Oklahoma v. Texas
Headline: Court confirms survey marking the Texas–Oklahoma border along the 100th meridian, upholding the commissioner’s report and ordering maps and certified copies sent to state leaders and the Interior.
Holding: The Court confirmed the commissioner’s July 16, 1929 report, declared the line on that report and maps to be the true Texas–Oklahoma boundary along the 100th meridian, and ordered distribution of certified copies.
- Finalizes Texas–Oklahoma border location along the 100th meridian.
- Provides maps and certified records to state leaders and Interior.
- Clarifies authority for local governance, land titles, and resource management.
Summary
Background
The dispute involved the States of Texas and Oklahoma and the official marking of their common border along the true 100th meridian west from Greenwich. The Court had previously issued decrees on January 3, 1927 and March 5, 1928 directing a commissioner to run, locate, and mark that meridian as the state boundary. Samuel S. Gannett was appointed commissioner and filed a report dated July 16, 1929 declaring that he had completed the work and produced maps. No objections to his report were presented within the allotted time, so the matter returned to the Court for final action.
Reasoning
The Court considered the commissioner’s report and noted that no party filed objections before the deadline. Finding that the commissioner had acted in conformity with the earlier decrees, the Court confirmed the report in full, declared the line shown on the report and maps to be the true boundary between Texas and Oklahoma along the 100th meridian, and ordered steps to finalize the record. The Court directed the clerk to transmit authenticated copies of the decree, report, and maps to each state’s chief magistrate and the Secretary of the Interior and discharged the commissioner.
Real world impact
The decision settles the precise location of the Texas–Oklahoma boundary along the 100th meridian, giving officials, landowners, and agencies clear authority and maps for governance, taxation, and resource control. The clerk’s delivery of certified copies to state leaders and the Interior Department will help carry the boundary into official records. Because no objections were made and the Court’s decree confirms the report, the boundary position is now final under the Court’s action unless later altered by lawful processes outside this opinion.
Ask about this case
Ask questions about the entire case, including all opinions (majority, concurrences, dissents).
What was the Court's main decision and reasoning?
How did the dissenting opinions differ from the majority?
What are the practical implications of this ruling?