The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-08-07
Our Boundary Dispute.

AploIOH W tIlc interesting QupnZ1
tion pending between West Virgins
and Maryland, says the WheeIng|
Register, touching the boundary
lines between the the two states, we'
have read an article from the perofa
Judge Joseph II. IIoke, Of King
wood. and regret our inability TOD
reproduce in The Register, the en-
tire article, as it is full of inteiest
and valuable information. Judge
Hoke began his investigation atthel
Fairfax corner stone at the head OF
the North Branch of the Potomac,
and with the legislation as far ack !
as 1888, and has given an sble,l
careful review of the pretensioE eis1I
MARYLAND. Virgins aijI 5,'I :. csssat = =
ginla ever since. On February Y.
1891, the Legislature of this state
adopted a resolution looking to the
settlement of this question. The
controversy involves a triangle be-
ginning at the Fairfax stone and
ending on the Pennsylvania line.
Each of the two states Maryland
and West Virginia claim iurisdic-
ton over it. Each state has granted
title to land embraced in it. The
citizens claiming title to the land
under the two Jurisdictions have
been engaged in long continued and
expensive litigation, and some
times bitter feuds and personal
conflicts have followed.
The resolution referred to pro-
vides that each of the two states
shall appoint an arbitrator, and the
two thus chosen shall appoint
third man or umpire, none of whom
shall be a resident of either state
These arbitrators, or majority
of them, shall propose plan for
settlement of the vexed question,
which plan, when adopted by each
of the states, shall be final adjust
ment.
Each of the states may be repre-
sented by cousel before the board of
arbitrators who may hear and con-
slider any proper evidence that may
be offered. Fairfax corner stone it
will be remembered, has been recog-
nized as corner in the boundary
line of the states for over 100 years.
From Judge Hoke's familiarity with
the questions arising in this matter,
he would be valuable to this stats
as her council, but his present
judicial position may be incompati-
BILE with such appointment.
The above article of The Register
is not correct as to the present stat
ues of the boundary line dispute
between this state and Maryland.
The Maryland legislature at its last
session ignored the proposition of
West Virginia to settle the question
by arbitration, and instructed the
attorney general of Maryland to file
q bill in equity in the Supreme
Court of the United States against
this state, to settle the boundary
line dispute. Our legislature at its
last session adopted a joint resolu-
ton introduced by Senator Worley,
instructing the Governor of this
state to take the proper steps to de-
fend the profound suit by Maryland,
and also provided for the employ
ment of council to assist the sttor-
ney general of this state in the mat
ter. Consequently the day of abi-
tration has passed and nothing but
a decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States will settle the dis
pute. AS that court is behind at
least three years with it's docket, it
will be long time before the ques-
ton is decided, unless the court
will advance the case on it's docket,
which on account of the importance
of the question, and the fact that
sovereign states are parties, it may
do. In the meantime the conflict
between the citizens and courts of
the two states will continue, till the
final decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States is rendered.
kingwood journal.