[philmont] Boundaries of Texas and other important stuff

 the eastern and northeastern boundaries of Texas were set by Adams-Onis treaty.

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  Ah yes! That was a quality piece of legal chicanery. The real or rather settled on meaning of which wasn't settled until just a few years ago, if settled then.
   
  Speaking of which, an interesting tidbit of information on the boundaries of Texas is the NW corner which pokes into New Mexico. This is not to be confused with where Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma meet which is a few miles East of the location I spoeak of.
   
  Anyway, following NM 412/56 NE from Clayton, New Mexico one comes upon the location of where the two states meet which happens to be the NW corner of Texas. One raised in Texas and experienced in all things therein being big would expect a monument equal to the occasion.
   
  However, as you drive down the highway it's easy to miss because there is not even a sign marking the spot. Further investigation shows there is not even a visible monument marking the spot.
   
  Even further investigation by my nosey self a few years ago on the return trip from Philment revealed an interesting story.
   
  The following was passed on to me by the elderly, but charming lady who lives nearby. When I talked to her about that corner and the posibility of a monument being located nearby she told me the following.
   
  Yes, there is a marker set at the surveyed NW corner of Texas, but it's not visible at this time. At one time it was right there beside the road for all to see. The marker came before the road or the road came from the trail that lead to the marker location. Which way has been lost in time, but the road started as a dusty trail, then dusty road, then gravel road then it came to be blacktopped. Still the monument sat forlorned beside the road.
   
  Then along came modern highway improvements.
   
  When the road was widened and re-blacktopped, it was done by crews from New Mexico dept of highways since the road is maintained by them and lies totally, or for the most part, totally in New Mexico.
   
  It seems that since the monument marked the NW corner of Texas and the road was owned and maintained by New Mexico, they simply blacktopped over it and wiped out all visible signs in an effort to make the road straight.
   
  And straight it is both horizontally and vertically. That is some of the flattest land on the face of the earth.
   
  If you desire to locate the spot, you simply line up the E-W fenceline and row of salt cedars which follows one boundary between New Mexico and Texas with the N-S fenceline which is the other boundary between New Mexico and Texas and the two lines converge at the spot of the burried marker under NM 412/56.
   
  If you are lucky enough to follow a periodic survey crew, you can note the exact location a few feet inside the edge of the blacktopped road by the orange spray paint markings left by surveyors who relocate the marker periodically using metal detectors.
   
  She told me "I was born in Texas, live in New Mexico, most pastures are in Oklahoma and the cattle pens are in Texas. Sometimes it gets a little confusing but we've lived with that all our lives". It was a nice visit with one of the locals who lives there.
   
  And so goes the location of Texas NW corner.
   
  I know, I know here comes the next few posts, "who cares?"
   
  The point where Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma meet are a little easier to find. From the NW corner of Texas follow Texas State Line Road, also known locally as Rinker Road a few miles East to the intersection with Oklahoma State Line road and there beside the road one will find the monument marking the junction of the three states.
   
  However, the physical location isn't where the written description says it is. The surveyors missed it a little. Well, maybe a lot, but legislation and courtrooms have repaired that for the most part.
   
  Let me impart this bit of wisdom also. I sometimes get confused with Texans. I mean I do live in Texas, but only about 300 yards at the most. That is how far I am from the motherland of Louisiana. You see, actually I'm just a displaced Cajun. There are other more descriptive terms for that condition but I'll settle for Cajun for now.,
   
  It all happened one day on a foggy duck hunting trip. You see, back in dem days we don't have none GSP. Heck we don have none maps either. Not even a compass. Well, on the way home we gots confuse and took da wrong bayou channel and dats how I ended up in Texas. Hadn't got trown out yet, so I sticking to it me.
   
  So don't blame me for what Calvin done at Beaubien. If Beaubien would have taken better care of his homeworks and da flagpoles at his cabin none dis wood have happen in da fist place.
   
  So now we rest in peace richer in knowledge.
   
  Have a nice day.
   
  John LeBlanc

                         
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Received on Tue Oct 17 11:26:58 2006