Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-11-12
Question Of Boundary.
Ohio is Entitled to a Large
Piece Of Indiana,
And That State Should Contain Part OF
Chicago.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, 6.-During the
last two months survey party sent
out by the national government has
been at work locating the boundary
line between Ohio and Indiana, which
has been in dispute for some time.
The work, under Prof. Mendenhall,
has been completed and the survey
party has its report ready for submits
sion.
The facts found by the surveyors are,
as heretofore alleged, that the true line
as declared when Ohio was organized
into state commences IL miles west
Of the present boundary live at the
north and runs directly south to the
present line between Ohio and Indiana,
thus making strip 200 miles long and
of an average width of six miles, 200
square miles-to which the state of
Ohio lays claim. The strip described
includes the cities of Fort Wayne,
Richmond and Union City and has a
population altogether of about 20O, 600.
An inquiry into the causes that led
to the juggling Of these boundary lines
disclosed that at the time Ohio was
made state there were post traders
located at Richmond and Fort Wayne
whose trade with the Indians was very
profitable. If the line had been run
correctly these posts would have been
taken into the new state of Ohio and
the occupation of these traders would
have been gone. The post traders, it
is said, bribed the survey party which
located the line, and Richmond and
Fort Wayne were left on the Indians
side.
The question is very important
one, and complicated one, for should
Ohlo's claims on Indiana be enforced
India ma would, on the same grounds,
have cause of action against Illinois.
A special from Union City says that
great excitement prevails among the
farmers along the boundary line be-
tween Ohio and Indiana, in conse-
quence ofa rnmor that the Union
States geodetic surveyors have discov-
erred serious error In the established
boundry between the two states. Last
winter Gov. Campbell brought the
matter of the disputed boundary before
the Ohio legislature. A resolution was
adopted asking that the United States
coast and geodetic survey bureau run
the line over.
The organic act of Ohio fixes the
western boundary by q line drawn due
north from the mouth of Great Miami.
The Ohio officials claim that q line
north would run into Indiana, taking
the cities Of Richmond, Butler, Union
City and strip of TERRITORY from few
inches at the Ohio river to IL miles at
the northern boundary, throwing half
of Steuben county into Ohio and about
one-third of Allen county. Appeals
have been made by residents to Gov.
Hovey, but the latter is in Mexico. 1t
ls also claimed that the boundary line
between Illinois and Indiana is too far
east, and that when it is corrected
large part of Chicago, including the
worlds fair site, will be in Indiana.
WILL BE AN AWFUL HOWL.
New YORK, Nov. GA special to
the Recorder says it is expected there
will be wild howl from Chicago when
she learns that Indiana may ask for
and receive slice of land I2 miles
wide off the eastern portion of Illinois
to justify claim that will be made on
the next Indiana legislature.
Should the claim be held valid it
will include hegreat $25, ,0OO, 900 stock
yards as well as the present site of the
worlds fair.
The immediate basis of the claim re-
suits from an Ohio claim filed against
Indiana for a IL mile strip of land on
the eastern boundary. AS Indiana's
western boundary line was originally
fixed by measurement from the eastern
boundary, and as the recent SURVEYS
seem to indicate that Ohio's claim is
correct, Indiana's boundary would
take in that part of Illinois in which
the Windy City is situated.