The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-11-13
FROM BALTIMORE.
Correspondence Somerset Press,I

BALTIMORE, MD, Nov. 6, 1874
Well, here we are again, just returned
from the old Capitol, and more pleas
ant trip we never enjoyed Leaving Mt
Washington "a station in the suburbs al
most of Baltimore), at A. NJ, We reach
ed pier No 3, Light street, at A. M, in
time to board the steamer Samuel J.
Pentz," which 10 the largest as well as
the fastest sailer on the bay. we arrived
at Annapolis in little over two hours,
and proceeded at once to our task. We
found what we wanted, by searching the
old County and State records, and also
the Commissioners Office; then with our
notes, abstracts, etc., in our portfolio,
we again boarded our beautiful steamer
at nearly P. NJ, and after as pretty and
cozy little voyage as could well be i'm
agined, we stepped on No. pier Light
street, little before 6 o'clock P. NJ, and
made our way to our room.
l find by reading the daily news here,
that "within the last few months the
city of Baltimore has paid S22, 800 for
the examination of title to property
which has been condemned for the use
of the city, and large claims are still
pending" And yet there seems to be
great complaint that the younger city
clerks and attorneys are not paid suffi,
cIent sum to compensate them for Their
arduous labors in performing this work
of procuring abstracts of the titles.
Now, as this relates to comparative
ly small part of the city-only that con-
| tiguous to Jones Falls, and a district
lying between Hanover and Lexington
streets-we are led to believe the matter
of tracing claims and procuring abstracts
of titles, is a tardy, laborious matter
and one which persons not initiated into
the art of misunderstanding, are prone.tC
underestimate; especially is such th'
fact in the first thirteen provinces of "y'
olden time" Our forefathers landed in
to this vast wilderness which seemed
boundless in extent almost, and in max
ing their first selections it was more ik
taking a "leap in the dark" than any
thing l can now think of. A tree wa
usually blazed, stake set up, and per
haps the meanderlng of some water
course or riyulet, or ravine constituted
the base of their claim, and by som
rude survey and crude calculation, tn
area of the claim was arrived at, a leas
or patent, as the case might be, was theI
secured, and the old pioneer was mad
as happy as king. This accounts 70
much of the irregularity in these sur
veys, and gives the present generation
much labor and perplexity (; hence on
reason why our labors are SO protracte'
and onerous. have found that by com
pairing the notes of my investigation
with the old family tradition as give
me by our oldest members, that there
very striking coincidence, and we ar
compelled to conclude that in nearly ev
cry particular it is substantially true.
NOVEMBER 7.
Our weather is delightful and the las
! few days have been repetition of on
last beautiful October. Yet it canno
last long possibly, as our early morning
are somewhat cool. Hoping that ger
tie yet copious rain may visit US ere tn
the old winter king assumes his reigr
we resume our work in the musty oil
, Records of Baltimore county once more
Yours, truly, j. c. G.