Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-13


| to vote only within the precinct IN
which he resides. This would compel
all persons voting TO dUso at voting
places where they are known and where
their right to vote could be determined,
and would effectually prevent repeating
and other similar forms OF fraud.
LAND BOOKS AND OTHER RECORDS FROM
RICHMOND.
Since the formation OF this State
considerable attention has been given
to the matter of procuring from the
State Of Virginia such land books and
other, records Tor copies thereby per-
tanning TO land titles in West Virginia
as were in possession of the old State.
About a year ago visited Richmond
for the purpose of comforting with the
Virginia authorities on the subject, and
obtained such assurances from the
State officers of their willingness to
turn over to US the desired records that
/ appointed Col. B. w. Byrne an agent
Of the State with instructions TO
proceed to Richmond during the ses-
sion of the Virginia Legislature. and
secure, if possible, necessary leg
islation authorizing the transfer.
His mission was successful. A salts
factory Act was passed, aud under it a
large number of valuable books and re-
cords relating to land titles in this State
have since been secured. The BOOKS in
which were copied the delinquent lists
and SherifF'S returns of sales Of lands
for taxes, contained records pertaining
10 counties in both States, but the Aud
itor OF Virginia kindly permitted these
books to be taken apart and the records
relating to counties in this State and to
counties in Virginia bound separately.
AS a complete separation could not
be made without mutilating parts of
the records, considerable coping had to
be done and five books had to be copied
entire in order to get the records COM
plete.
TIE books and papers that have been
obtained are those most needed in this
State. All that are copies in whole or
in part were carefully compared with
the originals. TIE costs and expenses
about this matter, aggregating nearly
$1,000, we're paid out Of the civil contin-
gent fund. There are many other rec
ords in the possession OF Virginia reat-
ing to land titles in this State, the orig
inalS OF which can not be turned over to
US. Transcripts OF these should be Sc
cured. 1t is especially desirable that
we procure copies of all surveys aud
grants relating to lands now in this
State. 1t is estimated that $4,000
would probably pay for the copying of
all records In possession OF Virginia Of
value to us, the originals of which have
not been and can not be secured, and
recommend az appropriation of that sum
for the purpose, the same to be paid
from the revenues Of 1894.
1t is Of the utmost Importance that
you pass an Act making the records and
copies that have been obtained from
Virginia and such as may hereafter be
procured, and certified copies thereof,
legal evidence In all cases where the
original records or papers could be used
as evidence, and that you correspond
ingiy amend the law relative to certif-
Gates given by the Auditor in certain
cases. I take the liberty Of transmitting
herewith drafts Of bills for these pur-
poses I also append list of all books
and records, and copies thereof, pro-
cured from Richmond.
MARRIED woMEN's LAW,
believe that many of the amend
mentS made by Chapter 100 of the Acts
- w 65rfiigy,islgture Of sAtlto v5 o. mar
Code) were unwise. The law, as it WAS
prior to such amendment, was well I'M
derstood and construed by legal decls-
ions. twill require years to settle by
ipdicial construction, rights under some
of these amendments I.beieve 1t would
be wise to return IN most particulars TO
the law as it was, and even to take an
advance step and give to married women
all the rights and privileges and impose
uuon her the same liabilities as rest
upon other persons not under legal ais
ability.
MARYLAND BOUNDARY LINE.
AS authorized by joint resolution OF
the Legislature, appointed MesSrs.
Flournoy & Price 10 assist the Attorney
General of this State in the defense OF
suit brought in the Supreme Court OF
the United states by the State OF Mary
land against West Virginia, the object
Of which is to settle the location OF the
boundary lines between the two States
This suit is one OF great Importance
10 orr State. If the claim Of Maryland
should be sustained, West Virginia
woDId lose ali Of the tesritory embraced
within the county OF Mineral, and that
portion OF the counties Of Hampshire,
Hardy, Grant aud Penaleton lying west
Of the South Branch of the Potomac,
and also parts of the counties OF Ran
dolph. Tucker and Preston. Mary and
claims that the South Branch OF
the Potomac was the boundary line be-
tween the grants of the Province OF
MARYLAND TO Lord Baltimore in 1852 aud
of the northern neck Of Virginia TO the
predecessors and ancestors Of Lord Fair
fax in 1649. West Virginia claims that
the North Branch OF the Potomac is the
true boundary. ALI the disputed terri
tory has been in the exclusive posses
sion and under the exclusive juriSdlc-
ton aud control Of Virginia, and Of
West Virginia after her, for more than
two hundred years. The State OF Ma
rvland several times asserted claim to
90 tn the head OF the South Branch, but
so long ago as 1915, by an Act OF her
Legislature, she practically abandoned
this claim, and in 1852 adopted the
Fairfax stone. (Which had been planted
by Lord Fairfax in 1746, as point in
her western boundary, aud shortly
after this set up monuments along the
line, run by Lieutenant Michier, from
Fairfax stone to the Pennsylvania line.
Since the late war there has been a
question and some conflict Of authority
as to the line between Preston county
in West Virginia and Garrett county
in Maryland, and several acts and reso-
lutions have been passed by the Legis-
Iature NJ this State and of Maryland In