The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-31
BOUNDARY LINE
Controversy Between Maryland and
West Virginia.

Controversy Between Maryland anu
West Virginia
Special Dispatch 70 the Intelllgsneer.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Aug. So
Attorney George E. Price, of this city,
who Is assisting the attorney general
Of this state in looking after the in
terests Of West virginia in the bound-
airy line controversy with Maryland,
has returned from the northern part OF
the state, where he has been looking
after questions that might arise incl
dental upon a survey that is now being
made Of portion OF the disputed land.
This survey is being made by Julius
K. Monroe. OF RingwoOd, on behalf OF
West Virginia, and Lieutenant Brown,
OF Garrett county, Nd, on behalf OF
Maryland, and a corps OF assistants.
Attorney General Gathers, OF Mary
land, and Attorney E. H. sincell, OF
Oakland, Nd, were also in the party
for several days.
The present survey is being made
with q view to refutlng a claim raised
about two years ago By the state OF
Maryland. This new claim Is based on
the assumption that the mead spring Of
the Potomac lies one and one-quarter
miles west OF the point at which II has
all along been claimed to be, where the
Fairfax stone Is located. This would
give Maryland strip Of Preston coun-
ty, w. Va, ~ miles wide and 20 miles
long,
This, however. is only one Of the sew
eral claims made by Maryland. me
chief bone OF contention Is q triangular
strip In Preston county, 26 miles long
and three-QuRrters OF a mile wide at
the north end, tapering 10 a point at
the south. This strip adjolns the one
and one-quarter strip, lying east OF II.
How the claim OF Maryland to this
arises is a matter OF history. From the
Fairfax stone, which was placed by
Lord Fairfax In 1746 to mark the head
waters OF the Potomac, line, known
as the Deakina line, was run In lIss,
under direction Of the state OF Mary
land, with View to laying out certain
unappropriated lands west OF Cumber-
land for Maryland's revolutionary SOL
dIerN In 1883 Lieutenant MlChler ran
what is known as the Michler line from
the Fairfax stone. This line struck the
Pennsylvania boundary three-fourths
Of a mile west Of the Deakins line, and
is supposed to be the true line north.
West Virginia bases her claim, how
ever, on long tenure and the fact that
all the land up to the Deaktns line has
been granted TO this state by Virginia.
The third and most extensive claim
advanced by Maryland ls based on the
assumption that what Is known as the
South Branch OF the Potomac Is really
the Potomac proper, and that couse'
quently, Instead Of being In the yicIn-
ity OF the Fairfax stone, the head
waters Of the Potomac lie In Highland
county, Va. This claim would cut on
from West Virginia triangular strip,
In which would be included the whole
OF Mineral county. the larger part OF
Grant and Tucker counties, and a con.
siderable portion OF Hampshire. Hardy,
Pendleton, Randolph, Tucker and Pres
ton, leaving Isolated from the state u
strip embracing the eastern parts Of
Pendleton, Grant Hardy and Hamp-
shire, and the whole OF Morgan, Berke-
ley and Jefferson.
AS soon as the present survey u
completed the taking Of dispositions Will
begin. Both sides have agreed on q
uniform manner Of proceeding With
this phase Of the case. The dispositions
will be taken at points along the dis
puted section.