The Cimarron Meridian and Base Line (Panhandle)

In an earlier blog I discussed the Initial Point, which is the origin for the majority of surveys in the State of Oklahoma. The exception being the Panhandle, which has its own history and point of origin for the surveys that followed after it became part of Oklahoma Territory.

“The public land strip which is included in said territory of Oklahoma, is bounded by the one hundredth meridian, south by Texas, west by New Mexico, north by Colorado and Kansas”  excerpt from the Organic Act of 1890

Eventually, there would be a need to lay out the lands into sections and quarter sections just as the “main body” of Oklahoma was done. The “other” Initial Point was too far away to serve as a sufficient starting point for the surveys, so a new starting point was established just for this small strip of Oklahoma.

The starting point (Cimarron Meridian and Base Line) was determined to be located at the intersection of 103 degrees of west longitude (meridian) and 36 degrees and 30 minutes north latitude (base line). This is the point from which all lands in the Panhandle are described.

When you see a legal description such as; Section 12, Township 3 North, Range 15 East of the C.M. that is based off the Cimarron Meridian and puts it in Texas County near Guymon, OK.

When you see a legal description such as; Section 12, Township 3 North, Range 15 East of the I.M. that is based off the Indian Meridian and puts it in Pittsburg County, south of McAlester, OK

Chaney  / Smith Monument 1881

So those last two letters in a legal description make a big difference. Of course if the county name is mentioned then it is more obvious which meridian is being referenced.

The starting point has now been created but there is a bigger problem, locating that point on the ground accurately so that the surveys of the Panhandle can commence. The most difficulty arose from locating the 103^rd west longitude line.

The first attempt was made in 1857 by General Joseph E. Johnston but placed the location of the 103^rd too far west by about 4.4 miles.

The second attempt was made in 1859 by Captain J.N McComb. They only missed the mark by about 2.5 miles too far west (getting closer!)

Finally, the 103^rd meridian was accurately surveyed by Richard Chaney and William W. Smith in 1881. What was different this time? TIME!

The biggest key to surveyors and astronomers locating a line of longitude accurately was being able to accurately determine the time of day. Being able to obtain an accurate time in the field was not easy in the mid 1800’s and thus created the two erroneous locations of the 103^rd meridian.

Cimarron Meridian and Base Line 1932

With the railroad expanding west, came the telegraph line which allowed the surveyors to have access to the accurate time needed to make solar observations and determine once and for all the location of the 103^rd Meridian and the west line of the Panhandle of Oklahoma.

There was also some difficulty in locating the 36º 30’ line of latitude. Even though Chaney and Smith were ultimately successful in locating the 103^rd meridian, they weren’t so successful in locating the 36º 30’ line of latitude. The monument they established was later determined to be slightly north of 36º 30’. However, their monument remained as the marking of the starting point of futu

State Line between OK Panhandle and Texas 1932

re surveys.

Because of this slight discrepancy in the location of the base line vs. the true line of 36º 30’, there was a small strip of land that caused question about the location of the state line between Texas and the Oklahoma panhandle. This conflict was eventually settled in 1932 resulting in a small strip of land lying SOUTH of the Cimarron Base Line belonging to Oklahoma.

Confusing? Yes. But that is surveying in what is the piece-meal state we call Oklahoma!