ARTICLE II. 
Account of a Trigonometrical Survey of Massachusetts, by Simeon Borden, Esq., with a 
Comparison of its Results with those obtained from Astronomical Observations, by Robert 
Treat Paine, Esq., communicated by Mr. Borden. Read 16th April, 1841.* 
Before entering upon the details of the Massachusetts Survey, and Map, I propose to 
give you a few particulars respecting the history of its origin and progress. 
SECTION I.—-HISTORICAL PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE SURVEY OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
The legislature of Massachusetts passed resolves on the first of March, 1830, requiring 
the City of Boston and the several towns in the Commonwealth to make an accurate map, 
each of its own territory, upon a scale of one hundred rods to an inch, and deposite the 
same with the Secretary of State. These resolves go much into detail upon the subject. 
On the third of the same month, a resolve was passed authorizing the Governor to ap- 
point a skilful surveyor to make a survey of the state upon trigonometrical principles, 
combining astronomical observations therewith. 
Some time in the following summer, the Governor appointed Robert Treat Paine, Esq., 
as principal Engineer, with James Stevens, Esq., of Newport, Rhode Island, for his princi- 
pal assistant. During the latter part of the season Mr. Stevens visited Washington, and 
borrowed a number of instruments from the general government. He also called upon me 
to make him an apparatus for measuring a base line. In the fall he selected a location 
for a base line and partially traced it. This, I think, is all that was done in 1830. Mr. 
Paine, I believe, ordered some instruments which he received the following season. In 
the course of the ensuing winter I made the measuring apparatus, and made the neces- 
sary repairs in the instruments which Mr. Stevens had procured at Washington. ‘Toward 
the latter end of April or first of May, 1831, Mr. Stevens had all his apparatus transported 
to the base line: and some time in June I joined him to assist inthe measurement. Mr. 
Paine was considered at this time as the principal engineer; but as he had not taken 
any part in the field operations in which Mr. Stevens had been engaged, nor given him 
any directions, Governor Lincoln ordered Mr. Stevens to report directly to him, which 
* It is proper to mention that this paper was not originally intended for the Transactions, but formed part of a cor. 
Fespondence between the author and Sears C. Walker, Esq. 
VOL. 1X.—12 
