The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-07-15

mont; thence to the Ohio, as is
stated in the act as quoted Vir-
GINA was supposed or claimed to
extend northward to include
much OF Pennsylvania, aud the
intention plainly was that West
Augusta should cover all of Vir-
ginia's territory in that quarter.
But what was the eastern and
southeastern line OF West Au.
gusta ? There was none. I'm
medlately after the district of
West Augusta was given o bound
airy (as was supposedly. the legis-
lature cut it into three counties,
Ohio, Monongalia and Youghio-
Rheny and gave them bounda-
ries, There is no lack Of evil
dence that Monongalla was I'M
derstood to include nearly all of
Preston. all of Tucker as far
east as Fairfax stone, and all of
Randolph east of Cheat noun.
tain. Yet, a strip of country.
from the top of the Allegheny.
across the present counties Of
Tucker, Randolph and Preston.
to the Pennsylvania line, was
not north of any part..of the d.
viding line between Augusta and
West Augusta. and therefore had
never been in West Augusta-all
of West Augusta being north of
the line above referred to. Con-
sequently at least five hundred
square miles of the original Mo-
nonealia county, which the act
Of 1876 says was taken from
West Augusta, was not taken
from West Augusta, but was en-
tirely outside of it-east Oft.
II the starting point for the
line between Augusta and West
Augusta had been taken forty
miles further northeast, on the
Allegheny, where the Hamp-
shire line then crossed, the dis
trict would have been enclosed.
/ suspect that the Legislators be-
lieved that they were starting at
that point. AS it was, they left
a gap Of forty miles. A strip OF
country twelve miles wide across
the entire eastern side Of Pres
ton, the eastern Randolph, TWEEN
ty miles wide and forty long.
never were in West Augusta.
This territory was still Augusta
county. 1t has been cut up add
ed to and taken from counties
since then; but, so far as l know.
there never has been an act Of the
legislature taking it from Au-
gusta. OF course, the question
will never be re .opened, and it
exists now as relic or curiosi-
ty; but the title of Monongalia
county to that strip of territory
was empty and unfounded. This
strip was sub.divided along with
the rest of Monongalia, and in
1884 part of it was in Harrison
inl736 Harrison's part was given
to Randolph; in 1918 the other
part was given to Preston, and
in 1856 a portion of Randolph's
part was given to Tucker, and
part is still in Randolph. Should
the State of Maryland succeed in
establishing the head Of the south
branch, instead Of the head of
the north branch, as its corner,
the western line of Maryland,
from the top of the Allegheny
mountains to the Pennsylvania
line, would follow almost exact.
ly the old western boundary of
the district of West Virginia.
The subdivision of the dis
trict into three counties, Ohio,
Monongalia and Youghiogheny
| in 1776, did not abolish the dis
trict. These three counties then
formed the district. An act Of
the Virginia legislature was pass
ed in October, 1888, directing the
sheriff of Mon6ngalia county to
open polls at two places in the
county for the election of q Sena.