Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-01-13
Movement TO Kearrangc the
boundary Between This state and
Chester County.
The Philadelphia Press of this morning
contains the following dispatch

The Philadelphia Press of this morning
contains the following dispatch
WEST CHESTER, Jan. 11.-Some interest is
felt i'll the lower end of Chester county
along the semi-circular boundary which
separates the State from Delaware, in the
suggestion that the Legislature be asked to
take some steps to secure re-survey of the
line. The cooperation of Delaware would be
needful, of course, and this, it ia believed,
may now be secured. For many years the
exact location of this boundary has been in
doubt, even among those whose properties
are lorated on or near to it, and
it is very desirable that whether
the old location be accurately ascer-
tanned or not, there should be some
enduring marks placed by which it will be
known where the line was according to tradi-
ton. The line of Mason and Dixon was re-
located some years ago very carefully and
stone monuments placed to show exactly
where it ii. Something of the sort is equally
needed for the semicircle, and it would be
well at the same time if the question couldbe
settled which state owns the three-cornered
piece of ground that runs down between the
semicircle and the Maryland boundary As
the general subject of State boundaries has
been brought up by the Governor i'll his mes
sage to the Legislature, this may now prop
erly claim attention.
Inquiry of City Surveyor Conwell this
morning confirmed the statement that the
exact location of the boundary line is in
doubt. The most definite fact you Cal.
get about it is that at one place it runs be-
tween a mans house and his barn, at
another over well and through third
farmers house. He has made some sur
veys in the locality and says the exact
location of the line is very indefinite. AT
some PLACES farmers living near the line
do not know just how many acres of their
land lies in Delaware and how many in
Pennsylvania and they sometimes pay tax
in both states on the same land.
The great need is to have stones erected
| defining the line, and co. operative survey
would have to be made by parties from
both States. The boundary, as every
Deiawsrean knows, is formed by the semi
circle marked by the IL mile radius of
which New CASTLE is the centre, and with
this fact to start from there would be little
trouble in locating the line, and proper
marks would prevent the necessity for
doing the work again in the future.
The Mason d Dixon lines are carefully
marked, and furnish good example of
what is required. 1t is conceded that the
three cornered piece of land extending
down between Maryland and Delaware
belongs to Pennsylvania. 1t is the spot
frequently sought by prize fighters, being
close to the three States, and therefore
furnishing unusually good means of escape
to the lawbreakers.
The State line was surveyed about 80
years ago by George Read Riddle for
Delaware, aud commissioner each for
Maryland and Pennsylvania. During the
term of Governor Salisbury, legislation
was effected in both this State and Penn
sylvsnia, by which the latter proposed to
give US the land in question. Commits
sioners were appointed on the part of
Pennsylvania to locate the liue but Dsla-
ware never appointed commissioners. The
two acts are still on record
The survey of MIR. Riddle demonstrated
the Importance of having the line definite ~
located in this unusual way. William
Smith was elected State Senator from
New Castle county and took his seat il
the Legislature of 1851. After MIR. Rid
dle'a survey was completed it was fount
that Mr. Smith was really resident o.
Pennsylvania and he was jokin9ly ad
dressed thereafter as 'the member from
Pennsylvania