Beginning at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River, where the line between sections seventeen and twenty, in township fifty-one, range seventeen, west, intersects the same; thence in a straight line with the western boundary of Howard County to a point one and a half miles west of the northeast corner of township fifty-two, range seventeen, west; thence with the northern boundary line of Howard County to where the same is intersected by the sectional line dividing range sixteen into two equal parts; thence north with the subdivisional lines to the northeast corner of section four, township fifty-six, range sixteen, west; thence with the township line between townships fifty-six and fifty-seven, to where Locust Creek crosses the same; thence down the said creek to the middle of the main channel of Grand River; thence down Grand River, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River; thence down the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River to the place of beginning.