A STATE LINE CURIOSTITY
And fickle history...

TTS was due for another Geo-Glitch posting like that odd arc at the top of Delaware and SE PA forming the state line.

Back in early New Castle, and obsession with possession and boundary lines, the Duke of York decided that the top of Delaware would be defined by a 12-mile arc projected from New Castle. So the DOY commissioned a team to procure a huge drawing compass and strike the arc. Originally, the compass point was placed at the old courthouse spire but later, it somehow happened that Broad Dyke, about 2 blocks northeast, was designated as the center of this unique line. As well, the arc is not a true circle segment, having been fudged to suit various boundary/land agendas over time.

The historical marker pictured is at 3rd & Chestnut & Wilmington Sts. where one can stand and muse over how that gigantic compass was hefted into place and rotated from the Delaware River to the Mason-Dixon Line. Also, visit all the other sites of interest in quaint New Castle. Rife with history, it was founded in 1640, the first state's capitol (1664). Here, in 1682, William Penn first set foot in America on the west bank of the Delaware River.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Castle,_Delaware
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMAAN_BROAD_DYKE_DE_NC_22
http://www.howderfamily.com/blog/?p=475

Meanwhile, here's another: Keep busy and take a turn by Googling the "Southwig Jog," go there, then report back here w/pics and on-site story.

FOUR CORNERS OFF BY 2 1/2 MILES!?
Aaarrrggghhh...

...and egad! What's going on thataway, anyway? U.S. corner enthusiasts are astir with this news. The first report heard here said "2 miles," then it was "2 1/2," and later, 1807 ft. The Trek Stop staff, all conspiratorial thinkers, concluded that there was no mistake, essentially: the U.S. Gov and Indian factions decided at some point, locating the formidable marker where it is would be more convenient to US160 for visitor access and concessionary interests, i.e., t-shirts, jewelry, and sundry trinkets sales. But, hey, that's just us. Should the marker be relocated 2 1/2 miles east of it's actual "erroneous" site, tracks could be laid and a train ride offered from Rt160 for an inflated fare, of course. Envision Disney World-like train cars brightly painted in a SW motif and glass floors to watch the railroad ties ripple by to compensate for the otherwise featureless landscape ride. And, just think of all the tourists who would now have to revisit the site.
So, who said the US economy was off-track?

Pictured are 2 posed unsuspecting tourists and one of the site's nearby concession stands.

News links, etc:

Click here: The Associated Press: Correction: Four Corners marker story

Click here: Four Corners: Colorado-Arizona-New Mexico-Utah

MONTGOMERY'S CORNER & THE 30 MILE POST
A new blog category: GeoGlitches

In days of old
When surveyors were bold
And GPSs weren't invented,
They bushwhacked through the wilderness
And sometimes soon relented.
(Modification of a risque limerick of old).

On a map of the NC/GA state line there's a bit of a bump at Clay County, NC and Towns County, GA, above Hiawassee - about 661 yards-worth, N to S. Look closely. This glitch goes back to partial surveys begun in 1737 and 1764. In 1796, completion of the line was ordered. GA hired Montgomery; NC engaged Ellicott, whose line extended 30 miles west from the Chattooga River. Montgomery's began from the old Cherokee town of Nickajack. They ultimately did not meet, were simply connected by a perpendicular, and the survey wasn't soon repeated owing to the time and effort required. This state line abberation became downright cause for war over the questionable right angle pair.

"In 1803, Georgia disputed the boundary and went so far as to create a county within the disputed area known as Walton County. This dispute led to battles, riots, killings, and imprisonments. In an effort to settle the matter in 1807, the U.S. conducted yet another survey, completing it in 1808, but Georgia refused to accept it" - from an article in Georgia Backroads, Winter 2004, written by Michael E. Maffett, M.D.

In this excellent research piece, Dr. Maffett includes a description of his own arduous attempts to reach the markers with hopes that they could, indeed, be located. He bushwhacked the woods west of the A.T. from Bly Gap and north of Hightower Bald (4th highest peak in GA) without success, although he went in much better equipped, GPS and all, than Ellicott and Montgomery. Maffett marvels at the abilities of pioneer surveyors despite simpler orientation tools and lack of existing road/trail access.

Copy/paste into your browser and refer to LOGGY BRANCH AND HIGHTOWER ROAD:
http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/mountains/blue_ridge/eastern/
hightower_area_southern_nantahala_wilderness.html#SCATAWAY

Dr. Maffett's resources included Marion R. Hempley's Georgia's Boundaries, The Making of a State (1993), internet accounts of Walton's War, and his personal Southern History library. The GB article (or the Winter '04 issue), can be ordered from Editor Dan Roper at georgiabackroads@comcast.net. Or contact the Trekster here for more info. The GB article is not available as a download.

If you should trek
In to the woods
To seek out these two markers,
Please let us know what you did find
And we'll post it under "Yikers!"

Get started here: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.98985&lon=-83.6202&s=48&u=6&datum=nad27&layer=DRG