The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-04-17
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
EARLY HISTORY OF BALTIC. COUNTY.
Dedicated to it's Historical Society.
BY ]. G. D.
Gonclu1ed f,.o1, Inc, s.ooL

Concluded from last aceek.
You will remember that the Penns, in 1850, OBJ
tanned decree against Baltimore in the Court of
Chancery, in England, and compelled him to stand
by the agreement of 1882, and also to have a per-
manent line established by the 31st of May, 1752
Accordingly, the Commissioners appointed under
this decree met on the 18th of November, 1850, in
Newcastle, and agreed on center for the twelve
mile circle called for in the Pennsylvania char
ter, but in measuring the radii they disagreed on
precisely the same grounds as the former Commits
si0ners had done in measuring the temporary line
that is, upon superficial and geometrical measur-
alton. This, with the death of Charles, Lord Bal
timore, and the litigation prior to his son Freder
icks succession, delayed the matter ten years.
The Commissioners again resumed their duty, but
after battling as late the 2lst of October 1853,
no practical solution of the problem had been
effected.
The Commissioners of Maryland were informed
next day by the Commissioners of Pennsylvania
that they had received letter from England
stating that the respective propretares had select
ed two famous English astronomers and surveyors
to finish the boundary line. On the LIST of Deem
Der, 1853, articles of agreement were read between
the respective proprietaries and Charles Mason
and jeremiah Dixon, by which they were to COM
plete the survey. Entering upon their duties at
once they selected, with the aid of the Mayor and
others, the extreme southern boundary of the city
house occupied by Joseph Huddle, on Cedar street.
Astronomical observations, 1763-64, with zenith
sector determined this wall to be in latitude $780,
49,, Is" north. From this point due south Is
miles parallel of latitude was computed to be in
800, 49,, Is" north. Upon this parallel bounda-
~ line was established extending westward be-
tween the two provinces.
| On the Oath of November the Commissioners
agreed to stone post set up by the surveyors, and
| they were ordered to proceed westward, marking
| the distance by stone posts, which we're marked
with the letters an" and up" at the end of each
mile. By the 18th of June, 1865, they crossed the
Susquehanna, steadily pushing forward their tedi-
Gus duty. On the 25th day of December, 1857,
/ the surveyors had extended the boundary line 230
miles, Is chains and 81 links from the stone post
or 244 miles, 3S chains and 36 links from the city
| Of Philadelphia to the borders of stream called
Durham's Greek. This being the seat of an old
war path, the Indians refused to let them proceed
farther. The surveying party now returned to
Philadelphia and made out their report, which,
proving highly satisfactory, was accepted by the
Commissioners, and the surveyors were ordered to
be paid and honorably discharged The compass
| used by these distinguished surveyors is at pres
ent in the Land Office at Harrisburg, and the
amount received for their four years services was
upward of Ell 500 sterling They marked, de.
scribed and perpetuated this west line by setting
up and erecting therein posts of cut stone about
| five long and ten or twelve inches square at the
| end of every mile from the place of beginning to
the distance of 1872 miles, near the foot of hill
called and known by the name of Sideling Hill,
every five milestone having the side facing the
south the arms of Frederick, Lord Baltimore,
| craven thereon, and on the side facing the north
the arms of Thomas and Richard Penn craven
thereon. The one mile, or intermediate stones,
are craven with the letter an" on the south side
and the letter "P" on the north. They were made
from ooltic limestone, in England, and brought
across as the work progressed. The rugged char
acter of the country from the Sideling Hill to the
top of the Allegheny Mountains made the setting
of stones impossible therefore large piles of stones
were erected in their place. thence from the Allie
| ghany range posts mark the line to Durham's
Creek. Twelve of these stones are placed along
| Baltimore county and mostly well preserved.
! One near the residence of Jacob Boyer, close to
Steltz's Church, has crumbled through exposure
until its top is completely broken off. Its eastern
companion, being beautiful and well preserved
five. mile stone, was deliberately stolen from its
position about five years ago and removed for an
ornament to the yard of certain person living
west of New Freedom.
1t is to be earnestly hoped that the Maryland
Historical Society will, in no distant day, petition
the Legislature for an appropriation to have these
land and historical marks reset and preserved by
an application of parafne.
In 1871 Commissioners and surveyors were
again appointed, and the Mason and Dixon Line
was extended twenty three miles. Again, in 1850,
the War Department detailed Col. James D. Ora.
ham, of the Typographical Engineers, aided by o
commission comprising Henry G. S. Key, of Mary
land George R. Riddle, of Delaware, and Joshua
P. Eyre, of Pennsylvania, to examine this famous
line, but after the most dligent scientific observa-
tions reported the line correct and no change
necessary. So the boundary is firmly established
after costing the province and State of Maryla
upwards of 81, 900, 900.
| RUHL's SCHOOL, BALTIMORE COUNTY.