The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-11-11

ing been located to their sources, it
became necessary to determine which
one of them best fulfilled the call of
the charter granted to Lord Balti-
more. Right here it should be men
toned that Maryland now stands
on her original charter rights, as no
compact has ever been entered into
or signed between the States which
would fix either the beginning point
or the boundary line.
The facts in evidence were that the
two streams as measured were practi-
cally the same length from the forks,
there being slight advantage in fa-
vor of the Potomac branch. In vol
ume of water they are so nearly equal
that no difference can be seen. In
the course we find the first material
difference. AS has been said the Fair
fax stream does not start in the di-
rection of the general course of the
river, but in q south westerly direc-
ton. curving around the Fairfax hiH
in a great bow to the west of the me
ridian line as run north from the Fair
fax Stone and not crossing that line
until it has traversed a distance of
over 5000 feet. The Potomac stream
on the other hand flows east and
north east in general with the head
waters of the river. The spring at
the Fairfax Stone is dry at the pres
ent writing, and there is testimony to
show that this is not unusual and no
water is found until one has gone
some distance down. At the first
fountain of the Potomac there is a
good flow Of cold water. The POto
mac spring is II miles farther west
than the Fairfax Stone, and is 100 feet
or more higher in elevation; not only
this, it heads nearly upon the top of
the mountain which divide the east
ern and western waters of several
States. and but q short distance from
the top of this divided on the west,
or within less that 500 feet of the PO-
tomac stone, was located a spring, the
head Of Lead Mine run one of the
branches of the Cheat river which
flows west and north. Laurel run
was located to its course, which is also
upon the mountain and within few
hundred yards OF Potomac stone.
This run is the longest and most i'm
portant tributary of the upper Poto-
mae and It's general course is east and
northeast. Again the charter granted
to Lord Baltimore describes the boun-
Diary as going with the 40th degree
of north latitude to the true meridian
OF the first fountain of the River Pat
| towmack, then running downward
with the meridian to the farther bank
of said river, and following the same
to where it empties into the bay OF
/ Chesapeake" Now which of these
streams fulfill these calls? The POtO
mae, as | have said, heads upon the
great water sheds; its source is 6
strong spring, at a greater elevation
than the Fairfax. and Il miles further
west. The meridian line run from i
at once, and finally crosses the divide
and leaves all waters of the Potomac
behind, and the call to follow the fur
ther bank is easily understood. How
is it now with the Fairfax stream
Here we find the historical stone no
at the head of a lasting stream bu
one which has gone dry. \ meridian
| line run from it will cross the rive
; proper 1000 feet north of the stonea
about9, 900 feet it crosses two branche
> of Laurel run, one of which is nearl,
as large as the river, and its most i'm
/ pOrtant tributary.
r 1t Will be remembered that the char
/ ter calls for the first fountain. an
then with the farther bank, its word
f ing clearly indicating that the call
t for the most western source, whicI
: is surely not the Fairfax; again if tn
L Fairfax Stone were the point adopted
t how could both calls be satisfied
4 From the Fairfax Stone the waite
{ fiOws first in a south westerly diret
x tion, and then in a great curve t
s the northeast, and the farther ban
l. at the stone would soon change il
+ relative position and become tn
t nearer or northern bank, and til
u latter has never been claimed by eve
i Virginia herself. The call being fC
a the meridian of the first fountain, an
q then with the river, to whom wouI
II the land belong which lies within IL
W loop formed by the curving of tt
Y Fairfax stream and west of the Micl
e Ter line? The Fairfax stream cannt
r. satisfy the charters calls.
y The facts being as above stated,
l. appeared clear to the attorney al
it engineer in charge that the Potom
id stream alone fulfilled the terms of Il
e. charter to Lord Baltimore, and
RS work was begun at once upon t
IS new line, which will be known as t.
I'd Brown g. Bauer line. 1t was decid
to re-run the Michler line to she
/ ,..o., t,,,, Ipo fYS