Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-03-10
SHOW TEXAS As
Land CRABBER
Maps Give It 1875 Miles That
Don't Belong to It, Says
GeoIogist. M
NO PROPER STATE MAP MADE
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 ana Is
making 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 ana
Mexico, inaccurately. The maps III
clude in Texas strip of territory av-
eraging 20 miles In width and 20 miles
In length (about 1875 square miles),
which does not belong to it. 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 feh-
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
I'M hnS mnHn a
cial study of these sections Of the state
and will make known many inaccu-
rucies through the maps he Is prepar-
ing for the government.
The Davis mountains, well 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
published.
The Diablo country consists of UNI
dulating plains, with peaks of various
sizes and kinds, extending into the
Sacramento mountains of New Mexico.
The railroad follows a valley secured
ont of the vast plain, extending north
west into New Mexico and southwest
into Mexico. The traveller from FL
raso to the New Mexico line Is always
either upon or In sight of this plain for
about go miles. The surface Is so
smooth, except where 1t is broken
rarely by peaks, that it seems as level
rs a floor The plain Is inclOsed on
all sides by wall of higher mountain
ranges. But none of these features
has been placed on 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 in
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, as
maps of the country were always nee
essary to acquire land. The Texas
systems were inherited from Mexico
and Spain. Scrips or warrants were
issued to individuals, who went out,
took some natural object for a corner,
measured off q block of acres called
for I'm 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.
Up to $780, when the geological sur
vey began In Texas, there was only
one point In Texas with its 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. 1t was located
by the United States geOdetic survey.
About 1880 some women were giving
a bazaar for patriotic purposes In Aus
tin. They desired some souvenirs to
sell at the bazaar, and at their request
the old monument was broken into
pieces and taken to the bazaar. Thus
persisted the only point in Texas def
nitely located on the earth's surface