Early in 1785, the location of the western boundary of Pennsylvania, and the eastern boundary of what is known as the pan-handle of Virginia, was undertaken. The Governor of Pennsylvania, John Dickenson, instructed the Commissioners on the part of that State, to construct the work with the fidelity and exactness to be derived from astronomical observations, and to make the line, by a vista and by stones properly prepared and fixed in the ground at the distance of five miles, one from another-every stone to be inscribed with the distance from the southwest corner. They were further instructed to ascertain the north-west corner of the State, by astronomical observations, and distinctly indicate its position.

From May to August, the joint commissioners were engaged in the survey of the boundary from the south western angle of Pennsylvania, northward to the river Ohio, as appears from their report. "We the subscribers, commissioners, appointed by the States of Pennsylvania and Virginia, to ascertain the boundary between the said States, do certify, that we have carried on a meridian line from the south west corner of Pennsylvania, northward, to the river Ohio, and marked it, by cutting a wide vista over all the principal hills, intersected by the said line, and by falling or deadning a line of trees, generally, through all the lower grounds. And we have likewise placed stones, marked on the east side P, and on the west side V, on most of the principal hills, and where the line strikes the Ohio; which stones are accurately placed in the true meridian bounding the States aforesaid." *

Northward from the Ohio there is reason to believe, that far less care was ob served in running the line. The Virginia commissioners left, after reaching the river, and neither the United States nor the State of Connecticut-the proprietors of the country westward of the boundary, were represented in the further survey. Dr. Rittenhouse returned to Philadelphia in about three weeks, and the work, which had proceeded a short distance north of the right bank of the Ohio, was adjourned until the next season.

The location of the boundary between Pennsylvania and the wilderness, now constituting Ohio, was resumed in June, 1786, by Andrew Porter, and Alexander McClean, Commissioners of Pennsylvania. Their subsequent proceedings will appear from an abstract of the communications addressed by them, from time to time, to the Executive Council.

On the 25th of June, 1786, at "Shanangoe Creek," (within the present limits of Trumbull county,) the commissioners wrote that, on the 19th instant, they began their labors, and had then proceeded three miles-had fallen in with several hunting parties of Indians, who were friendly and peaceable.

On the 3d of September, council was informed by the commissioners that the line of the western boundary was extended from its south-west corner one hundred

Some light is thrown upon the exact point where the line intersects the Ohio, by a passage in a diary of Gen. Richard Butler, who, in September, 1785, descended the hio River at that point, on his way to the mouth of the Great Miami, where in January, 1786, a conference was held by Gen. George Rogers Clark, Samuel H. Parsons and Butler, Commissioners of the United States, with the Shawanese Indians. Gen. Butler arrived at the mouth of the Beaver river on the 28th of September, 1785, where he was joined by a company of United States troops At the west line of Pennsylvania, then bein run by Rittenhouse and his associates, Burler's party met Thomas Hutchins, the geographer of the United States, with a corps of surveyors. This party had been instructed by an Ordinance of Congress (20th May, 1785,) to begin the first line of the survey, running due north and south, on the river Ohio at a point that [should] be found to be due north from the western termination of a line which [had] been run as the southern boundary of the State of Pennsylvania: and the first line, running east and west, to begin at the same point, and extend throughout the whole territory. Accordingly, as Butler notes in his journal, Hutchins, and his party, "had made a beginning at right angles on the Pennsylvania line at the post set up by Mr. Rittenhouse, and had gone on westwards, &c., &c.”—See Butler's Journal, in Craig's Olden Time, vol. II p. 431

and forty-three miles; that they were then on waters running northward, but with no knowledge of the distance to the lake, where, however, they hoped to arrive by the first of October.

"On the 4th of October, the following report was transmitted by commissioners Porter and McClean:

"We, the commissioners, appointed to ascertain and complete the line of the western boundary of the State of Pennsylvania, beg leave to report, that we haw ascertained and completed said line, by astronomical observations, as far as Lake Erie, having opened a vista, and planted stones in the proper direction, marked on the east side P., and that said line extends some distance in the lake.”

"ANDREW PORTER,
"ALEXANDER MCCLEAN.”

After careful examination, I can find no other details of this survey. No map of the line has been preserved. The probability is that David Rittenhouse concurred in its determination to about the southern border of the Western Reserve, while from that point to Lake Erie, the location of the boundary was executed in haste and without great precision.

The results of my personal examination are briefly these: On the 27th of Oetober, 1855, I proceeded to the initial point on the Ohio river, and found the mon uments on both banks still standing, while throngh the forests which have never been removed from the hills overlooking the river, the vista described by the commissioners was distinctly visible. Indeed, in answer to inquiries and correspondence, I find that the track of the commissioners is readily distinguished through the forests, and its tradition is carefully preserved wherever clearings and improvements have occurred.

At the Ohio river, the eastern boundary of the State is identical with the east line of the United States survey of the seven ranges of townships, which was the commencement, the basis, of the vast land system of the West. This survey was undertaken in 1785, under the first land ordinance of the Congress of the confeder ation, and was simultaneous with the Pennsylvania adjustment of the boundary. Thomas Hutchins, who had been employed to fix the south-western angle of Pennsylvania, being at the head of the United States corps for the survey of what was afterwards known as the Seven Ranges.

I have satisfied myself, also, that there is no uncertainty in respect to the line which bounds Trumbull county on the east. The Representatives and Senators, as well as other intelligent citizens of Trumbull, giving that assurance. The boundary of Ashtabula rests more unsatisfactorily upon tradition, and in one instance a representation of uncertainty, injurious to private interests, has come to the notice of the undersigned. This, however, is an exception to the general rule, and does not prevent the application of the adage-Quieta non movere—not to disturb that which is quiet.

It seems, therefore, to the undersigned, that an attempt to re-locate the line might produce more uncertainty and dissatisfaction than would be removed or obviated; and that the whole subject can be safely and properly entrusted to judicial inquiry, whenever any necessity therefor arises.

Yours, Respectfully,

JAMES W. TAYLOR

REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONERS OF THE OHIO STATE LIBRARY.

HONORABLE SALMON P. CHASE,

Governor of the State of Ohio:

The Commissioners of the State Library report that the present Librarian took charge of the books and papers in June last, and, that under his direction, no important transactions have been had.

A statement of his receipts and disbursements, with an account received by him from James W. Taylor, late Librarian, is appended.

The Commissioners would respectfully represent, that no catalogue of the State Library has been published since 1848, and, that, in the meantime, many books have been added, some have been lost, and others damaged. There are registered in the Library 18,123 volumes. In June, 1849, there were on the register 10,873. There was no appropriation made last year, and the Librarian has been without the necessary means of paying subscriptions against the Library, for periodicals and newspapers, or of having the same bound, as the law provides.

An account of subscriptions due for journals and magazines, ordered by the late Librarian, is submitted.

Files of leading journals, State and National, are consulted oftener, and with more interest, than any other works in the Library, and the Librarian would respectfully suggest that incomplete files of valuable papers and magazines should be made perfect.

For several years, unbound pamphlets, State documents and laws, received in exchange, have been deposited in the Library. They are valuable, and ought to be assorted and prepared for a place upon the shelves. A suitable appropriation might be advantageously employed for such a purpose, and for binding classified volumes of reports from our different State departments.

In making appropriations for the Library, it would be well to bear in mind that it is not rich in local history, and that various pamphlets, documents, manuscripts