Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-26
and Virginia Boundary.

General Isaac D. Jones, of the counsel for
Maryland and Judge William j. Robinson, of
counsel for Virginia, in the Virginia and Mary
land boundary arbitration, closed the testimony
on the questions at issue between the two
States 10 Baltimore last Tuesday before Allan
Is. Magruder the commissioner appointed to
take testimony. The counsel on the part of
Maryland are General Jones and Hon. w.
Piukney Whyte, and on the part OF Virginia,
Judge Robinson and Raleigh T. Daniel The
labor of taking the TESTIMONY devo!ved upon
General Jones and Judge Robinson, who, in
addition to the FIVE days spent 10 Baltimore,
occupied FIVE days at Cris6eld, Nd, and two
days at Onancock, Va, examining witnesses
and taking dispositions before Commissioner
Magruder.
The arbitrator will meet at the Grand Union
Hotel Saratoga, New York, on Wednesday,
the 2Sth, at which time all the arbtrators and
the counsel for both sides will be present, and
the tiual arguments 10 the case it is expected
will be heard before they separate. It is the
desire Of the COUNSEL 10 close the case at as early
day as possible, and It's hoped the arbitrators
will reach decision by the meeting of the Leg
islatures OF the two States this winter, and that
their decision be laid before these bodies at an
early period of their sessions, 80 that final ad-
Jud'catlon may be reached before they adjourn.
There are, however, many difficult, and per-
haps some delicate questions involved, the ad-
Jus'ment OF which may consume time and in-
volve postpoDcment of a final settlement
The principal points in dispute upon which
testimony has been taken before the CONT mis-
siooer We're 10 reference to the title to and ju-
risdiction over the lands in Somerset county,
Maryland, situated south of the prolongation of
the "Michler line, line run by Lieutenant,
iohl oft IL L. 81 o..
survey. iu 1858 The face Of the country 10 dis.
pute, the shores and islands, have greatly chang
ed by the action Of the water and winds since
the granting OF the charter to Lord Baltimore,
two hundred and thirty years ago. The lines
surveyed long ago have become obliterated and
upon being resnrveyed are found to run accord
10 to Mlchler's survey, five degrees and some
minutes south OF that claimed by Virginia.
Maryland claims to the south shore of the Poto-
mac river, beginning at Harper Ferry,iu West
Virginia. and from Smiths Point, which is
the southern roint at the mouth of the river, by
right line to Cedar straits, and thence by an
eastern line to the Atlantic ocean. Virginia
claims to the uorth shore Of the Potomac and
from Point Lookout, ocross Smiths Island to
Jeans Island, the north headlahd of Little An
namesslx river, near the town Of Chrisfeld,
Md. and thence by line nearly, east touch
luz lbC loittOaG piel az OllSuelu, ACROSS the To-
comoke river, to the Atlantic ocecn; Including
within her boundary the southern portion Of
Somerset county, Nd, from Jeans Island 10
1.-THE Pocomoke river, embracing about eigh,
square miles of high, arabic land and large
quantity Of marsh lands 10 Somerset county,
besides oyster grounds, the value of which Gen,
Henry A. Wise estimated in his testimony be-
fore the com missioner to be $50 100000 This
estimate, however, is considered much too high
by those acquainted with the locality.
Gen. Jones, the senior counsel for Maryland,
has devoted much of his time to the study and
investigation of this subject, and has been main
ly relied upon on account Of his knowledge of
the case to briug out the facts The arhitra,ors
appointed by the Legislatures of Maryland and
Virginia are Hon. Jeremiah S. Black of Penn.
Hon. Wm.A Graham, of North Carolina, and
Hon. Chas. j. Jenkins, OF Georgia, Allan B.
Magruder, of Baltimore, commissioner to take
testimony, and A. w. Graham, of North Caro-
Ina. Secretary to the Board OF Arbitration
Bait. Sun.
There is still considerable alarm at Memphis
10 regard to an apprehended overflow, and
prayers were offered up in various churches
yesterday for it's abatement. Last nights
news is regarded as favorable despite the heavy
local rains Of Saturday night, as it is believed
the nine inches decline reported by the Signal
Service at Cairo renders danger from the Ohio