Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-05-21
MASON AND DIxoNs LINE.
WHAT AND WHERE IT Is-ITs ORIGIN
AND HISTORY.

hltnough Mason and Dixons lin
has been for years past part Of on
history, as one may say, there arc man,
persons who have but an indistinc
idea of what and where it is. Dis
cussions as to whether our own Stat,
lies north or south Of this famous lin,
are not uncommon among Delaware
ans, and though the line itself has los
half its significance because it is nc
longer a political shibboleth, history
OF its origin can scarcely fail to inter
est the people of fthis peninsula. Sucl
history is given in lecture by Johr
IL. B. Latrobe, Esq, of Baltimore, de
livered nearly 25 years ago before tn,
Pennsylvania historical society. The
lecture was published in pamphlet form
and MI. Joseph A. Maybin, has a COPY
in his possession, borrowed with many
promises OF careful handling fros, !
gentleman in Philadelphia, who greatly
prizes it, copies being somewhat rare
In the early pages Of bis lecture, Mr.
Latrobc says: "Therc is perhaps nc
line, real, or imaginary, on the surface
OF the earth-not even excepting the
equator and the equnoctial-the name
Of which has been oftener in mems
mouths during the last fifty years. In
the halls Of legislation, in the courts OF
justice, in the assemblies OF the people,
it has been as familiar as household
word"
The lecturer then gives most in.
terestlng account Of the peninsula &
early history and ofthc quarrels which
led to Mason and Dixon's line being
laid down as compromise between
conflicting territorial CLAIMS. There
were many difficulties in settling the
boundary between Ponn's possessions
and those OF Lord Baltimore, the pro-
prietary Of Maryland but finally a
treaty was arranged on the basis of an
agreement made before Penn became
a proprietor oflands on this peninsula.
By this compromise it was ordered
that line should bo drawn across the
peninsula due west from Cape Henlo.
pen (not the present cape Of that name
but q point corresponding with the ex-
treme southeastern corner OF Dele
ware) and that from the middle point
of this line another line should be
drawn tangent to a circle twelve miles
from New Castle. All west of this
tangent was to be included in Lord
Baltimores possessions, and that land
Gas all know now forms part of the
eastern shore of Maryland. The coun.
try west OF the tangent went TO Penn,
and, of course, our own State OF Della.
ware.
1t was not until l761, however, that
the proprietors set about having their
boundaries actually surveyed. In ad.
dition TO the circle, the east and west
line, and the tangent drawn from its
centre, it was determined at this time
that a meridian should bo run from
the tangent point north to within 15
miles OF the most southern part of
Philadelphia, and thence line should
RadfHn dllf ..YeSt..separaiino Pennsvl-
The work was at first done by sur
veyors, probably natives of this coun.
try. and with instruments which would
now bc regarded as very inadequate I;
for they sighted along poles 'set up in
what they called pistoS cut by them
through the forest" They got on very
slowly, however, and in 1853 the
Penns and Lord Baltimore, then in
London, engaged Charles Mason and
J Jeremiah Dixon 1.-TWO mathematicians
or surveyors" to mark, run out settle,
fix, and determine all such parts of the
circle, marks, lines and boundaries as
had been agreed upon.
Mason and Dixon reached this coun-
try in November, 1868, and soon after
engaged upon their work. They adopt
ed the peninsula east and west line
the radius, and the tangent point
already determined by the American
surveyors, it thus falling upon them to
run the tangent from the middle point
of the east and west line to the tan
gent point; torun the meridian thence
10 point 10 miles south of Philadel
phia. and lastly TO run line due west
/ forming the boundary between Mary
land and Pennsylvania. When they
came 10 run their tangent they fount
that their line did not strike an incl
off the post SET up by the American
surveyors TO mark the tangent point
decided vindicator of .Buckskin en-
gineering.
Having determined the point L
miles from Philadelphia, they turne'
and started upon their long westerl
Journey. The middle Of June lS6
found them at the Susquehanna, an
then they received orders to extern
the limo aas far as the provinces Q
Maryland and Pennsylvania are SCI
tied and inhabited" In continuin
the work they found it necessary I
J. make treaty with the Six Nations,
delicate task, which was finally accom-
5 plished. They then received an escol
: Of IA Indian guides and an interpretei
n The savages, it is said, seemed to su
pect something uncanny in the man
observations Of the heavens and u
innumerable measurements on th
earth taken by their white compal
ions but continued faithful for q tim
Finally, however, at point 24f mil'
west of the Delaware river the su
vcyors struck an Indian war path, ~