Show Dixon Mason Line How a term of local significance may acquire a far wider meaning is seen in the use of the name Mason and Dixons Dixon's Line the popular name of the Line l i j- j jEne Ene between Pennsyl- Pennsyl vania ania and Maryland Because of a dispute between William Villiam Penn and Lord Baltimore Over the boundary which divided their respective colonies in 1862 the controversy was continued by them and their heirs for nearly 80 years ears Finall in 1763 two surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dix Dix- Dixon Dixon on ere cre given the task of establishing lishing the line to which the dis- dis disputants disputants agreed The line was ori- ori originally marked by stones mile every fifth stone bearing On one side time the Penn coit or arms arnis nd on the other that of Jord Baltimore Time name waS afterwards applied to designate an ima ima- ima imaginary line separating the free and slave states the phrase being first used in that sense by John Ran Ran- Randolph dolph in a speech in Congress in 1820 Newspapers and the public took tip IP the expression and Mason U and Dixons Dixon's Line has Imas been used to designate time the dividing line between North and South ever since |