Daily Republican., 1889-03-08

COMMUNICATED.

[CoMMUNICATED.
am glad to see that the General AZ
sembly of the State of Pennsylvania
have before that body q bill TO appoint
three commissioners to act In conjunc-
tion with similar number of commits
sioners to be appointed by the State of
Delaware, to permanently mark the circu-
lar boundary line between the States OF
Pennsylvania and Delaware. In the ORR
ginal survey made In 1701, under patent
of William Penn, the greater portion of
the-marked points In said circular line
were upon trees standing on the lire of
the circle. The greater portion of the
trees thus marked (18S years ago) are
not TO be found to-day, and but very few
old persons now living can point ont
about the place where those marked trees
stood. Many persons speak OF this cir
cular line as the Mason and Dixon line,
but here they are certainly in erro-.
The Mason and Dixon line was run
some SO years after the circular boundary
was established by William Penn. The
survey made by Mason and Dixon was
made by running a line from Cape Hen
lopen to the Chesapeake Bay. When the
length OF this line was ascertaiLed the
centre point between those two bays was
taken as the starting point to define the
boundary. From this centre point line
was run which would intersect circular
line drawn at radius OF II miles from
the Court House In the town of New
Castle on the Delaware river. The cir
cular boundary lipe run under the direc-
tlon OF Penn was from the mouth of the
Horse Dyke at the town of New Castle
aforesaid. When the survey made by
Mason aud Dixon was made from the
| nj katx aaa
the Chesapeake Bay up to the intersec-
tion of the I2-mile circle from said
course, they then took course due
North, which would cut pii small
segment of the circular line established
by William Penn in 1901.
But as Penn was the Proprietary Gov
e-nof OF pennsylvania the line established
b lin Is undoubtedly the true boundary
! j. between Pennsylvania aud Delaware,
Al the one that should be claimed when
the new survey ia made, and upon this
circular line permanent stone monu-
ments should be set ut no greater dis
tance than one-lourth of a mile apart;
tie entire distance of said circular line
being from 23 to IS miles In leugth, mea-
sured on said circle.
And it is very important that this cir.
cular line should be marked with perma'
nent monuments without delay. / was
born, raised and lived for over thirty
years within a short distance of this cir
cular boundary line, and was familiar
with every farm through which this llht
passed, from Its most eastern point OIL
tine Delaware river to where it crossed
the Brandywlne creek. l have assisted
at number of farm surveys near tht
points of said circular line where 1t di
vldes Drandywine Hundred from tht
State 0t Pennsylvania, and l have never
found a single old man, who had resided
near said line, who could with certainty
point out any precise point on his farm
which was the boundary line between
PennsylvAnis and Delaware, or the circu
lar line dividing these two States.
This shou d not be any longer contin-
ued, and am pleased to see that bill
has been presented before the Genera
Assembly of Delaware similar to the ON
now pending in the General Assembly o
, Pennsylvania, to pass an act authorisin
> the Governor to appoint three commits
, sioners, whose duty 1t shall be, In con
. JUNCTION with similar number of con
!, missioners to be appointed by the Cover
nor OF Pennsylvania, to employ a compe
tent surveyor to make q correct re-survel
of said circular boundary line, and 6rec
With The approval of the joint commits
sioRers permanent monuments thereon
l have carefully examined copy OF sucl
a bill prepared by my esteemed friend
John g. Jackson, Esq, and l fully en-
dorse it, and trust that it will receiv,
the unanimous vote of the General As
sembly of the State of Delaware. Mr.
jackson Is n skilful surveyor, and 4
mathematician of acknowledged ability
second to no other man in this State. Mr.
jackson bas lived near this circular linz
for over hall CENTURY; he has made tht
matter careful study, and is, in my
opinion, more thoroughly qualified tC
perform this important work than any
other man In this State.
He is now able to locate several of the
points in said circular line, from which
points he eau tely define where the
other points should be, and sincerely
trust that the General Assembly of this
state may pass the bill prepared by hin
(Which has been sent by him TO said
General Assembly,. 1t will not require
great amount OF money to perform this
important work, as the expenses Thereof
will be equally shared by the States o.
Pennsylvania and Delaware. The selec.
tion of the commission under the Jack
son bill is left for the Governor to make
The commission should be non partisan
one, and l am fully convinced that m,
esteemed friend, Governor Biggs, will ap
point thoroughly competent men on tn,
part of the State OF Delaware. Very re
specttully submitted, X. G. FRAIM.
Wilmington, March 7, 1NS9. E.