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PUBLIC DOCUMENT . . . . . No. 50.

ffiommortfacalilj of Massachusetts.

Report of the Commissioners

Topographical Survey

AND

Map of Massachusetts.

F oe the Y e a r 1900.

BOSTON: WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS, 18 Post Office Sqoake. 1901. t COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT.

B oston, Mass., Dec. 31, 1900. To the Honorable Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Common­ wealth of Massachusetts. The Commissioners on the Topographical Survey and Map of Massachusetts present the following report of the work executed under their direction during the year 1900 : — The permanent force employed by the commission during the past year consisted of: — Salary. One chief engineer,...... $3,000 Two assistant engineers,...... 3,050 One d ra u g h tsm a n ,...... 1,500 One computer, . 900 One stenographer,...... 780

T otal,...... $9,230

The expenditures from the regular appropriation ($20,- 000) were as follows : —

Printing boundary atlases of 28 towns, . . . $7,595 28 Office work, principally preparation of town atlases, 8,763 21 Field work, su rv e y s, ...... 3,218 89 M iscellaneous,...... 419 81

T o tal,...... $19,997 19

In addition to the above, a special appropriation of $1,500 was made for the perambulation of the State boundary lines, which was expended a s follows : —

New Hampshire line, $457 58 Vermont line, . 382 94 , . 321 95 , 336 42

Total,. . . . $1,498 89 4 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [Jan.

T own B oundary S u r v ey . In order to use as much of the regular appropriation as possible for the arrangement and publication of the results of the several years’ work already accumulated, but one party of four men has been employed in the field during the past year. This party, at small expense, surveyed 43 miles of natural or water boundaries, revised the entire boundaries of 34 towns and completed the location of the corners of 2 additional towns. This field work will furnish the material required to complete the publication of all the atlases that can be printed the coming year from an appropriation equal to that of last year.

P ublication o f T own B oundary A tla ses. There are 353 cities and towns in the State. Town boundary atlases of 10 of these towns were printed previous to the beginning of the year, and during the year atlases of 28 cities or towns have been printed and 3 more are now in the hands of the printer, making a total of 31 for the year, or a total of 41 to date. As fast as printed, a portion of the edition is distributed, as provided by chapter 360 of the Acts of 1900, as follows: two copies to the city or town clerk for the use of the city or town officers ; one copy to each public library in the cityr or town ; one copy to the Secretary of the Commonwealth ; one copy to the State Library; one copy to the Commis­ sioner of Public Records; one copy to the Boston Public Library ; one copy to the United States Geological Survey ; ten copies for distribution by the Topographical Survey Commissioners. The remaining copies are held for sale at $2.50 per copy for paper covers, which is practically the cost of printing, and $5 per copy for those bound in half Russia. Atlases of the following cities and towns have been printed during the year : — Everett, Plympton, Rochester, Winthrop, Plymouth, Mattapoisett, Hanson, Winchester, Attleborough, 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 50. 5

Taunton, Bourne, Kingston, Chelsea, Easton, Lakeville, Beverly, North Attleborough, Stoneham, Halifax, Revere, Marion, Duxbury, Norwell, Mansfield, Middleboi'ough, Bridgewater, Seekonk. Woburn,

N ew Y ork B oundary L in e . Plans showing the result of the surveys to determine the boundary line between New York and Massachusetts, together with a full description of the line, were tiled with the Secretary of the Commonwealth on March 7, 1900, and a full report made to the Legislature on that date (see House Document No. 1100, of 1900).

P erambulation o f S tate B ou n d a ries. Chapter 299 of the Acts of 1898 requires this commission to make a perambulation of the State boundary lines once in five years, beginning with 1900,—this work to be done so fiir as possible in co-operation with the officers of the adjoin­ ing States. The statute also provides that, if the officers of any adjoining State are required to perambulate their boun­ daries at any other time, the Topographical Survey Commis­ sioners can co-operate and make the perambulation at that time, rather than at the time which is prescribed by Massa­ chusetts. The laws of the State of New York required a perambu­ lation of her boundary lines during the year 1899. In conjunction with the State engineer of New York, the per­ ambulation of the line between Massachusetts and New York was made in connection with the work of setting the monu­ ments on that line during that year, thus avoiding the expense of the perambulation during the year 1900. In order to secure the co-operation of the authorities of the adjoining States on the other lines, the following com­ munication was forwarded through His Excellency the Governor of Massachusetts to the governors of New Hamp­ shire, Yermont, Khode Island and Connecticut: — 6 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [-Jan.

By chapter 299 of the Acts of 1898, the Commissioners on the Topographical Survey and Map of Massachusetts were directed to inspect during the year 1900 the monuments or other marks defining the location of the boundary lines of the Commonwealth, with a view to replacing any missing stones. This work is to be done in conjunction with the proper authorities of the other States. The work practically amounts to a perambulation. Will you kindly indicate the proper officials in your State who have charge of these matters, with whom our commissioners can com­ municate.

The replies received indicated a desire on the part of the adjoining States to co-operate with Massachusetts in this work as soon as provision could be made under authority of law for carrying on the work. The State of Yew Hampshire, however, appointed two members of the Governor’s Council, Hon. Henry F. Green of Littleton and Hon. Harry M. Cheney of Nashua, to co­ operate with u s; and an arrangement was made with these commissioners to make a joint perambulation of the , which was made by Mr. Hawley, an assist­ ant from this office, in company with Mr. Gile, the engineer who had been employed by New Hampshire on the survey of the line and in setting the monuments. The remainder of the State lines were perambulated by employees of this Board. In the report of the chief engineer is given a statement of this work, and tables have been pre­ pared giving a complete report of the condition of all the bounds of the State lines. From these tables it appears that a few monuments need to be reset. With the exception of the Connecticut line, all the State lines are in good condition, requiring only the resetting of a few bounds where they have been disturbed. The Connecticut line, however, has not been surveyed since it was originally laid out and marked, westerly from the Connecticut river in 1803 and easterly from the Connec­ ticut river in 182(1. The older portion of the line is in bad condition. The courses by which it was described were all magnetic, said to vary 5° west of true north according to the observations made at that time; but, on account of the 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 50.

continual change in variation of the needle and the crude method of observing then employed, it is not an easy matter to retrace the courses as given; moreover, the majority of the bounds marking the angles have been lost, leaving but 3 out of 14 which can be identified. There are 55 boundary points on the line between Con­ necticut and Massachusetts which require to be marked, where there are now no bounds. There are also other promi­ nent commanding points on high ledges which should be marked, and several of the monuments now existing should be replaced by permanent bounds. A few straight lines could be substituted for the high- water lines on the easterly shore of Congamuck pond, to simplify the line, as was done in a similar instance on the Rhode Island line. This could be done without any material change in territory. The boundary westerly of the “ South- wick jog” might also be straightened slightly, and a few angles avoided. The easterly portion of the Connecticut line from the cor­ ner of Rhode Island to the Connecticut river will require less attention, although the monuments are of a temporary char­ acter, and not in keeping with those adopted in the other lines of the Commonwealth. Until a survey of the entire line is made and the exact location of certain points deter­ mined, there is no way of knowing how far the present bounds are from the original line. Owing to the very poor condition of the Connecticut boundaries, the selectmen of the towns adjoining the line have expressed a desire to have it properly located and permanently marked, and this Board are of the opinion that the work should be done as soon as Connecticut is ready to co-operate in the undertaking. This is now the only portion of the boundaries of Massachusetts not properly defined and marked.

S a le of t h e A tlas M a p. During the year there has been a larger demand than usual for the sheets of the topographical map, resulting in the sale of over 4,100 sheets. The Commonwealth has received from the sale of these sheets to Dec. 31, 1900, $5,950.58, 8 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [Jan.

There is a very large demand for the information collected in the town boundary atlases, which, when published, are offered for sale at $2.50 each. Where requests are made for information which is not ready for publication, it is generally furnished from the records of the Board, and is of much use to city and town engineers, who are thus enabled to base their local work upon the numerous points already estab­ lished by the survey; these include about 2,600 corner bounds and upwards of 2,800 triangulation stations, which by law are regarded as part of the evidence of the location of the town boundary lines, and are protected by the same penalty against removal or obliteration. Attention is called to the fact that the law provides that if, in the course of the legitimate occupation of land, a person shall desire to obliterate, remove or cover up any monument or mark that has been established, such permis­ sion can be obtained from the county commissioners by providing a correct record of the change, which is to be deposited with the State departments and in the offices of the clerks of towns affected thereby. A penalty is provided in case of neglect to take proper care of the marks.

N ew M ap of t h e M etropolitan D ist r ic t . The new map of the metropolitan district of Boston, which was begun by the United States Geological Survey a few years ago and referred to in the report of 1898, we are informed is nearly completed. The field work is entirely finished and the office work about half done. It will take the remainder of the present winter to complete the work on the map. The United States Geological Survey expect shortly thereafter to issue photolithographic copies, on the scale of V20000> and with contour intervals of 20 feet. The following table shows the total expenditures made under the direction of the commission since its formation in 1884: — 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 50. 9

Table of Expenditures to Dec. 31, 1900. Topographical map of Massachusetts, .... $40,000 00 Printing topographical map of Massachusetts, . . . 13,644 59 Primary triangulation,...... 12,576 66 Determining by triangulation the location of the town boundaries, and publishing the results, .... 176,357 85 Locating and re-marking the New York boundary line, . 7,496 45 Locating and re-marking the Rhode Island boundary line,. 4,499 90 Perambulation of State l in e s , ...... 1,797 16

$256,372 61 Respectfully submitted,

DESMOND FITZGERALD, FRANK W. HODGDON, ALFRED E. BURTON, Topographical Survey Commissioners.

APPENDIX.

A p p e n d i x A .

REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER.

Boston, M ass., Dec. 31, 1900. Mr. Desmond FitzGerald, Chairman, Topographical Survey Com­ mission, Boston. D ear S ir : — The following report of field and office work for the year 1900 is respectfully submitted, together with tables showing the location and description of the boundary marks on each of the State lines as perambulated this year. The field work for the town boundary survey has been confined to one party only, in charge of assistant Eugene E. Peirce. His report shows that the boundaries of the fol­ lowing cities and towns have been examined, the bounds photographed, and the topographical descriptions revised to show alterations of recent date : —

Essex County. — Beverly, Danvers, Gloucester, Manchester, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Swampscott, W enham . Bristol County. — Attleborough, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Taunton. Hampden County. — Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Springfield, West Springfield. Hampshire County.— Easthampton, Northampton, South H adley. Middlesex County. — Hudson, Marlborough. Worcester County.— Berlin, Bolton, Clinton. The necessary triangulation to complete the location of the bounds of Agawam in Hampden county and North- borough in Worcester county was also made. 14 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [Jan.

Surveys of the following natural or water boundaries were made, each being based on the triangulation system, from which the bounds are located. Plans have been made showing the results of most of these surveys.

Name of Stream or Street. Boundary. Saugus river, .... . Lynnfield-Wakefield. Saugus river, .... . Saugus-Wakefield. Ipswich river, .... . Danvers-Middleton. Ipswich river, .... . Middleton-Peabody. Ipswich river, .... Lynnfield-North Reading. Waters river, .... . Danvers-Peabody. Vinnin street, .... . Salem Swampscott. Boring avenue, .... . Salem-Swampscott. Highland street. . Peabody-Salem. Three Mile river, . Dighton-Taunton. Canton street, .... . Norwood-Westwood. Traphole brook, . Norwood-Sharon. Westfield river, . Agawam-Westfield. Chicopee river, . Chicopee-Springfield. Chicopee river, . Ludlow-Springfield. Chicopee river, . Ludlow-Wilbraham. Manhan river, .... . Easthampton-Southampton. Banks pond, .... . Easthampton-Northampton. Line street, .... . Easthampton-Southampton. Line street, .... . Holyoke-Southampton. Amherst road, .... . Granby-South Hadley. Assabet river, .... . Northborough-Westborough. West bank of Connecticut river . Agawam-Suflield. The regular field season iegan April 20 and closed November 8. Prior to the regular season a few detached bounds were located by triangulation, where bounds had been reset or a corner omitted when the survey was made. The result of the season’s work is shown in the following summary: — Summary. Corner bounds determined by triangulation, . . . 40 Stations determined by triangulation, . . . .1 1 Bounds reset and located,...... 2 Signals built (at stations, 30 ; at bounds, 24), . . . 54 Stations o ccu p ied , ...... 68 Miles of stadia surveys of natural boundaries (streams, 35 ; roads, 8) ...... 43 Photographs of stations and bounds...... 589 Bounds examined (towns),...... 34 Bounds located by triangulation (towns), .... 2 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 50. 15

P erambulation of S tate L in e s . The perambulation of four of the State lines has been made by W. C. Hawley, as follows: — Miles. New Hampshire line,...... 94 Vermont lin e , ...... 41 Eastern Rhode Island l i n e , ...... 45.8 Northern Rhode Island l i n e , ...... 22 The Connecticut line, 95 miles in length, was perambu­ lated by Eugene E. Peirce, from the town of Monson to the northwest corner of Connecticut; and the eastern end of the line, from Burnt Swamp Corner to Monson, was per­ ambulated by W. C. Hawley. Every bound or mark has been visited and photographed and a report made of the kind of mark found, its dimen­ sions, inscription, location, and a special statement added to make the information more complete. These tables are placed on file in the office, and will be convenient for reference. New Hampshire Line. This line was perambulated conjointly by Ray T. Gile of New Hampshire and W. C. Hawley of our own force. It was begun on July 17 at the Connecticut river, and pro­ ceeded easterly to the Atlantic ocean, the Salisbury beach bound being reached August 21. There were 169 marks found, of w'hich 158 were granite monuments and 11 were iron rods of varying length set in ledge. All but 2 of the 109 roads crossing the line were marked with granite monuments, and granite monuments were found at 9 railroads, at 29 town corners and at 23 angles not town corners. There were 50 slight deflection angles in the line, and four town corners were passed by straight lines. The road monuments, of light-colored granite, averaging 4.3 feet in height and 14 by 14 inches in section, were properly dressed and inscribed, and dated 1894 on the western section and 1890 on the eastern section of the line. The monuments at angles on the eastern section are 16 inches square, instead of 14, and have the angle name cut 16 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [Jan. on one of the faces. The monuments marking the town corners are like the road monuments, with initial letters added. Se veral special monuments were found, viz. : one at the common corner of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Ver­ mont, marked by a composition bolt in the apex of a granite block set in concrete masonry on the west shore of the Connecticut river, its elaborately inscribed and highly polished marker being on the bank, 582 feet westerly there­ from ; the Boundary Pine monument at Dracut; and Major’s Rock on Salisbury marshland, owned by the Commonwealth ; all of which are described in House Document No. 860, of 1899. The name of Commissioner C. IT. Roberts was found on the north face of Boundary Pine monument and the date 1827 on the south face, in addition to the inscriptions noted in the above document. During this perambulation, grooves were cut in 6 bounds where they had been previously omitted, and 4 additional points were marked by iron pipes or rods set in prominent ledges along the line. Marks not mentioned in the final report were found, viz. : a drill-hole in a rock 12.4 feet east of the iron pipe set on Kendall’s Hill; a %-inch drill-hole in a bowlder in an open field about 520 feet east of the bound on Silver street in Methuen; and a rough field stone on the easterly side of North Broadway, Haverhill, near the Proctor monument, painted an Indian red color, being 3.5 feet high and 16 by 29 inches in section. Two bounds had been disturbed: one, 37 feet southeast of the Nashua & Acton Branch of the Boston & Maine Rail­ road, which leans about 45° to the east; and the monument on Salisbury beach, originally set in concrete, which was found lying on its side, embedded in concrete, the entire structure having been washed out by the sea. One was found lying in the shipping crate beside the railroad track of the Merrimack Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad. But two of the corner bounds of the ‘ ‘ Morrill lot ” were found. This lot contains the bound known as “ Major’s Rock.” 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 50. 17

There are two important Borden points very near the State line which were recorded: one on the north end of Nutting Hill, which is the north end of Watatic Mountain, and is 4.53 feet north of the line; the other in cultivated land of Moses Griffin, on a summit 78.35 feet south of the line, and 12 feet from the northwest corner of Griffin’s house. Both are marked by dressed granite blocks, 12 inches square and about 1.5 feet high, cut in octagonal shape, polished, and having a %-inch copper bolt in the top, around which is cut “B orden 1834.” This perambulation suggests the following recommenda­ tions : — 1. New granite monuments should be set on the east bank of the Connecticut river, on the east and west shores of the island in Monomonac lake, on the east bank of the Merri- mac river, on the east shore of Long pond, on the westerly side of the road in Methuen, on the side of the Boston & Maine Railroad track at Atkinson, and on the highway between North avenue and Newton road, Haverhill. 2. The following monuments should be reset: the bound on the Townsend Hill road, the old Varnum monument on the west shore of the Nashua river (or a marker be set on the westerly high-water bank), the bound on the east side of the track of the Nashua & Acton Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad, the monument which lies on the ground beside the Merrimack Branch of the Boston & M aine Railroad, and the monument at Salisbury beach. 3. That bound No. 149, set for a Merrimack-Amesbury town corner, since the original marking of the line, be properly lettered. 4. That the marker on the east bank of the Nashua river have the distance from the true corner cut upon it. The engineer for New Hampshire concurs with these recommen dations. With the above exceptions, the monuments on the line were found secure and in good condition. 18 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [Jan.

Vermont Line. On the Vermont line there are 52 boundary marks, fifty of which are granite monuments and two are iron bolts. There are granite monuments on all but 2 of the 38 roads crossing the line. There are five granite monuments marked the same as the road monuments, with additional inscriptions, 4 of which are at angles in the line. The eight Massachusetts town corners are marked with light-colored granite monuments, averaging 4 feet in height and 10 by 10 inches in section, 3 of which are dressed on all faces and 5 are dressed down U/2 feet on the southerly face. They are marked ; also with the initial letter of the names of the Massachusetts towns between which they stand. The monument at the Leyden angle, a granite block 18 inches square and 2 feet high, dressed on 3 sides is marked on the north and south faces like the roadstones and on the east face “ L e y d e n .” A cavity five inches deep is cut in the top, and around the cavity is cut “B o rd en 1834.” Another Borden point was found on Jilson Hill, north 14° east (magnetic) 80.14 feet from the Jilson monument, marked with a granite block similar to the Leyden monu­ ment, having a copper bolt with a cross cut in the top at the bottom of the cavity, the onl}r lettering being at the top, “ B orden 1836.” The 6 Vermont town corners on the line have not been marked, and no officers of that State seem to know just where they are located. The lines partly grown up since the survey was made were bushed out, and a new line cut out on the west slope of Clarksburg Mountain. A %-inch iron rod, loosely set in a small rock, was found about 600 feet east of the road on the west slope of Florida Mountain, “NewiSeeUne” being painted on the rock. The perambulation suggests the following recommenda­ tions : — 1. That the monuments at the 8 Massachusetts town cor­ ners be lettered VT. on the north face. 2. That cast-iron posts, similar to those used on the New 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 50. 19

York line, be placed over the iron bolts on the summit of Clarksburg Mountain and on Florida Mountain, which will be visible above the underbrush which now covers the bolts. 3. That the small granite monument on the west side of the first mountain road west of Clarksburg Mountain be re­ placed by a new monument, standing 4 feet out of ground. This is the last point on the side hill which locates the line before reaching the high summit of Clarksburg Mountain, and is important on account of its accessibility. Otherwise, the bounds were firmly set and in good condition. On Nov. 15, 1900, the Vermont Legislature passed an act establishing the line as defined by the act passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts.

Eastern Rhode Island Line. As the monuments on this line had just been set and a full report on the line given to the Legislature early in 1899, it was not necessary to visit all the marks. Many of them were examined, however, to make sure that they were intact, and photographs of 26 monuments were taken. The bounds examined were all found to be in good condition.

Northern Rhode Island. Line. There were 63 granite monuments and 4 copper bolts found on the line, which, with few exceptions, were securely set. Monuments were found at all the roads crossing the line and at many other points. The road monuments aver­ age 2 5 feet in height and 8 by 6 inches in section. The north and south faces are dressed with M ass cut on the north face and R I on the south face. Ten bounds were found less than 6 inches high, — one flush with the ground and two under ground. The perambulation suggests the following recommenda­ tions : — 1. That the Ellery street bound be reset. 2. That the Blackstone—Woonsocket bound be replaced by a bound showing above the surface of the ground. 3. That a bound be set on the west side of Canal street on the east bank of the canal, the nearest one being under 20 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [Jan.

4. That the bound supposed to mark the common corner of Blackstone, North Smithfield and Uxbridge be removed and set on the line,7 it now being: O about 36 feet south of the true line. 5. That the bound 2,000 feet west of the Harley Baker road be reset, it being found lying on the ground.

Connecticut Line. This line was perambulated from the corner of Con­ necticut—Massachusetts—Rhode Island, in a westerly direc­ tion, by Eugene E. Peirce and William C. Hawley.

Portion Past of the Connecticut River, run and marked in 1826. At road crossings and angles dark-colored dressed sand­ stone bounds 5 feet in length were set, leaving from 114 to 3 feet above the surface of the ground, generally about 2% feet. These bounds do not seem to have been cut to any absolute size, but averaged about 11 inches on the north and south faces and 6 inches on the east and west faces, the let­ ter C being cut on the south side and M on the north side. The bounds were usually set on the easterly sides of roads, and to-day stand firm, but invariably leaning; the corners, tops and faces are badly broken and defaced. At points where two Massachusetts or two Connecticut towns join at the State line, granite or sandstone bounds, U/2 to 21 / 2 feet in height, sides about 9 inches in width, have been set, evidently by town authorities, since the line was run in 1826. There is no similarity in these “ three-town corners,” but each is properly marked by letters cut in the faces. The perambulation suggests the following observations : — 1. The portion of the line as far as the bound at the Con­ necticut river, a distance of 42 miles, is fairly well marked at most of the corners and road crossings, having been sur­ veyed at a much later date than the portion west of the river. Twelve of the bounds, however, are insecurely set, and 011c, at East Longmeadow, is broken at the ground. 2. There are no stone monuments at 14 points which should be marked, one of which is a prominent boundary summit, and thirteen are at road crossings. 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT —No. 50. 21

Portion West of Connecticut River, run and marked in 1803. Bounds similar to those on the eastern section were used in marking points where the State line crossed a portion of the highways west of the river. They were of dark-colored sandstone, 5 feet in length, dressed 12 by 9 inches 21/2 feet down from the top, and set about 2% feet into the ground. Letters were cut on the wider faces of the stone, s t a t e on the south, and s t a t e on the north, with 1803 below the letters on one face or the other. Of 50 road crossings on this section, less than one-half are monumented, the type of bound used being that described above in practically every case. At “ three-town corners” the Massachusetts and Connecticut town authorities have generally erected some sort of a mark. Some points are marked by rough field stones, such as could be found near at hand, or by oak stumps. With the exception of the portion known as “ the South- wick jog,” the line from the Connecticut river westward to the New York boundary line is very nearly straight, there being 14 extremely small deflection angles, according to the 1803 plan. Of these, only 3 could be found on the ground, the markings of the others having been effaced, as far as could be ascertained. Three roadstones were either broken at the ground or sunken so that their tops were at the sur­ face ; one was broken in two and the pieces lay on a bank beside the road 11 feet apart; another had been broken and the top set on end in a pile of small stones. The roadstones were usually on the easterly sides of the highways. The perambulation shows the following facts : — 1. That 2 bounds are insecurely set. 2. That 8 bounds are not of the proper character, and should be replaced by new monuments. 3. That 42 points have no marks, 31 of which are at highway crossings and 11 are at angles in the line. 4. That 9 prominent boundary summits are unmarked. 5. That the location of the line has never been determined, with the exception of a few points near the line located by triangulation in the Borden survey. 22 STATE TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. [Jan.

Ihe perambulation suggests the following recommenda­ tions : — 1. That the entire line be surveyed, in co-operation with the officers of the State of Connecticut. 2. That a portion of the bounds on the easterly end of the line be replaced by monuments of a similar charac­ ter to those marking the other Massachusetts State lines, and that additional monuments be set at points now un­ marked. 3. That in the westerly portion of the line the angles be located and the line slightly straightened, and new monu­ ments set at all points where they are now found lacking. 4. That fixed lines be substituted for the boundary follow­ ing the high-water line along the easterly shore of Conga- muck pond at “ the Southwick jog,” which is not properly marked, nor can it be easily identified. It is about 3 miles long, and quite irregular.

O f f ic e W o r k . The principal office work has consisted in hunting up and examining the statutes establishing the town boundary lines, and in preparing the descriptive and other data for the prin­ ter. The material for 31 atlases has been sent to press, and the material for eight others is well advanced. The statutes and public records have been examined for 34 towns in which the field work has been revised this year, and are ready tor use; also the records of 20 other towns have been examined. An unusual amount of computation of the regular town boundary triangulation has been accomplished, mainly by Mrs. E. M. Peirce. These included the computation of all the field work of Assistant Peirce’s party for 1893 and 1894 in Middlesex county, and of 1895 in the Connecticut valley, locating the boundary lines of 32 towns. These computa­ tions included 1,410 triangular sides, 894 L M Z’s, 257 in­ verses, the straightening of 7 traverse lines, involving 125 stations and 143 eccentric angles reduced to center. The geographical positions of the triangulation points that have been computed during the year have been inserted in the card catalogue for general use. 1901.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 50. 23

Position tables of stations and corners for the seasons of 1893, ’94, ’95, ’98, ’99 and 1900 have been prepared. Position tables of corners of 25 towns have been prepared, requiring many inverse computations. A list of geographical positions of stations on the Massa­ chusetts- was also prepared for publication. Assistant Hawley has also computed in duplicate a consid­ erable number of points.

Draughting. The topographical sketches and triangulation sheets nec­ essary to complete the 30 atlases sent to press have been prepared by Mr. Frank L. Tibbetts. Additional plans of water boundaries and highways have been made on large scale for general use and consultation, as well as for reduc­ tion lor the boundary maps. This work has included about 400 topographical sketches and about 50 miscellaneous plans, inked and lettered. Mr. Tibbetts having resigned to accept a position offering wider opportunities, Mr. Wendell W. Chase was employed to fill the vacancy.

S ale o p A tlas S h e e t s . Under the provisions of chapter 57 of the Resolves of 1890, 16 atlases, 11 folios and 3,268 additional sheets of the State topographical map, making in all 4,132 sheets, have been sold, and the sum of $349.59 has been deposited with the State Treasurer during the year. Under the provisions of chapter 95 of the Resolves of 1891, 12 atlases, with portfolios, have been gratuitously dis­ tributed, 7 of which have been sent by request to the free public libraries of the State. Under the provisions of chapter 360 of the Acts of 1899, 250 town boundary atlases have been sent to the officers of various cities and towns and certain State and federal offices, where they can be conveniently consulted. Yours respectfully, HENRY B. WOOD, Chief Engineer.

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