The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-03-11
SHOW TExASAS
LAND GRAbBER
Maps Give It 1875 Miles That
Don't Belong to 1t, Says
GeoIogist.
NO PROPER STATE MAP MADI
Texas System Of Land Survey inner.
tied From Mexico and Spain
Current Maps Made by Many
individuals.

Austin, Tex.-According to DR.. Rob-
ert L. Hill, former state geOlOgist, VINO
has just finished study Of the topo-
graphical features of Texas and is
making q report on the subject for the
United States geological survey, until
recently all existing maps give an in
accurate idea as to the geography OF
the state, particularly with reference
to the courses of the Rio Grande on
the South and the Red River on the
north. Mr.. Hill says that all current
maps Of Texas locate the Rio Grande,
which has always been accepted as the
boundary between this country and
Mexico, inaccurately. The maps in
clude in Texas a strip of territory av-
eraging rs miles in width and Is miles
In length (about 1875 square miles),
which does not belong to 1t. Until the
World war, when special surveys of
the border were made by the War de-
partment, nothing was known Of the
Rio Grande district. These maps, since
published by the department, revealed
the mistake in current maps.
No Proper State Map.
There is no map published showing
even approximately the physical fea-
lures of the trans-Pecos section, the
mountainous portion of the state. Many
of the ranges and peaks are entirely
omitted and others are located mac
curately. Doctor Hill has made spe-
cial study Of these sections of the state
and will make known many inaccu-
racies through the maps he Is prepar-
ing for the government.
The Davis mountains, we'll known to
| Texas residents, are not included on
any map. They form one Of the prin-
cipal range districts in the state. To
| the west Of these mountains is long,
narrow strip of desert country, low
lying valley plains about 200 miles in
length, running along the Rio Grande,
northwest into New Mexico. These
valleys are not defined on any map
published. ~
The DiablO country consists of un-
dulating plains, with peaks of various
sizes and kinds, extending into the
Sacramento mountains Of New Mexico.
The railroad follows a valley secured
out Of the vast plain, extending north
| west into New Mexico and southwest
into Mexico. The traveller from Ell
Faso to the New Mexico line is always
either upon or in sight Of this plain for
about $50 miles. The surface is SC
smooth, except where it Is broken
rarely by peaks, that it seems as Level
as a floor. The plain is inclOsed or
all sides by wall Of higher mountain
ranges. But none of these features
has been placed on a map.
Based on Settlers Notes.
The county and state maps of Texas
are inferior to those of other states
Doctor Hill said, because of the differ
ent systems of land survey used II
Texas. In other states the land has
been accurately surveyed and divided
into townships and sections. The sur
veying was done and field notes made
under United States supervision, a!
maps Of the country were always nee
essary to acquire land. The TeXa!
systems were inherited from Mexico
and Spain. Scrips or warrants were
issued to individuals, who went out
took some natural object for q corner
measured off q block of acres callet
; for In the shape and direction chosen
and sent the notes to the land Office
Current maps were compiled from
these notes, made by many individuals
and the topographic information sup
piled was nearly always meager. D..
Up to 1880, when the geological sur
| vey began In Texas, there was onl,
one point In Texas with it's exact loca
ton on the earth's surface known
. This was monument to David Crock
EFT. near the old land Office, on the cap
itOl grounds at Austin. It was locates
by the United States geOdetic survey
About 1880 some women were givin
a bazaar for patriotic purposes in Aus
, tin. They desired some souvenirs t
5 sell at the bazaar, and at their reques
the old monument was broken int
pieces and taken to the bazaar Thu
persisted the only point in Texas def
nitely located On the earth's surface