Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-03

MAT or THE NoNDEsCRIPT LITTLE
TERRITORY WHICH PENNSYLVANIA,
DELAWARE AND MARYLAND WILL
CONTEST FOR.
The accompanying rough sketch map
will afford fair, general idea of the
location in dispute and its surroundings
The three contiguous states, Della
ware, Pennsylvania and Maryland, are
indicated. AT the point marked A will
be recognized the small, triangular
piece of land in dispute; O @ indicates
the circular line; K is New Castle, from
which, taken to any point on G @ G,
will measure 10 miles; D ID is the Penn
sylvania state line, as surveyed by
Mason and Dixon Che Pennsylvania
boundary, of course, continues east
along O 9 C); L l., the dotted line, de-
notes the Queen Anne boundary survey
line between Delaware and Maryland,
the significance of which is explained
in this article
The triangular piece of ground CON
tains between 800 and 700 acres. Its
western line is 5.171 miles; it's northern
boundary Is about seven-eighths of the
length of the western line; and the
measurement of the eastern curve could
not be ascertained by the writer. An
estimate of its population has been
stated at about 100 persons, but these
figures have not been verified.
THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED.
II will be remembered that at the
legislative session of 1889 an act was
passed at Dover entitled ian act in re-
ietion to the boundary line between the
State of Delaware and the common
wealth of Pennsylvania The preamble
reads "it appears that the boundary line
between the State Of Delaware and the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania has, by
reason of the destruction. removal or
mutilation of the monuments erected
upon said line, become uncertain" And
then follow the provisions of the law by
which the Hon. Thomas +. Bayard, b
l.. Lewis and John III. lloffecker are
appointed commissioners 10 act in con.
junction with a similar commission
from Pennsylvania to mark the loca-
ton of the boundary line by "enduring
monuments"
The presumption is that this enact.
ment was passed in order TO settle the
disputed question referred to. Their,
exists no real difficulty III regard to any
other part of the boundaries of thu
State. There exists no question in re
gard to any other part of the 12-mil,
circle line coterminous with Pennsyl
vania and Delaware.
The commissioners appointed from
Pennsylvania are the Hon. Wayn,
McVeagh, OF Philadelphia; X. 4. Mona
CHAN, of West Chester, and w. II
Miller, of Media.
THE DISPUTED TERRITORY
The disputed territory is the section
of land south Of Mason and Dixon
line west of the Delaware circular lii
and east of the extension Of the mort
and south line dividing Maryland an
Delaware.
Now in order to get at the exact locs
tion and measurements of this little hi
of land which is more or less of II squar
mile in total acreage it is necessary I
rummage over old historical data. Th
first important point would be to locat
exactly this north and south line las
referred to which divides Maryland an
Delaware and thereby explain its exter
sion along the western boundary of I'll
disputed territory to the contact of tn
line with the Mason and Dixon lin
running due east and west and while
now constitutes the southern boundar
Of the state of Pennsylvania,
William Penn acquired the title 10 ii
slower countess at that time knowni
New Castle, Jones, and New Dale, frol
James, Duke of York, brother Of Ii
then King, Charles IL. It will be r.
membered, of course, that this Jamt
succeeded Charles on the English thron
First he bought the 12-mile circle aroun
New Castle. For this he paid 10 shil
ings down and five shilling year gu
sent The same day he bargained vii
James for the Whorekils, that is Ne
Dale Tor Sussex county, and Jon
county Chat is Kent.)
FOR A cANDLEMAs ROSE.
For these two counties he paid fl