Daily Republican., 1889-02-15
THE BOUNDARY LINE.
WHAT A. C. BRINTON SAYS
ABOUT 1T.
His History of the Running of the Semi
circle Between Delaware and
Penniyivania About the
Year 176O.
tcoMNUNIoATED.1

In looking over the REPUBLICAN OF
Monday / saw some one from Media,
Delaware county, Pa. had been writing to
the Philadelphia Press 10 reference to
Mason and Dxon's line. 1t ia very plain
TO my mlud that the author OF the article
In question knew very little about Mason
ana Dixon's line. He says Jesse Baker
has prepared and Ia about to have bill
passed through the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature to define the circular line (Which
was made perhaps before jeremiah
Dixon and Charles Mason were born).
The Mason aud Dixon line was run about
1900 for the purpose of dividing the lands
of Lord Baltimore and William Penn,
aud which were altogether west Of Della
ware, le the circular line, or the
twelve mile radius around point at New
Castle, was run. In 1901, some SO years
before Mason and Dlxon's line was run.
The writer eeems TO think that Chester
and Delaware countl-s of Pennsylvania
will be the gamer by some 800 to 800
acres OF land.
After making much inquiry and search
for the last four or five yeara my opinion
is that II the circular line was run again
Delaware would be the gainer by as many
acres as Ia claimed for Pennsy ylvania. The
three corner lot on the west side of the
circulsr line west OF Newark is now
under Delsware's Jurisdiction. 1t is
claimed By Pennsylvania, but in reality
1t justly belongs 70 Lord Baltlmore's
claim of Maryland.
When George Calvert got his grant
land It was bounded by the Potomac on
the west, ou tine north by the Fortieth de-
gree OF North latitude to the rea near
Toms river. New Jersey. But when
William Penn got his grant Of twenty
seven million acres on The north side OF
the Fortieth degree of North latitude,
aud by the time that Mason and Dixon's
line was run, by some means s,rip of
fifteen statute mileo was taken from the
moth SIDE of Lord Baltlmore's land, be.
sides the three-cornered lot referred to.
When william Penn first got his
grant, and having no sea or hay shore,
the consequence was that little Swedish
Delaware had 70 be given or sold Tor q
few shllllDgs 20 him for a water front.
l will now ask In the name OF
offended justice, how much more
OF Delaware do these Pennsylva.
plans want. Perhaps 1t would be as
we'll for the legislators OF Pennsylvania
to attend to that unruly child OF hers, the
whisky traffic, which has given their
State and others so much trouble these
bundled years past,
But by all means let the circular line
be located and proper land marks be
placed at regular intervals so that we
may know the north boundary of the
little Diamond State. The circular line,
which Is the northern lire of Delaware.
Is considered by many peopie to be
Mason and Dixon's line, which ie not the
case.
In the time of Penn and for many
years before the territory of Delaware ex-
tended from the schuylkill or above It to
the SusQuehanna, and north up the
Biandywine some twenty miles, and over
the Delaware come miles, making a ter
ritory some forty miles wide from east to
west, and nearly the same Distance from
north to s1utn. Thus It remained until
James, Duke Of York, sold to Willism
Penn only 8 radius Of twelve miles
around centre at New Castle, but that
lT0l.
Then three commissioners from New
Castle county, DEL, and three from
Chester county, Pa, the latter at that
time extending from the Schuylkill to
the Susquehanna, were appointed with
the needed help 10 cut away the under
brush and the chain carriers 10 lay out
the line properly. They started to get
the radius OF the twelve miles on q line
due north over hill and dale to point on
Captain Israel Helm's tract of land near
the present Smiths Bridge or Granogue
station on the W. & N. Railroad.
But at that date level measure had not |
been established, or the line would have
been extended some distance farther.
Then having the radius established the
circular limo was started easterly and \
struck the river Delaware near Marcus /
Hook. The only marks along this line |
were made on trees by man standing on
horseback, so that tho marks would be L
high enough up out OF the way of people /
who might feel disposed to t4mper with
hem. OF course these marks have ali /
long ago. The southwest
,nd If the line two miles west OF Newark
has been and Is still marked with three
aced stone In Morrisou's woods.
Some distauce east and near the end of |
he radius In Helms land, some forty
Years after the line was run mill was !
,ullt and the wall of the mill Is eIill a liy-
ng witness, 1t only icing few feet from
he line, hut inside oil he circle, As
Is moving, think 1t would
,e good thing for some of our Delaware
,eople also to make move and have a
aw pa 4sed appointing commissioners to
letne the circular line and put up land
marks that would not grow or die out,
md II we only got few perches by level
MEASURE, we would be the gainar hv
Il twelve miles. A. q. BRINToN.