The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-11-21
STARTING POINT OF THE POTOMAC
Is Not at the Fairfax Stone as is Ger.
orally Believed.

Nearly all maps and not a few histori-
ans gives the famous Fairfax Stone,
situated about half mile in south
westerly direction from the station at
Fairfax, w. Va, as the starting point
of the mighty Potomac River and also
as marking the beginning of the Mary
land State line. While as a matter of
fact the Potomac River does have it's
origin near the Fairfax Stone, yet the
streams flow in two branches from a
spring in the mountain side, about two.
hundred feet from the top of the Ale
games, and both streams flow around
the historic spot, joining about S. feet
further down the mountain siG&
stream not large enough to crowd one
inch pipe. And so far as the MARYLAND
State line is concerned it is not closer
than with in one-half mile of the Fair
fax Stone, which mark stands entirely
on West Virginia territory The spring
from which the Potomac River has it's
source and flows onward to the sea is at
an altitude of $500 feet. From the
point at which the two streams ioin thew
flow northwest, gradually circling to-
wards the north and east. From a
little distance above the spring the
Maryland-West Virginia State line may
be seen for miles, as there is strip
cleared about one rod wide, which was
done few years ago, when the line
was re-run. After the Potomac crosses
this line about one-half mile from the
stone, it is few hundred yards from
there met by another rivulet from the
Maryland side, which is flowing nearly
due south. They then flow around hill
in an easternly direction untilthey reach
a point about one and half miles be-
low Fairfax Station. There this rivulet
is met by stream from the Maryland
side, and quite near this place one from
West Virginia side Here it forms
quite brook, aud meanders for miles
in northeasterly direction.
The Fairfax Stone was built of two
rocks placed side by side which form
foundation about two feet square,
roughly dressed with hammer and
placed so as to extend about eight
inches above the surface of the ground.
Upon this stands a cut stone two feet
square and eighteen inches deep, and
capped off on top to a square of thirteen.
InphaC Tbara hoe
or shaft placed upon this which has
been destroyed. All four sides of this
stone has cut on it the letters "F. S."
and one face is covered with an inscrip-
ton which time has obliterated. These
rocks were brought from the top of the
hill some distance back as there are no
rocks of this kind any size near the
spring. Maryland has nothing what
ever to do with the Fairfax Stone, ex-
cept that it is the starting point from
which to run the western line to point
at the beginning of the Maryland State
line.
Some historians state that q W
Washington explored this country, rocaI-
ed the stone and ran the line from here
due north to the Pennsylvania line. But
as this can hardly be true, for the rec
ords show that this stone was placed
here and the line was run in 1745, which {
the date on the stone would indicate, by
the corps Of surveyors in the employ of I,
Lords Baltimore and Fairfax. At that
date Washington was only lad in his
teens.