The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-03

read recently before the Columbia His
torical Society by Mr.. Frederick 4.
Woodward on THE Boundary Stones Of
the Old District of Columbia and Vir-
ginia." It was full of valuable historical
data that should be preserved. and on
this account. no less than for It's read
able feature, The Washington Herald re-
produces it herewith by courtesy OF Mr..
Woodward. with map showing the loca-
ton of the boundary stones. The text
follows:
Occasionally one sees in the daily or
weekly papers reference TO the question
Of Jurisdiction over that little tract OF
land. comprising thirty-two square miles
and known as Alexandria County Va,
which for ffty-siX years was an integral
part Of the District of Columbia-the
original ten miles square"-and which,
legally or not, was retroceded 10 the state
OF Virginia July 9, 1916
That unmlstakable call Of the wild
which leads us into the open air. under
Gods clear sky, fills our nostrils with
the odor OF the pine or the aroma Of
woods and field, and which scorns the
Travelled way anJ up-to-date methods Of
locomouOn and encourages Old-time tramp
ing across lots, sent the writer over the
old boundary line which once separated
the District of Columbia and Virginia
and IS at present the dividing line be-
tween the counties of Alexandria and
Fairfax, in an endeavor to locate and
picture the present condition Of the stones
which were placed at intervals Of one
mile around the entire District
Taking a small camera for picture max
ing and canvas bag across the Shout
ders containing maps, compass. and other
necessary equipment, and accompanied
by either an agreeable friend or a chance
acquaintance. ne has traversed many Il
weary mile under the warm rays Of
midsummer sun or the chilly winds of
early autumn, and has garnered with
the pictures Of the old boundary stones
few items which may not be wholly
devoid Of interest to others.
When the District Of Columbia was es-
tablished by an act Of Congress dated
July is, 100, the initial or southern stone
was set up on Jones Point, on Hunting
Creek, below Alexandria. Va. and from
this point as a starting place, territory
ten miles square. or 100 square miles, was
laid out with the corners Of the square at
the four cardinal points
The first line was run due northwest ten
miles TO a point near Falls Church, Va,
thence running at right angles ten miles
due northeast, crossing the Potomac
River and into Maryland to a point near
Woodside, Nd, thence at right angles ten
miles 70 a point near Chesapeake Beach
Junction. then at right angles crossing
for the second time the Potomac River,
ten miles to Jones Point Light, the place
of beginning.
With elaborate ceremony and Masonic
display, the corner stone was placed In
position April Is 1871, and the onward
march Of the Territory Of Columbia"
as it was then called. was begun Mai.
Andrew Eicott, the surveyor under
whose direction much of the survey work
was done, completed the setting of the
Virginia stones in 1884, and each one
bears THIS date
Carving a path forty feet wide twenty
feet on each side of the lineJ he placed a
suitably inscribed milestone one foot
square at the end Of each mile. thus
perpetuating the line Of survey.
Twenty-siX OF these stones were placed
on Maryland territory, and still form the
existing boundary between that State
and the District OF Columbia,
The remaining fourteen stones on the
Virginia side Of the Potomac River il is
our purpose to visit and describe at this
time.
The initial stone at Jones' Point is not
at present visible. nor has It been seen
for more than half a century. When the
government lighthouse was erected in
1883. the stone was covered by some part
Of the inclosure- According TO informa-
ton furnished by Mr.. z L. wilkins. the
lightkeeper, the stone IS believed 10 be
under a small embankment held in place
by sea wall and not far from the south
entrance door Of the lighthouse. This en-
bsnkment is ten feet I'm width. thirty feet
in length, and about five feet high A
flight Of steps leads from the door TO the
beach, and is accurately shown in our
picture. The little grandson OF Mr.. VII
kins is standing Immediately over the
buried stone
An inquiry made to the lighthouse board
brought the answer that the board is
unable to locate the stone definitely, and
says IAN unverifed statement places the
stone under the front steps of the keep
CT's dwelling"
Jones Point was selected as the south
ernmOst point Of the new territory by
Cen Washington, after due consideration
and undoubtedly from q desire TO include
within the limits Of the District the city
Of Alexandria, established thirty-five years
before, and already a place of much i'm
pOrtance. The exact point for the initial
stone was found by using the Alexandria
courthouse as a starting point, and run
ming a line due southwest one-haIf mile,
then following a southeast course until
the margin Of Hunting Creek was reached.
In the original act Of Congress no pro-
vision was made for any territory in the
State Of Virginia nor for that part OF
Maryland lying south Of the Eastern
Branch but on March g. 1871, an addi-
tional act OF Congress made the neces-
sary changes, and the lines of the District
of Columbia became a legal fact.
Strange stories reach our ears as we
journey from place to place about these
old stones and their virtues No doubt
the laws of the States or of the District
relating 10 the sale of intoxicating liquors
are at the bottom of many Of the stories
concerning the frequent removal of the
stones and their replacement in new
and more favorable location, as pool
rooms and saloons are always TO be found
at the District line"
More serious than this was the charge
made to the writer, after the publica-
ton last summer of his lecture on the
Maryland stones. in which he asserted
that the north corner stone. at Wo0dside,
Nd. WAS ll6 feet out Of the proper me
ridan. being too far 10 the west-that
he had proved marriage which took
place sixteen years ago Illegal said mar
rage having taken place at the stone