Evening journal., 1911-05-06

"All that the town Of New Castle,
otherwise called Delaware, and all
that tract of land lying within the
compass or circle of twelve miles
about the same. So that from the
first, there arose many difficult ques-
tions to be determined. Among
others, and in SO far as my present
purpose is concerned. We're.
Il. Whether the duke intended that
the circle should be calculated by a
circumference of twelve miles, by a
diameter Of twelve miles. or by "A
radius of twelve miles.
- Where was the center OF the
circle? None having been definitely
given or fixed it was said that with
out IL, Il was impossible Ia make a
circle.
Penn settled the first question for
himself, (and it was afterwards ap-
proved by the High Court OF Cham
Gerry Of England). and determined
that it was a radius of welve miles,
and issued warrant to commission
ers 10 make the survey.
ssrThey were ordered 10 measure ana
survey from the town Of New Castle
We distance of twelve miles, IN a
rigbt line up the river and
from We said distance TO divide be-
tween We counties, (of New Castle
and Chester) by a circular line, eA-
tending. according TO ye Kings let
ters patent and the deeds OF feoitment
from the Duke Of York, and ye SAID
circular line, to be marked tWo-
thirds of the semi-circle.
"He left the ascertainment OF the
centre of the circle to the commits
sioners. On October 25, 17Ol, the
commissioners met at New Castle and
concluded that the centre or proper
place of beginning was at ye end OF
We Horse Dyke next ye said town OF
New Castle This point is IN the
northeastern part of the city. They
finished their survey on December a.
17O1 This was called the Taylor
and Peirson survey It did not suit
Lord Baltimore, who laid claim "a
all of the Delaware territory, as be
| longing to Maryland. For many
years there were contentious and dli'
hcuIties between Penn and Baltimore
over this disputed territory. which
finally eliminated in Penns heirs
bringing suit against Baltimore. IN
the High Court of Chancery OF Eng-
land. The litigation began in li35
and ended I'm favor of Penn's heirs IN
l175O.
Annoying Disputes.
"In the progress Of this case, Lord
Hardwicke, the Chancellor, intimated
that the proper centre Of the circle
no specific point having been mem
toned in the deed, would be the CEN
ire of the town, as near as it could
be ascertained; and likewise, suggest
ed the Court House as a convenient
point
This suggestion was accepted, and
after some further annoying disputes
and contentious by Lord Baltimore
as to the extent of Lord Hardwicke's S
decision, upon other points connected
with the boundary line, between
MARYLAND and Pennsylvania, in 1860
an agreement was entered into be
tween Frederick, then Lord Balti-
more, and the Penn heirs.
ssTn the pursuance of this agree
meut. the Governor Of Pennsylvania,
appointed a commission TO mark and
fix the boundary line between the two
States.
This commission consisted OF such
men as James Hamilton, Richard
Peters, the Rev. DR.. Ewing, William
Allen, William Coleman, Thomas
Willing, Benjamin Chew and Edward
/ Shippen. No better men cauld have
been selected for ability and honesty
of purpose. They employed as sur
veyor, David Rittenhouse, a mathe-
matical genius, peculiarly suited for
the purpose and a man who ranked
in scientific attainments next TO
/ Franklin. He made the survey OF
/ the circle with the Court House as its
centre. But after spending three
years without finishing the work and
fixing the boundary between the two
States, the proprietors became dis
satisfied, and determined 10 employ
other surveyors. Accordingly I'm 176S
Charles Mason and jeremiah Dixon
we're. employed to inspect what had
been done by Rittenhouse, to see
whether it. was correct and also "a
complete the unfinished part of the
line. They resurveyed the circle and
the tangent drawn from it for Della
wares western boundary. The re-
suit of this survey was remarkable
in that it did not vary as much as
an inch, it is said, from the survey
made by Rittenhouse.
Thus. it was generally stated. that
the celebrated Mason and DiXon's
Line was laid out and established
This line, as you are doubtless aware
I does not include any part of the
I twelve miles circle;' but begins from
an arc of it and runs westerly be-
tween Pennsylvania and Maryland
although in order 10 locate the arc
from which they had to run, they were
obliged TO, and did survey the circle
-of which, the old Court House, be.
ing the southeasterly wing of thi;
building, as it now stands, was anC
is the centre.
There are other points of interest
connected with the old town, which
will be shown TO you, but TO which
want of time will not permit me q
refer.
"A word or two more and an
through.
City of Activities.
Now gentlemen, because ! have
thus solely adverted to ancient New
Castle, do not think that we are
therefore, still ancient, and do mol
N keep abreast with modern times and
modern activities On the contrary
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