures between the boundar-
les, Colonel Graham began to have
some doubts about the correct meas.
ure Of the radius Of twelve miles from
tho Court House at New Castle, and
having found the stations of the coast
survey at Iron Hill and at Gray's Hill,
the line between these points was used
as base line in determining by trian-
gulation the distance between the
Court House at Now Castle and the
tangent stone, and by the trial said
stone was found to be within two feet
and four inches of the proper distance,
that is, that it should have been that
much farther west, and the old stone
was not disturbed, and the new one
placed on the north side of il, as it
now stands, marked "TANGENT-
1919" Then in order to restore the
lost boundary at the northeast corner
Of Maryland, the due north line was
run until it intersectcd line drawn
due cast from tho boundaries of Ma
son and Dixon line between Maryland
and Pennsylvania, and on making the
excavation for the new boundary, they
found, at the depth Of three feet, a cut
stone, unmarked, and of the same d.
mensions and quality rs the stones set
on the arc of the circle, and had pro-
baby been buried at the base of the
one bearing the arms, when the latter
was placed at the same point by Com
missioner John Ewing, in lS4S. Angle
of DETECTION between the tangent line
and the north line or chord of arc Of
boundary, 80 36', by Colonel Graham
80 2S' by Mason and Dixon length
Of chord 7,743 feet. From the mid
die of the chord westward to the
periphery of the circle the distance is
given by Mason and Dixcn as chain
75i links, and the length of tangent
or peninsular line 81 miles 5,lGs feet.
Distance from tangent point TO north
cast corner of Maryland 5 miles ll0
feet. The mile stones at McCowan's,
Christiana Church and Gibson's, being
on true meridian line, may be used
in determining the variation OF the
eon1nnss