CHAPTER II.

UNITED STATES SYSTEM OF SURVEYS.

How to Find a Tract of Land,

The beginning or initial point for the surveys within a given surveying district having been determined upon, a principal base line (see diagram, line A B,) is surveyed on a true parallel of latitude east and west therefrom. The principal meridian (see diagram, line C D,) is extended due north and south of the same point. The law requires that the meridional lines shall be run on the true meridian; therefore in order to counteract the error that would otherwise result from the convergency of meridians as they run to the north pole, and also to check errors arising from inaccuracies in measurements on meridian lines, standard parallels or correction lines (see diagram, lines E F and G H,) are run and marked at every four townships, or twenty-four miles, north of the base, and at every five townships, or thirty miles, south of the same. Guide meridians (see diagram, line I K,) are next surveyed at intervals of eight ranges, or forty-eight miles, east and west of the principal meridian, starting north of the base, in the first instance, from that line, and closing on the first standard north; then starting from the first standard, and closing on the second standard north, and so on. South of the base line the guide meridians start from the first standard south and close on the base line; then starting from the second standard and closing on the first standard, and, again, starting from the third standard and closing on the second, and so on. The closing corners on the base line and standard parallels are established at the intersection of the meridional lines therewith, thus, owing to the convergency of meridians, occasioning a double set of corners on those lines, which are designated as "standard corners" and "closing corners." In rugged mountain regions it has been found necessary to depart somewhat from the regular system of extending the standard lines, owing to the impracticability of surveying them in place. Under these circumstances, the principal lines are run and marked in localities admitting of the extension, by means of offsets on township lines, marking them as such in the field.

The parallelograms formed by the base line, principal meridian, standard parallels, and guide meridians, twenty-four by forty-eight miles in extent, north of the base line, and thirty by forty-eight miles south of the base, constitute the frame-work of the rectangular system of surveys.

These parallelograms are each subdivided into townships six miles square, containing, as near as may be, 23,040 acres, and again each township is subdivided into thirty-six sections one mile square, containing as near as practicable, 640 acres each. The sections of one mile square are the smallest tracts the out-boundaries of which the law requires to be actually surveyed. Their minor subdivisions are defined by law, and the surveyors-general, in protracting township plats from the field-notes of sections, designate them in red ink, the lines being imaginary, connecting opposite quarter-section corners, thereby dividing the section into four quarter-sections of 160 acres, and these, in their turn, into quarter-quarter sections of 40 acres each, by imaginary lines starting from points equi-distant

(16)

between the section and quarter-section corners, and running to opposite corresponding points. These imaginary lines may at any time be actually surveyed by the county surveyor at the expense of the settler.

The sections in each township are numbered, beginning in the north-east corner, from 1 to 36 inclusive, as shown in the township plat on this page. Sections 16 and 36 are called school sections, and if agricultural belong to the State or are reserved in a Territory, for school purposes. They can only be bought at the State Land Office, unless they contain minerals or were settled upon prior to survey, when they are sold at the United States Land Office. The sections on the northern and western boundaries of a township are fractional, i. e., they do not contain exactly 640 acres. The small fragments are called Lots, and are num

of the base line. 2 S means a second township south of the base line. 5 E means a township in range 5 east of the principal meridian. 2 W means a township in range 2 west of the principal meridian. Hence the township in the extreme northeast corner of the diagram is township 5 north of range 8 east. The principal meridian is named, if otherwise there is a possibility of mistake. The 40-acre tract in the extreme southwest corner of school section 16 in the same township would be described thus: The southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 16, in township 5 north, of range 8 east (Mount Diablo Meridian, California). In figures, it would be written S. W., S. W. 1, Sec. 16, T. 5 N., R. 8 E., M. D. M. Where would you find the following tract? N. E. †, S. E. 1, Sec. 1, T. 2 S., R. 6 E.-Ans. It is marked on the diagram with an X, and on the township plat with a square.

HOW TO TELL CORNERS.

The following extracts from the Manual of Surveying Instructions illustrate the manner of establishing the corners of the public surveys

MANNER OF ESTABLISHING CORNERS BY MEANS OF POSTS.

Township, sectional or mile corners, and quarter sectional or half mile corners, will be perpetuated by planting a post at the place of the corner, to be formed of the most durable wood of the forest at hand.

The posts must be set in the earth by digging a hole to admit them two jeet deep, and must be very securely rammed in with earth, and also with stone, if any be found at hand. The portion of the post which extends above the earth must be squared off sufficiently smooth to admit of receiving the marks thereon, to be made with appropriate marking irons, indicating what it stands for. Thus the sides of township corner posts should square at least four inches (the post itself being five inches in diameter), and must protrude two feet at least, above the ground; the sides of section corner posts must square at least three inches (the post itself being four inches in diameter), and protrude two feet from the ground; and the quarter section corner posts and meander corner posts must be three inches wide, presenting flattened surfaces, and protruding two feet from the ground.

DIAGRAM

Illustrating the frame-work of Public Surveys in the United States.

A B-Principal Base.

CD-Principal Meridian.

EF-First Standard Parallel North (or Correction Line).

GH-First Standard Parallel South.

IK-First Guide Meridian East.

Where a township post is a corner common to four townships, it is to be set in the earth diagonally, thus:

at least the eighth of an inch deep; and to make them yet more conspicuous to the eye of the anxious explorer, the deputy must apply to all of them a streak of red chalk.

Section or mile-posts, being corners of sections, and where such are common to four sections, are to be set diagonally in the earth (in the manner provided for township corner posts), and on each side of the squared surfaces (made smooth, as aforesaid, to receive the marks) is to be marked the appropriate number of the particular one of the four sections, respectively, which such side faces; also, on one side thereof are to be marked the numbers of its township and range; and to make such marks yet more conspicuous in manner aforesaid, a streak of red chalk is to be applied.

Opposite is represented a corner mound common to two townships or two sections only.

In every township, subdivided into thirty-six sections, there are twenty-five interior section corners, each of which will be common to four sections.

A quarter section, or half-mile post, is to have no other mark on it than S., to indicate what it stands for.

NOTCHING CORNER POSTS.

Township corner posts, common to four townships, are to be notched with six notches on each of the four angles of the squared part set to the cardinal points.

All mile posts on township lines must have as many notches on

them, on two opposite angles thereof, as they are miles distant from the township