The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-15
CHANNEL CENTRE
DIVIDING LINE
Probable Solution Found for Vir.-
ginia-Maryland Boundary
Controversy.
WALKER MAKES PROPOSAL
Suggestion Will Be Submitted to
General Assemblies of
Two States.
WALKER MAKES PROPOSAL
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1


Lancaster. Va. September 1.-THE
coDrnitteo appointed by tho General
Assembly OF Virginia and the General
Assembly OF Maryland at their last
sessions for tho pui pose OF fixing and
naming mo headland3 on tho southern
bank OF tho Potomac River. along
"htch ines arc to be run to marie the
territorial boundary Of the two States.
met last week at Lewisetta. near the
mouth or the Potomac. The Virginia
committee. consisting OF Senator c..
Harding Walker. OF Northum berland,
and Delegates r. o. Norris. of Ian.
caster. and Thomas Brown of West
moreland. camo on the Commodore
Naury tho flagship OF the Virginia
oyster navy, under command or State
Fish Commissioners W. Mcdonald Lee,
ana was organised. with Thomas Brown
as chairman. Frank p. Brent as secre-
tary. and Fish Commissioner Lee as
advisory member
The Maryland committee, consisting
OF Senators Benson. Wilkinson and
ffere ana Delegates Harsett. Phillips,
oa"kins ana Hancock. carried down
on the state fish steamer Governor
Ihomas, Captain Howard commanding
me delegation was attended by Swcp-
son Earle. photographic engineer Of
the state Shell Fish Commission OF the
state Of Maryland, who acted a. nd
vlsor TO the committee
Senator Henson Chairman.
Soon after their arrival the two COM
mittees held a joint session and or
ganiZed. with Senator Benson, of Mary
land. as chairman and Senator Walker
OF Virginia, as secretary After hav
ing examined the resolutions. under
which they were to act and other pro-
visions relating to the boundary limo
between tho two States on the Potomac
Inc JOINT committee adopted a program
for oApediting its work and proceeded
TO business.
Leaving Lcwisetta. the two commit
tees proceeded UP the Potomac on the
Maryland steamer Governor Thomas
followed by the Commodore Maury
On the way up the river the hcaClands
ana indentations on the southern bank
were carefully observed by the mem
bers OF the two committees. and the
United States government charts Of the
river were studied On the trim the
Nirginians were handsomely enter
tanned at luncheon by the Marylanders
\ stop was made at the beautiful and
prosperous town of Colonial Beach in
the upper part of Wcstmoreland, where
me NirBinians entertained the Mary
landers at dinner at the Walcott Hotel
On returning down the river another
Joint meeting was held. and tho mem
berS began TO discuss the conditions on
which an agreement might be reached
In the course of the discussion 1t be-
came evident that the Maryland-rs
would not agree TO any provision that
might exclude their citizens from
oystering and fishing in the bays. and
the mouths of the estuaries and rivers
ON tho southern side OF the Potomac
without provision to exclude Vir-
sininns from fishing and oystering In
similar waters on the northern side of
the river. In an able and luminous
discussion Of the subject Senator
Walker. OF Virginia. expressed the
opinion. which he said had been long
held By him, that the time would soon
come. IL II had not already come. when
the people OF both States would be
willing to Ak the middle thread of the
channel OF the Potomac River as the
boundary OF the two States for the
purpose of fishing and oystering. and
also for fixing the line for determining
the civil Jurisdiction for the trial of
offenders In the courts OF the two
States The suggestion of Senator
Walker was at once received with en-
thusiastic approval by all tho mem
bers OF both committees and a reso-
luton was unanimously adopted for