Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-24

ol pennsylvania, ana 1t is useless fol
antiquaries to indulge their tastes by
hunting up the ancient claims of con
tending parties which have been all
adjudicated, settled and made matter OF
record, by and between themselves
nearly 1870 years ago and since con.
firmed by legislative action Of the states
concerned,
What then is the movement for that
now appears TO be in progress
This humble correspondent can throw
some light in answer to this question,
Tor he helped to initiate ii. He has
known for years that Pennsylvania's
jurisdiction over the "flat-iron' could
not be questioned; that the boundary
line between Maryland and Delaware
had been judiciously marked by Mason
ana Dixon nearly 1870 years ago, and
that the stones erected then were still
there to prevent contention.
ie has known also that the circular
boundary of Delaware was first surveyed
under commission from William Penn
IN lT0l, and line of marked trees estab-
lished along it, together with some other
marks more or less permanent; but he
does not know that it has ever been re-
traced since throughout its whole length,
not even in Chancellor Hardwick' 5 time,
about 1850, as Mr.. Brinton seems to
think.
Lord Hardwick's decree in Chancery
was touching the disputed claims be-
tween the Pcnns and Lord Baltimore.
put did not Affect the main part of the
circular boundary. The lob done by
Professor Graham about tS49, in which
George Reed Riddle acted as Il commits
sioner, We have good reason to believe,
was fancy job for which there was no
need except for the restoration OF the
stone which Mason and Dixon planted
IN the northeast corner Of Maryland, at
the meeting OF the east and west with
the north and south boundary lines
which unluckily had been broken
OIL near the surface of the ground This
restoration might have been made in
DAY or two by any intelligent surveyor,
taking the range of the several stones in
each OF the lines and at their meeting
digging for the base of the old stone. am
informed It's place was thus restored by
Davis himble, surveyor Of Kmble-
vile, Pa. But the finished job cost the
taxpayers of the states two or three
thousand dollars and the consumption
Of much roast beef and good Wine az
the hotel in Newark. Ii is said they re-
ran only small part of the circular
boundary at its lower end. But they
did at least find the bottom OF tie old
stone and erected another, suitably
marked, in its place.
10 resume; this writer has further been
aware for years that tho old marked
trees along the circular boundary, estab.
ilshed rs mention in 1901, were g,d-
ualiy disappearing through age and dc.
cay. Ono OF them, an old hickory that
also marked the corner of Kenneth and
New Garden townships, in Chester
county. almost in sight from the office |
where he now writes, has ceased to exist; |
but luckily its exact place has been pre-
served by the farmers, whose lands |
cornered ut the same tree, setting IN its
decay ed stump common cornerstone.
Otler OF said marked trees were known |
70 him many years ago as surveyor as
well as to the older citizens who could
point out their places.
"Iiow are they vanished from the |
things that be- The exact places Of |
some of these old marked trees and
other traditional points may vet be d.
-- 'Nf 'iii AiNhN tilpNEH Nv Which l.
to restore the boundary. This method
Will be far better than any for
nal new running out Of the original re-.
corded intentions, notes and descrip
tons Of Penn, his commissioners or sur
yeyors of l70l II will remove d. ron
der unnecessary the ascertuinrnent Of
thc exact centre of the circle at New
Castle, either at the "lIorsc-dykcn or al
lho "Qld Court House" il viii save lie
trouble and dissatisfaction that may
otherwise be expected 10 follow any az
tempt 70 correct, by use Of the refine.
ment9 Of modern geodelic accuracy, any
q the very possible mistakes and over.
sights made IN hehasty original surveys
and measurements, cithersurfaceor
1onlal, and the circular boundary can
be thus Restored and remarked in 4 su.
pcrior and less perishable manner, as ii
should be, right an the line where pos
session and tradition have held ii TO be
Ior nearly 200 years.
JoilN G. JACKSON.