The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-12-15
erected then wore still there to prevent

erected then were still there to prevent
contention,
He has known also that the circular
boundary of Delaware was first BUR-
veyed under commission from William
Penn In 1901, and a line OF marked
trees established along IL. together
with some other marks more or less
permanent; but he does not know
that 1t has ever been retraced since,
throughout its whole length, not even
in Chancellor Hardwlck's time about
1850, as Mr.. Brinton seems TO think.
Lord Hard w.ck's decree in Chancery
was touching and disputed claims be.
tween the Penns and Lord Baltimore,
but did not affect the main part of the
circular boundary. This job done by
Prof. Graham about l549, in which
George Reed Riddle acted as a COM
missioner, we have good reason to be-
lieve, was a 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 a day or two by any intelli-
CUNT 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
| its place was thus restored by Davis
kimbie, a surveyor OF Kimblevile,
but the finished JOB cost the tax pay
ers of the States two or three thous.
and dollars and the consumption OF
much roast beef and good wine at the
Hotel In Newark.
1t Is said they re.run only a small
part of the circular boundary at its
lower end. But they did at least find
the bottom OF the old stone and erect
ed another suitably marked In its
| place.
10 resume: This writer has further
been aware for years that the old
marked trees along the circular boun-
diary established, as mentioned In 1901,
were gradually disappearing through
age and decay. One of them. an old
hickory that also marked the corner
of Kennett and New Garden Townships
In Chester county, almost in sight
| from the Office where he now writes,
has ceased to exist; but luckily its ex-
act place has been preserved by the
farmers. whose lands cornered at the
same tree, setting In its decayed stump
| ii common conner stone. Other of
said marked trees known to him many
years ago as a surveyor as well as the
older citizens who could point their
places.
How are they vanished from the
things that be-"
,fhe exaet places OF some of these
old marked trees and other traditional
points may yet be defined and will
make enough by which to restore the
boundary. This method will be far
better than any formal new running
out of the original recorded Intentions
notes and descriptions OF Penn, his
commissioners or surveyors of 1901.
II will remove or render unnecessary
the ascertalnment OF tho exact centre
OF the circle at New Castle. either at
the "horse-dyke" or at the "Old Court
House,
II will save the trouble and dlssatis-
| faction that may otherwise be expect
ed to follow any attempt to correct, by
uso of the ralnementa of modern
| gendetic accuracy, any or the very
possible mistakes and oversights made
in the hasty original surveys and meas
| urements either surface or horizontal
and the circular boundary can be thus
restored and remarked in a superior
and less Ierishable manner, as IL
should be, right on the line where pos
session and tradition have held it to
he for nearly two hundred years.
NOW, HOW DID THIS WRITER INITIATE THE
| MOVEMENT
Previous to our Legislative session
of 1889 he had been frequently spoken
to by parties residing near the bound.
airy. who were uncertain us to whether
they were citizens OF Delaware OF
Pennsylvania, and also as to the
amounts OF their land In each respec-
tive State, and he was requested by
them to take steps toward having said
boundary better defined.
Being himself satisfied Of the needs
OF the case lie consulted with gentle.
men both in Pennsylvania and Della
Ware, who proposed to cooperate.
The course that always had been
pursued heretofore In similar cases.
and which appeared to be consistent
with the constitution and laws of both
states, was for the Legislatures To au.
thorize the respective Governors to
appoint commission to operate
jointly in restoring and perfecting
the said boundary.
The bill drawn by him was in accord
with former practices, defined the pur-
poses to be accomplished and the
methods to be pursued as hereiRaboge
mentioned. 1t also limited somewhat
the rates of compensation 50 as TO pre-
vent il possible, tho work from de-
generating into grab job as has grown
to be common in similar cases. 1t
met the approval o. the gentlemen Co.
operating in both States and was also
approved by Governor Biggs to whom
it was shown Tho bill was en-
crossed accompanied by a petition
fiom interested citizens and for
warded to Dover in the care OF the
representatives from the hundreds
along the boundary.
1t appeared from what followed
that the intentions Of the bill were
too simple and practical gave too Ii T.
| tie chance for swell job to suit the
| tastes OF some gentlemen in Whining
| ton and factlonal party in the Le-
| gielatuTe. A certain Senator whom
the people well know, and whose an
teeedents | do not now popose to
to dwell upon, acted in the Senate as
Godfather to new bill to replace the
the other. lGnoIing all previous prac-
| tice III such cases as well as the Sth
section OF article III. of the constitll-
tion oil elaware, tine Leg isiature led
} by.a factioi n, clique of the Democratic
| party, not only treated their own Gov
eruor with disraspect by attempting
to rob him of his constitutional ap-
| pointing power, themselves prssnm-
ing to elet the needed commissions
els: but they palpably Ignored also,
both the letter and the spirit of Section
II, Article Ill OF the Constitution, by
! attempting TO elect the Speaker of the
/ Spuntn and thO Snnnkpr nj the EoiiGa