SYSTEM

OF

U. S. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING.

1. TOWNSHIPS.—The public lands of the United States are primarily surveyed into uniform rectangular tracts, six miles square,* called Townships, bounded by lines conforming to the cardinal points, and containing, as nearly as may be, 23,040 acres.

2. SECTIONS.-The townships are subdivided into thirty-six tracts, one mile square, called Sections, containing (except in cases hereinafter explained) 640 acres each.

The sections are numbered consecutively from one to thirty-six, beginning at the northeast corner of the township and numbering west with the north tier of sections, thence east with the second tier, west with the third tier, and so on to section thirty-six in the southeast angle of the township. (Fig. 1.)

FIG. 1.

3. SUBDIVISIONS OF SECTIONS.-Sections are divisible into four equal parts of 160 acres each, called Quarter Sections,

*See Standard Parallels.

and each quarter section is again divisible into two half-quarter sections of 80 acres, or four quarter-quarters

n

80.00

FIG. 2.

α

a

a

80.00

40

40

a

a

80.00

40

80.00

a

160

40

containing 40 acres each. (Fig. 2.) These are called Legal Subdivisions, and are the only divisions recognized by the government in disposing of the public lands, except where tracts are made fractional by water-courses or other causes, or in the case of town lots.*

[The subdivisions of sections are not actually surveyed and marked in the field. Quarter section or half mile posts are established on the boundaries of the sections, and the quarter-quarter corners are by law the equidistant points between the section and quarter section corners; but the interior subdivisional lines of sections are made only on the plats of townships, at the SurveyorGeneral's office; and when the boundaries of these subdivisions are required to be established on the ground, a county surveyor or other competent person is employed.]

4. PRINCIPAL MERIDIANS AND BASE LINES.-Two principal lines are established prior to the survey of the townships-a north and south line denominated a Principal Meridian, and an east and west line styled a Base Line. These lines constitute the basis of the public surveys, and are prerequisite to the laying out of townships.

5. RANGES.-Any number or series of townships situated in a tier north and south are denominated a Range, and the ranges are designated by numbers east or west,

* In some of the old land states public surveys have been made which did not conform to the rectangular system. Lots were surveyed with given frontages on rivers, bayous, etc., and running back to such depth as would embrace the required areas, regardless of the cardinal points. Such surveys were made by authority of special enactments, and were exceptions to the established system of rectangular surveying.

as the case may be, from the governing meridians. The townships in each range are also numbered north or south from established base lines.

6. STANDARD PARALLELS.-Townships are said to be six miles square, but the law requiring that the north and south lines shall conform to the true meridian, it is evident that in consequence of the convergency of the meridians, these lines will continue to approach each other as they are extended northward, thereby throwing the townships out of square. To correct this convergency, and preserve as nearly as practicable the square form of the township, Standard Parallels-called also and more appropriately Correction Lines-are run every five townships or 30 miles north and south of the base line.*

These parallels or correction lines are run due east or west, and constitute new bases for the townships north of them, up to the next parallel or base line.

COURSING, MEASURING, AND MARKING LINES..

1. BURT'S SOLAR COMPASS.-Deputy surveyors are required to use Burt's improved solar compass or other instrument of equal utility, in surveying standard and township lines; but when the needle can be relied on, the ordinary magnetic compass may be used in subdivid ing or meandering.

2. STANDARD CHAIN.-The chain used in the field must be carefully compared from day to day with a Standard Chain furnished by the Surveyor-General, to be carried along by the deputy; and any variation in the length of the chain in use, from the opening of the links or other cause, must be promptly corrected.

3. TALLY PINS.-The deputy surveyor will use eleven

* Standard parallels were formerly run every 24 miles north of the base line, and every 30 miles south of it. The present system was adopted in 1866.

tally pins, made of steel, not exceeding fourteen inches in length, weighty enough toward the point to make them drop perpendicularly, and having a ring at the top, in which is fastened a piece of red cloth, or something else of conspicuous color.

4. MARKING TOOLS.-The best marking tools adapted to the purpose should be procured, and all letters and figures should be distinctly and neatly cut. A rat-tail file and a small whetstone will be found indispensable articles to keep the marking tools in order.

5. HORIZONTAL MEASUREMENT.-The length of all lines must be ascertained by horizontal measurement, taking care always to keep the chain stretched to its utmost tension. In ascending or descending steep hills or mountains, the chain may have to be shortened to half its length or even shorter in order to obtain the true horizontal measure. Care must also be taken to have the tally pins properly plumbed.

6. PROCESS OF CHAINING.-In measuring lines with a two-pole chain, every five chains are called "a tally," because the last of the ten tally pins with which the forward chainman set out will have been stuck. He then cries "tally," which cry is repeated by the other chainman, and each registers the tally by slipping a button, ring of leather, or something of the kind, on a belt worn for the purpose. The hind chainman then comes forward, and having counted in the presence of his fellow the tally pins which he has taken up, so that both may be assured that none have been lost, he takes the forward end of the chain and proceeds to set the pins. The chainmen continue to change places alternately, so that one is forward in all the odd and the other in all the even tallies. It is believed this plan will most surely prevent a mis-tally.

7. LINE TREES.-Trees immediately in line are marked by two chops or notches on each side, and are called "line trees," "station trees," or "sight trees."

8. MARKING LINES.-A sufficient number of other trees nearest the line on either side must be blazed on two sides quartering toward the line, the blazes to coincide with the direction of the line, and to approach each other the further the line passes from the blazed trees. The line should be so conspicuously marked as to be readily followed.

Where trees two or more inches in diameter are found, the required blazes must not be omitted.

Bushes on or near the line should be bent at right angles therewith, and receive a blow of the ax at about the usual height of blazes from the ground, sufficient to leave them in a bent position, but not to prevent their growth.

9. INSUPERABLE OBJECTS ON LINE.-When insuperable objects are met with on line, such as ponds, lakes, marshes, rivers, etc., they must be passed by taking the necessary right-angle offset, or by traverse or trigonometrical operation, all the particulars of which must be stated in the field book. "Meander posts" must be set at the intersection of the line with the pond or other obstacle, on both margins, and the course and distance therefrom given to two trees in opposite directions. These trees must be marked with a blaze and notch facing the post. On the margin of navigable lakes or water-courses the fractional section, township and range must also be marked upon the trees.

10. RANDOM LINES.-Trees should not be blazed in running random or trial lines. Bushes and limbs may be lopped, and stakes may be set at every ten chains, to enable the surveyor to follow the line on his return, but the stakes must be pulled up when the true line is established.

When bushes or limbs are lopped, they should be bent in the direction of the line, to prevent mistaking random for true lines.

11. LINES HOW RUN.-All north and south lines, except meridians and lines between the north tier of sections in