The Watchman And Southron

WHAT AND WHERE IS SEASON AND DIXON'S LINER

The term is familiar to all of us states The Mentor, but when we come to define it few of us know exactly of what it was the boundary.

When America was settled the geographical knowledge of this country was limited, therefore the maps were imperfect, but this did not hinder the kings of England from prodigally granting tracts of land in the New World without any definite idea of their extent.

Because of the royal disregard of facts it took over a hundred years for some of the colonies to settle their boundary disputes—and the fortieth degree north latitude furnished the prize contention.

Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore had been granted all territory extending under the fortieth degree north latitude "where New England terminates." Later a tract of land was given to William Penn, the southern boundary of which was to be a "circle drawn at twelve miles distant from New Castle northward and westward unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of north latitude."

Now a degree of latitude, instead of being a straight line without width, is really a band of some sixty miles in width, so that the determination of a degree will change the boundary of a state and transfer an immense amount of territory.

It was the determination of this degree of latitude that gave rise to all the trouble that followed. Various nationalities, men of all ranks and degrees, as well as religious beliefs, were embroiled in the controversy, and the contested ground became the scene of invasion, riot and even murder.

Out of this turmoil arose the Mason and Dixon Line. It started as a tangible boundary between two provinces, but eventually became an intangible division both of ideas and politics between the inhabitants of two states, and finally of two portions of the United States, until its "geographical location became lost in its political significance and men cared little, when they referred to it, where it ran or what was its history."

Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were brought over from England to survey the boundary of the provinces in 1763. They began their survey in December of that year and ended their work about Christmas time four years later. The survey cost fully $75,000. How much more was spent in lawyers' fees, the gathering of testimony, prosecution of trespassers, and worry will never be known.

Mason and Dixon first ran the peninsular line dividing Maryland and Delaware; then the peculiar circular boundary with a radius of twelve miles, using New Castle, Delaware, as the center; after which they began the western line that bears their name.

They cut swaths twenty-four feet wide through the wilderness, surveying in the night by means of the stars. At the end of every mile they erected markers twelve inches square and four and one-half feet in height, of oolitic limestone, imported from England; on the southern side of each was cut the letter "M" (Maryland) and on the northern side the letter "P" (Pennsylvania). Every fifth stone was a "crown stone," so termed because it bore the coat of arms of the respective proprietors.