The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-01-20
MASON AND DIxoNs LINE.
A Movement on Foot to Restore the Line
Dividing Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Baltimore san.

Baltimore Sun.
The restoration Of the old Mason and Dixon's
line between the States of Maryland and Penn
sylvania is the purpose of bill introduced in
the State Senate by Senator Moses, of Balti-
more city.
Considerable historical interest as well as
State pride is attached to the bill. 1t has strong
backing and its passage is tolerably well as
sured. The bill has been gotten into shape
and brought TO the front by DIR. William Bull
lock Clark, State geologist, who has had oc-
casion to investigate the length and regularity
of the line while engaged in the work OF the
geological Survey in the northern section of
the State. DIR. Clark discovered that large
part of the line no longer exists, and that from
time to time the monuments that marked II
have been destroyed by vandals and carried
away. For a considerable distance there IS
nothing to indicate the separation OF the two
States and, in consequence, numerous property
complications have arisen and lawsuits nave
been instituted. Farmers OF both States own
ing land that was formerly bounded by The
line have now no means of determining where
their property ends and letters from Maryland
farmers in the upper counties have been sent
to DIR. Clark asking information IN regard 70
the matter.
DIR. Clark after survey of the ground con-
ferred with the superintendent OF the United
States Coast and GeOdetic Survey, who slgnlned
the old line and agreed to supply free of ex-
pense trained engineers for the work and TO
furnish the delicate instruments needed, thus
nsuring an accurate survey. An estimate OF
the cost of the survey and the replacing OF the
monuments is placed at $4,000. The Legisia,
ture of Pennsylvania has already appropriated
S5, 900 to pay half the expense of the work upon
the one condition that the Legislature of Mary
land appropriates the other $1,000 for its share
of the work.
rrl-
sets forth these facts and requests the appro-
priation. 1t further asks that the Governor
appoint DR.. Clark, the State geologist, as a
member of commission, to be composed of
the superintendent of the United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey and representative from
Pennsylvania, appointed by the Governor of
that State, which will take charge of the work.
The bill states that this commission is to re-
ceive no compensation, except for the actual
expenses while engaged in the work. Pro-
vision is made for frequent reports from maps
and surveys, which are to be published in the
volumes of the Maryland Geological Survey.
The Mason and Dixon line runs from the
Delaware boundary of this State to the corner
where Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania join. 1t is about 200 miles in length
and was run between the years of 1862 and
176S by the two English engineers Mason and
Dixon. The Maryland counties bordering on
the line are Cecil, Hartford. Baltimore, Carroll,
Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett.
When the line was originally laid stone mon
uments were placed at intervals of five miles
as far as the Blue Ridge Mountains. Beyond
this the line was marked simply by heaps of
stones. The original intention was to place the
monuments throughout the length of the line.
and many of the monuments were carried
into the country, but were never set up. DR..
Clark states that in Washington county two of
them ornament the front steps of farmer
house in that section. Some years ago the
States of West Virginia and Pennsylvania re-
ran and remarked the old line, so that the
Maryland portion is the only part remaining
only partially marked.
Many of the monuments, DIR. Clark saws,
have become dilapidated during the century
and quarter they have stood, and large parts
of them have been carried away by relic hun
tiers and others. The appropriation of $1,000
by the Pennsylvania Legislature was obtained
through the efforts of DR.. Clark, who says
that the bill went through without delay of
any sort, the members appearing to catch on
to the spirit of the bill as well to its useful
ness. DR.. Clark adds that it is important in
running the line that intermediate marks
should be placed at what surveyors call inter-
visible points, so that 1t is possible to see from
point to point. This will make the location of
the line an easy matter for the county survey
ors with their ordinary apparatus.
The restoring of the Mason and Dixon line,
should the bill pass the Maryland Legislature,
will still further identify the Maryland Geo
logical Survey with the boundary lines of the
State. 1t is already identified with the west
boundary line, and last year successfully ran
the Allegany Garrett line, which for 25 years
had been in doubt. The economy of the pres
ent bill may be realized when it is stated that
Pennsylvania's share of the expense in run
ming the line originally was about Sill 900.