Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-06-15


alone could be verified. running the
new curve through these three points
and 30 disturbing practically no land
owners along this eastern half OF the |
line. This was very much In Della
wares favor. for II they had adopted |
n true twelve milo radius from Now |
Castle, as was provided In PENIS
order TO run the curve, II would have
been run almost a mile farther south,
so inaccurate was the measurement
of 1901, and would have given to Penn
sylvania some 5000 acres OF land
which had always been recognized AZ
being I'm Delaware. Very few seem to
realize this fact.
Commission Forced to Adopt II Curve
Of Two Arcs.
So much for the eastern half of the
curve. When Il came to the western
half. as above stated there were no
controlling landmarks TO guide the
Commission. Now true circle can
OF course be run through any three
points that are not In a straight line
Had the commission extended to the
westward this curve which they had
adopted through these three points.
II would have taken them over into
Maryland. This manifestly could not
, be done.
What then were the Commission TO
, do? In order not to encroach on
, Maryland territory the radius of the
western half of the curve must evil
IDENTIFY be shortened. and that was
what was done. The new circular
boundary was thus made up of two
separate arcs having different centres,
and this was absolutely necessary from
the conditions imposed upon the
| Commission and from the conditions
on the ground. But how fix the ends
e of this new western arc? Manifestly
: It's eastern end must DO at the STUMP
r of the old Kennett- Pennsbury Hickory
d where the eastern arc ended. so as 10
: connect with the latter AS TO its
o wesern end. this was controlled. In
n the opinion of the Commission, by a
g circumstance that must now be OK
" planned.
q Some time before 1S49 tho stone set
by Mason & Dixon at the northeas
~ corner OF Maryland had disappeared
n In order to replace II the three States
IN In that year appointed joint Com
a mission, who secured Colonel Graham
of the United States Topographica
, Engineers, TO do the work. Ate
- re-setting this stone he proceeded e
measure accurately the lines abou
! the wedge. and he then discovered tina
ID u true twelve milo radius from Ney
Castle would bring the circular bound
airy some three quarters OF mil
i eastward of the Maryland corner an
l. would thus give the wedge to Penn
m sylvania, though always occupied b
l. Delaware.
Al The Wedge Given to Delaware.
The map and report of this wor
Of Colonel Graham WAS signed by III
y, commissioners of the three States. ir
Guiding George r. Riddle, Esq. III
Va Commissioner from Delaware. Tn
~ would have pushed back the Delawal
VI boundary TO the theoretical twelN
eS mile circle, and would have given a
'o the wedge 10 Pennsylvania Howeve
ne as Delaware had always occupied u
u wedge, the Commission of 1892, wis,
ing to disturb the landowners
little as possible, now decided to recoi
e? nize Delaware's title thereto and ga
ad the wedge absolutely TO Delaware.
en- the same time adopting the 9th
nd feature OF Colonel Graham's map. viz
nv accepting as the western end of Il
ar new western arc the point where q
-. north line of Maryland, projects
all eastward. would tntersect the tr'
AZ. twelve-mile circle. This they fou,
= 10 be 4,l69 feet east OF the Marylal
-, corner, and there the Commissi
planted the Initial Stone" OF the M
- boundary line.
''s The net result. so far as this weste
end OF the curve Is concerned, is III
Delaware gets the Wedge while Pen
sylvania gets a narrow curvtng ST.
of land north of the wedge taperi
to a point at the corner of kenn'
,ha and Pennsbury. AS Judge Hempf
-. said, when passing on the Legality
oo the new line, this in his opinion W
o-a a fair and equitable exchange"
e. Is In this horn-shaped strip that I
re properties Of the few protesting lar
+, owners lie.
How the commission could ha
az acted otherwise than they did. or dc
II better under ali the conditions Il
The posed upon them and the confkcti
had claims made. and at the same ii
the run any kind OF a true curve. IL see
hey hard 70 see. II Mr.. KINNEY or oth'