Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1891 — A SLICE OF INDIANA. [ARTICLE]

A SLICE OF INDIANA.

That Is What Ohio Wants and Is Not Likely to Get. An Alleged Boundary Line Error Being Worked with Vigor and with Little .. Possibility of Success. A special from Washington on Saturday says: "I don't, see how pherc can lie any truth in the statement, or how the federa; government could change the present conditions even if there were inaccuracies in the survey which al present, marks the boundary line between the States of Ohic and Indiana,’’ said Attorney-general Mils ler this afternoon in response to an inquiry as to what he thought of the statement published this morning in Indianapolis dispatches to the effect that it had been discovered by geodetic surveyors that Ohio was entitled to a wide slice off" the eastern side of Indiana. “Uis my judgment,’’ continued the At-orney-general, "tjiat some scientific-mind has discovered what it regards as an important error in the original survey marking the line between Ohio and Indiana and that the man.making the discovery is trying to create a sensation. If an error, such as reported, should be found it would be a question for determination bet wean-

the S;ates of Ohio and Indiana, and possibly llHnois~But I doii’tffhink ahythrng will come out of it. At any rate I don’t see what is to be done about it at this end of the line.” - This appears to be the view taken of the subject at the. geodetic survey headquar* ters. where the statement was made that the survey now being made, by which it, was alleged the great error was discovered is only preliminary, and could not be taken as even an approxlmatlontoadefiniteconclhsion, and would hardly afford a basis for either State or federal legislation, or action of any kind. Professor Mendenhall, who has had charge of Hie survey relating to the boundarylinedispute,lias returned -40 AV ashington. He states that he has not yet determined whether or not the line Was incorrectly run. The starting point originally was the mouth of tho Miami Riven and was supposed to run due north. He discovered that the original boundary marks were now about obliterated, but he. he had found three points, the original boundary monument at the mouth of the Miami .river, and markers at Union City and Butlef, Indiana. These three points were connected by telegraph with . the St. Louis observatory, with the object es determining theexgetiongitudeof each of the*three points. H all are: found, in the same longitude, then the line has been run due north. If there is a divergence, the true boundary can be found by running a line. Professor MendeiilfinTTinfl&T if any inaccuracies exist in the original survey it was because the first line \yas run by a compass, the deviation of which was not very well known. He has not received a report, but, he does not believe tliat the line is anywhere near twelve miles out. of joint at the northern end, as has been stated. It must be remembered that, the line wasnot run by the States and accepted by them. It was fixed by the United States, and was forced upon the two States, which were then territories,