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1885
B 883,801

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ARTES SCIENTIA VERITAS

RESTORATION
OF
LOST AND OBLITERATED CORNERS.
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,.
MARCH 13, 1883.
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,
1885.

RESTORATION
OF
LOST AND OBLITERATED CORNERS.
SGENERAL LAND OFFICE,
MARCH 13, 1883.
12625
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE..
1885.
HD
181
G7
1885
gift
Clements Lil
12-14-5-5-
RESTORATION OF LOST AND OBLITERATED CORNERS.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
Washington, D. C., March 13, 1883.
The increasing number of letters from county and local surveyors re-
ceived at this office, making inquiry as to the proper method of restor-
ing to their original position lost or obliterated corners marking the
survey of the public lands of the United States, or such as have been
willfully or accidentally moved from their original position, have ren-
dered the preparation of the following general rules necessary, particu-
larly as in a very large number of cases the immediate facts necessary
to a thorough and intelligent understanding are omitted. Moreover,
surveys having been made under the authority of different acts of Con-
gress, different results have been obtained, and no special law has been
enacted by that authority covering and regulating the subject of the
above named inquiries. Hence the general rules here given must be
considered merely as an expression of the opinion of this office on the
subject, based, however, upon the spirit of the several acts of Congress
authorizing the surveys, as construed by this office. When cases arise
which are not covered by these rules, and the advice of this office is de-
sired, the letter of inquiry should always contain a description of the
particular corner with reference to the township, range, and section of
the public surveys, to enable this office to consult the record.
To restore extinct boundaries of the public lands correctly, the sur-
veyor must have some knowledge of the manner in whch townships
were subdivided by the several methods authorized by Congress.
Without this knowledge he may be greatly embarrassed in the field,
and is liable to make mistakes invalidating his work, and leading
eventually to serious litigation. It is believed that the following
synopsis of the several acts of Congress regulating the surveys of the
public lands will be of service to county surveyors and others, and will
help to explain many of the difficulties encountered by them in the
settlement of such questions.
The differences resulting from Congressional legislation at different
periods resulted in two sets of corners being established on township
lines at one time; at another time three sets of corners were established
on range lines, while the system now in operation makes but one set of
corners on township boundaries, except on standard lines, i. e., base and
correction lines, and in some exceptional cases.
The following brief explanation of the modes which have been prac-
ticed will be of service to all who may be called upon to restore oblit-
erated boundaries of the public land surveys:
Where two sets of corners were established on township boundaries
one set was planted at the time the exteriors were run, those on the
north boundary belonging to the sections and quarter sections north of
said line, and those on the west boundary belonging to the sections and
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LDB
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quarter sections west of that line. The other set of corners was estab-
lished when the township was subdivided. This method, as stated, re-
sulted in the establishment of two sets of corners on all four sides of the
townships.
Where three sets of corners were established on the range lines, the
subdivisional surveys were made in the above manner, except that the
east and west section lines, instead of being closed upon the corners
previously established on the east boundary of the township, were run
due east from the last interior section corner, and new corners were
erected at the points of intersection with the range line.
The method now in practice requires section lines to be initiated from
the corners on the south boundary of the township, and to close on ex-
isting corners on the east, north, and west boundaries of the township,
except when the north boundary is a base line or standard parallel.
Ordinance of the
federation of May 20,
SYNOPSIS OF ACTS OF CONGRESS.
The first enactment in regard to the surveying of the public lands
was an ordinance passed by the Congress of the Confed-
Congress of the Con- eration, May 20, 1785, prescribing the mode for the survey
1785. U. S. Land Laws. Of the "Western Territory," and which provided that said
p. 349. Edition 1828. territory should be divided into "townships of six miles
square, by lines running due north and south, and others crossing them
at right angles" as near as might be.
It further provided that the first line running north and south should
begin on the Ohio River, at a point due north from the western terminus
of a line run as the south boundary of the State of Pennsylvania, and the
first line running east and west should begin at the same point, and
extend through the whole territory. In these initial surveys only the
exterior lines of the townships were surveyed, but the plats were marked
by subdivisions into sections of one mile square, numbered from 1 to 36,
commencing with No. 1 in the southeast corner of the township, and
running from south to north in each tier to No. 36 in the northwest
corner of the township; mile corners were established on the township
lines. The region embraced by the surveys under this law forms a
part of the present State of Ohio, and is generally known as "the
Seven Ranges."
The Federal Congress passed a law, approved May 18, 1796, in regard
Act of May 18, 1796, to surveying the public domain, and applied to "the terri-
vol. 1, p. 465. Section tory northwest of the Ohio River, and above the mouth of
the Kentucky River."
U.S. Statutes at Large,
2395, U. S. Revised
Statutes.
Section 2, of said act, provided for dividing such lands as had not
been already surveyed or disposed of, "by north and south lines run ac-
cording to the true meridian, and by others crossing them at right
angles, so as to form townships of 6 miles square," &c. It also pro-
vided that "one half of said townships, taking them alternately, should
be subdivided into sections containing, as nearly as may be, 640 acres
each, by running parallel lines through the same each way at the end.
of every two miles, and marking a corner on each of said lines at the
end of every mile." The act also provided that "the sections shall be
numbered, respectively, beginning with the number one in the northeast
section, and proceeding west and east alternately through the township,
with progressive numbers till the thirty-sixth be completed." This
method of numbering sections is still in use.
An act amendatory of the foregoing, approved May 10, 1800, required
the "townships west of the Muskingum, which are directed to be sold
A
United Phali
5
Act of May 10, 1800
S.
2395, U. Revised
in quarter townships, be subdivided into half sections of U. S. Statutes at Large,
320 acres each, as nearly as may be, by running parallel vol. 2, p. 73. Section
lines through the same from east to west, and from north Statutes.
to south, at the distance of one mile from each other, and marking
corners, at the distance of each half mile on the lines running cast and
west, and at the distance of each mile on those running from south
to north. And the interior lines of townships intersected by the Mus-
kingum, and of all townships lying east of that river, which have not
been heretofore actually subdivided into sections, shall also be run and
marked. And in all cases where the exterior lines of the townships
thus to be subdivided into sections or half sections shall exceed, or shall
not extend six miles, the excess or deficiency shall be specially noted,
and added to or deducted from the western or northern ranges of sec-
tions or half sections in such townships, according as the error may be
in running the lines from east to west or from south to north." Said
act also provided that the northern and western tier of sections should
be sold as containing only the quantity expressed on the plats, and all
others as containing the complete legal quantity.
The act approved June 1, 1796, "regulating the grants of land appro-
priated for military services," &c., provided for dividing
the "Virginia Military Tract," in the State of Ohio, into
townships 5 miles square, each to be subdivided into quar- vol.
ter townships containing 4,000 acres.
Act of June 1, 1796.
U.S. Statutes at Large,
1, p. 499.
vol. 2, p. 14.
Section 6 of the act approved March 1, 1800, amendatory of the fore-
going act, enacted that the Secretary of the Treasury was Act of March 1, 1800.
authorized to subdivide the quarter townships into lots of U.S. Statutes at Large,
100 acres, bounded as nearly as practicable by parallel
lines 160 perches in length by 100 perches in width. These subdivisions
into lots, however, were made upon the plats in the office of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and the actual survey was only made at a subse-
quent time when a sufficient number of such lots had been located to
warrant the survey. It thus happened, in some instances, that when
the survey came to be made the plat and survey could not be made to
agree, and that fractional lots on plats were entirely crowded out. A
knowledge of this fact may explain some of the difficulties met with in
the district thus subdivided.
Act of February 11,
1805 U. S. Statutes
at Large, vol 2, p. 313.
S.
Revised Statutes.
The act of Congress approved February 11, 1805, directs the subdi-
vision of the public lands into quarter sections, and pro-
vides that all corners marked in the field shall be estab-
lished as the proper corners of the sections or quarter Section 2396, U.
sections which they were intended to designate, and that
corners of half and quarter sections not marked shall be placed as
nearly as possible "equidistant from those two corners which stand on
the same line." This act further provides that "the boundary lines
actually run and marked" (in the field) "shall be established as the
proper boundary lines of the sections or subdivisions for which they
were intended; and the length of such lines as returned by the sur-
veyors shall be held and considered as the true length thereof, and the
boundary lines which shall not have been actually run and marked as
aforesaid shall be ascertained by running straight lines from the estab-
lished corners to the opposite corresponding corners, but in those frac-
tional townships where no such opposite or corresponding corners have
been or can be fixed, the said boundary line shall be ascertained by
running from the established corners due north and south, or east and
west, as the case may be, to the external boundary of such fractional
townships."
Act of April 24, 1820,
vol. 3, p. 566. Section
Statutes.
6
The act of Congress approved April 24, 1820, provides for the sale of
public lands in half quarter sectious, and requires "that
U.S. Statutes at Large, in every case of the division of a quarter section the line
2397, V. S. Revised for the division thereof shall run north and south, and
fractional sections, containing 160 acres and upwards, shall
in like manner, as nearly as practicable, be subdivided into half quar-
ter sections, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed
by the Secretary of the Treasury; but fractional sections, containing
less than 160 acres, shall not be divided."
Act of May 24. 1824.
vol. 4, p. 34.
The act of Congress approved May 24, 1824, provides "that whenever,
in the opinion of the President of the United States, a de-
U.S. Statutes at Large. Parture from the ordinary mode of surveying land on any
river, lake, bayou, or water course would promote the
public interest, he may direct the surveyor general in whose district
such land is situated, and where the change is intended to be made,
under rules and regulations as the President may prescribe, to cause
the lands thus situated to be surveyed in tracts of two acres in width,
fronting on any river, bayou, lake, or water course, and running back
the depth of forty acres."
Act of April 5, 1832.
vol. 4, p. 503. Section
Statutes.
The act of Congress approved April 5, 1832, directed the subdivision
of the public lands into quarter quarters; that in every
U.S. Statutes at Large Case of the division of a half quarter section the dividing
2397, U. S. Revised line should run east and west, and that fractional sections
should be subdivided, under rules and regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Uuder the latter provision
the Secretary directed that fractional sections containing less than 160
acres, or the residuary portion of a fractional section, after the subdi-
vision into as many quarter quarter sections as it is susceptible of, may
be subdivided into lots, each containing the quantity of a quarter quar-
ter section as nearly as practicable, by so laying down the line of sub-
division that they shall be 20 chains wide, which distances are to be
marked on the plat of subdivision, as are also the areas of the quarter
quarters and residuary fractions.
These two acts last mentioned provided that the corners and contents
of half quarters and quarter quarter sections should be ascertained as
nearly as possible in the manner and on the principles prescribed in the
act of Congress approved February 11, 1805.
From the foregoing synopsis of Congressional legislation it is evident-
1st. That the boundaries of the public lands established and returned
by the duly appointed Government surveyors, when approved by the
surveyors general and accepted by the Government, are unchangeable.
2d. That the original township, section, and quarter section corners
established by the Government surveyors must stand as the true cor-
ners which they were intended to represent, whether the corners be in
place or not.
3d. That quarter quarter corners not established by the Government
surveyors must be planted equidistant and on line between the quarter
section and section corner.
4th. That all subdivisional lines of a section running between corners
established in the original survey of a township must be straight lines,
running from the proper corner in one exterior line to its opposite cor-
responding corner in the opposite exterior line.
5th. That in fractional sections where no opposite corresponding
corner has been or can be established, any required subdivison line of
such section must be run from the proper original corner in the boundary
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line due east and west, or north and south, as the case may be, to the
water course, Indian reservation, or other exterior boundary of such
section.
From the foregoing it will be plain that extinct corners of the Gov-
ernment surveys must be restored to their original locations, whenever
it is possible to do so; and hence resort should always be first had to
the marks of the survey in the field. The locus of the missing corner
should be first identified on the ground by the aid of the mound, pits,
line trees, bearing trees, &c., described in the field notes of the original
survey.
The identification of mounds, pits, and witness trees, or other objects
noted in the field notes of survey, afford the best means of relocating
the missing corner in its original position. If this cannot be done,
clear and unquestioned testimony as to the locality it originally occu
pied should be taken, if such can be at all obtained. In any event,
whether the locus of the corner be fixed by the one means or the other,
such locus should always be tested and proven by measurements to
known corners. No definite rule can be laid down as to what shall be
sufficient evidence in such cases, and much must be left to the skill,
fidelity, and good judgment of the surveyor in the performance of his
work.
Where retracements of lines have to be made for the purpose of
either testing the relocation of a missing corner, or by direct measure-
ment between known corners intersecting at the point sought to be re-
established, it will almost invariably happen that a difference of meas-
urement is developed between the original measurement, as stated in
the field notes, and the new measurement made for the purpose of
re-establishment or proof. When these differences occur, the surveyor
must in all cases re-establish or prove his corners at intervals propor-
tionate to those given in the field notes of the original survey.
From
this rule there can be no departure, since it is the basis upon which the
whole operation depends for accuracy and truth.
TO RESTORE LOST OR OBLITERATED CORNERS.
1. To restore corners on base and correction lines.-Run a right line
between the nearest existing corners on such line, whether base or cor-
rection line, which corners must, however, be fully identified, and at the
point proportionate to the distance given in the field notes of the orig-
inal survey, establish a new corner. This point should be verified by
measurements to the nearest known corners north or south of the base
or correction line, or both.
Where several corners are missing between the corners to be con-
nected, as directed above, their location will be determined upon the
same principle and in the same manner; that is to say, the original
distance of the entire line between the recognized corners is to the entire
distance remeasured between the same corners as the original distance
of the first, second, third, &c., interval of the original survey is to the new
distance to be laid off for the corresponding new interval. After having
checked each new location by measurement to the nearest known cor-
ners north or south of the line, new corners will be established perma-
nently, and new bearings and measurements taken to prominent objects,
which should be of as permanent a character as possible, and the same
recorded for future reference.
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As has been observed, no existing original corner can be disturbed,
and it will be plain that any excess or deficiency in measurements be-
tween existing corners cannot in any degree affect the distances beyond
said existing corners, but must be added or subtracted proportionately
to or from the intervals embraced between the corners which are still
standing.
2. Re-establishment of township corners common to four townships.-
Inasmuch as township lines are sometimes run in a direction not true
north and south, or east and west, a line should first be run connecting
the nearest known corners on the north and south township lines and
a temporary corner established at the proportionate distance. This will
establish the location of the township corner only so far as its relative
position north and south is concerned. The nearest known corners on
the east and west township lines will then be connected in the same
manner, independent of the temporary corner previously set, and the
proportionate point determined in that direction; any difference east
or west of the temporary corner which may be developed by the last
operation, by intersection with the line previously run north and south,
will then be laid off in the direction required from the temporary corner,
and a permanent corner established at such point, marked and witnessed
as in the foregoing case.
3. Re-establishment of corners common to two townships.-The two near-
est known corners on the township line, the same not being a base or a
correction line, will be connected as in case No. 1, by a right line, and
the missing corner established by proportionate distance as directed in
that case; the location thus found will be checked upon by measure-
ments to nearest known section or quarter section corners north and
south, or east and west, of the township line as the case may be.
4. Re-establishment of closing corners.-Measure from the quarter sec-
tion, section or township corner east or west, as the case may be, to the
next preceding or succeeding corner in the order of original establish-
ment, and re-establish the missing closing corner by proportionate meas-
urement. The line upon which the closing corner was originally estab-
lished should always be remeasured, in order to check upon the correct-
ness of the new location.
5. Re-establishment of interior section corners.-This class of corners
should be re-established in the same manner as corners common to four
townships. In such cases, when a number of corners are missing on all
sides of the one sought to be re-established, the entire distance must, of
course, be remeasured between the nearest existing recognized corners
both north and south and east and west, in accordance with the rule
laid down, and the new corner re-established by proportionate meas-
urement. The mere measurement in any one of the required directions
will not suffice, since the direction of the several section lines running
northwards through a township, or running east and west, are only in
the most exceptional cases true prolongations of the alignment of the
section lines initiated on the south boundary of the township; while the
east and west lines running through the township, and theoretically
supposed to be at right angles with the former, are seldom in that con-
dition, and the alignment of the closing lines on the east and west
boundaries of the township, in connection with the interior section lines,
even less seldom in accord. Moreover, the alignment of the section
line itself from corner to corner, in point of fact, also very frequently
diverges from a right line, although presumed to be so from the record
contained in the field notes and so designated on the plats, and become
either a broken or a curved line. This fact will be determined, in a
9
timbered country, by the blazes which may be found upon trees on
either side of the line, and although such blazed line will not strictly
govern as to the absolute direction assumed by such line, it will assist
very materially in determining its approximate direction and should
never be neglected in retracements for the re-establishment of lost cor-
ners of any description. Sight trees described in the field notes, together
with the recorded distances to same, when fully identified, will, it has
been held, govern the line itself, even when not in a direct or straight
line between established corners, which line is then necessarily a broken
line by passing through said sight trees. Such trees, when in exist-
ence and properly identified beyond a question of doubt, will very ma-
terially assist in evidencing the correct relocation of a missing corner.
It is greatly to be regretted that the earlier field notes of survey are so
very meager in the notation of the topography found on the original
line, which might in very many instances materially lessen a surveyor's
labors in retracement of lines and re-establishment of the required miss-
ing corner. In the absence of such sight trees and other evidences
regarding the line, as in an open country, or where such evidence has
been destroyed by time, the elements, or the progress of improvement,
the line connecting the known corners should be run straight from
corner to corner.
6. Re-establishment of quarter section corners on township boundaries.—
Only one set of quarter section corners are actually marked in the field
on township lines, and they are established at the time when the town-
ship exteriors are run. When double section corners are found, the
quarter section corners are considered generally as standing midway
between the corners of their respective sections, and when required to
be established or re-established, as the case may be, they should be gen-
erally so placed; but great care should be exercised not to mistake the
corners of one section for those of another. After determining the
proper section corners marking the line upon which the missing quarter
section corner is to be re established, and measuring said line, the miss-
ing quarter section corner will be re-established in accordance with the
requirements of the original field notes of survey by proportionate
measurement between the section corners marking the line.
Where there are double sets of section corners on township and range
lines, and the quarter section corners for sections south of the township
or east of the range lines are required to be established in the field, the
said quarter section corners should be so placed as to suit the calcula-
tion of areas of the quarter sections adjoining the township boundaries
as expressed upon the official township plat, adopting proportionate
measurements when the present measurements of the north and west
boundaries of the section differ from the original measurements.
7. Re-establishment of quarter section corners on section lines closing
upon the north and west township boundaries.-This class of corners must
be re-established according to the original measurement at forty chains
from the last interior section corner. If the measurements do not agree
with the original survey, the excess or deficiency must be divided pro-
portionately between the two distances, as expressed in the field notes
of original survey. The section corner started from and the corner
closed upon should be connected by a right line, unless the retracement
should develop the fact that the section line is either a broken or curved
line, as is sometimes the case.
8. Re-establishment of interior quarter section corners.-In some of the
older surveys these corners are placed at variable distances, in which
case the field notes of the original survey must be consulted, and the
10
quarter section corner re-established at proportionate distances between
the corresponding section corners, in accordance therewith. The later
surveys being more uniform and in stricter accordance with law, the
missing quarter section corner must be re-established equidistant be-
tween the section corners marking the line, according to the field notes
of the original survey. The marks made under § 5, in relation to sec-
tion lines, apply with full force here also; the caution there given not
to neglect sight trees is equally applicable; since the proper re-estab-
lishment of the quarter section corner may in some instances very
largely depend upon its observance, and avoid one of the many sources
of litigation.
8. Where double corners were originally established, one of which is
standing, to re-establish the other.-It being remembered that the corners
established when the exterior township lines were run belong to the
sections in the townships north and west of those lines, the surveyor
must first determine beyond a doubt to which sections the existing cor-
ner belongs. This may be done by testing the courses and distances to
witness trees or other objects noted in the original field notes of survey,
and by remeasuring distances to known corners. Having determined
to which township the existing corner belongs, the missing corner may
be re-established in line north or south of the existing corner, as the
case may be, at the distance stated in the field notes of the original
survey, by proportionate measurement, and tested by remeasurement
to the opposite corresponding corner of the section to which the miss-
ing section corner belongs. These double corners being generally not
more than a few chains apart, the distance between them can be more
accurately laid off, and it is considered preferable to first establish the
missing corner as above, and check upon the corresponding interior
corner, than to reverse the proceeding; since the result obtained is
every way more accurate and satisfactory.
9. Where double corners were originally established, and both are miss-
ing, to re establish the one established when the township line was run.
The surveyor will connect the nearest known corners on the township
line, by a right line, being careful to distinguish the section from the
closing corners, and re-establish the missing corner at the point indi-
cated by the field notes of the original survey, by proportionate meas-
urement. The corner thus restored will be common to two sections.
either north or west of the township boundary, and the section north
or west, as the case may be, should be carefully retraced; thus check-
ing upon the re-established corner, and testing the accuracy of the re-
sult. It cannot be too much impressed upon the surveyor, that any
measurements to objects on line noted in the original survey are means
of determining and testing the correctness of the operation.
10. Where double corners were originally established, and both are miss-
ing, to re-establish the one established when the township was subdivided.—
The corner to be re-established being common to two sections south or
east of the township line, the section line closing on the missing section
corner should be first retraced to an intersection with the township line
in the manner previously indicated, and a temporary corner established
at the point of intersection. The township line will of course have been
previously carefully retraced in accordance with the requirements of
the original field notes of survey, and marked in such a manner as to be
readily identified when reaching the same with the retraced section line.
The location of the temporary corner planted at the point of intersec-
tion will then be carefully tested and verified by remeasurements to
noted objects and known corners on the township line, as noted in the
་
11
original field notes of survey, and the necessary corrections made in
such relocation. A permanent corner will then be erected at the cor-
rected location on the township line, properly marked and witnessed,
and recorded for future requirements.
11. Where triple corners were originally established on range lines, one
or two of which have become obliterated, to re-establish either of them.-It
will be borne in mind that only two corners were established as actual
corners of sections, those established on the range line not correspond-
ing with the subdivisional survey east or west of said range line. The
surveyor will, therefore, first proceed to identify the existing corner or
corners, as the case may be, and then re-establish the missing corner or
corners in line north or south, according to the distances stated in the
original field notes of survey in the manner indicated for the re-estab-
lishment of double corners, and testing the accuracy of the result ob-
tained, as herein before directed in other cases. If, however, the dis-
tances between the triple corners are not stated in the original field
notes of survey, as is frequently the case in the returns of older surveys,
the range line should be first carefully retraced, and marked in a man-
ner sufficiently clear to admit of easy identification upon reaching same
during the subsequent proceedings. The section lines closing upon the
missing corners must then be retraced in accordance with the original
field notes of survey, in the manner previously indicated and directed,
and the corners re-established in the manner directed in the case of
double corners. The surveyor cannot be too careful, in the matter of
retracement, in following closely all the recorded indications of the
original line, and nothing, however slight, should be neglected to insure
the correctness of the retracement of the original line; since there is no
other check upon the accuracy of the re-establishment of the missing
corners, unless the entire corresponding section lines are remeasured
by proportional measurement, and the result checked by a recalculation
of the areas as originally returned, which, at best, is but a very poor
check, because the areas expressed upon many plats of the older sur-
veys are erroneously stated on the face of the plats, or have been care-
lessly calculated.
12. Where triple corners were originally established on range lines, all
of which are missing, to re-establish same.—These corners should be re-
established in accordance with the foregoing directions, commencing
with the corner originally established when the range line was run,
establishing the same in accordance with previously given directions
for restoring section and quarter-section corners; that is to say, by
remeasuring between the nearest known corners on said township line,
and re-establishing the same by proportionate measurement. The two
remaining will then be re-established in conformity with the general
rules for re-establishment of double corners.
13. Re-establishment of meander corners and meanders.-Before proceed-
ing with the re-establishment of missing meander corners, the surveyor
will carefully rechain at least three of the section lines between kuown
corners of the township within which the lost corner is to be relocated,
in order to establish the proportionate measurement to be used. This
requirement of preliminary remeasurement of section lines must in no
case be omitted; since it is the only data upon which the fractional sec-
tion line can be remeasured proportionately, the corner marking the
terminus, or the meander corner, being missing, and which it is intended
to re-establish. The missing meander corner will be re-established on
the section or township line retraced in its original location, by the pro-
portionate measurement found by the preceding operations, from the
70 43
12
nearest known corner on such township or section line, in accordance
with the requirements of the original field notes of survey. To retrace
the original meander lines, between the meander corners re-established
as above, is generally an operation of much greater difficulty, owing
to the fact that the line connecting the meander corners is, in most in-
stances, a broken line, and is, moreover, unmarked at each point of
change in direction intermediate between the said meander corners,
thus affording no check upon the work as it progresses through a sec-
tion. The several deflections of line comprising the meanders in any
one section being originally run by compass, their retracement by com-
pass at a later period offers too many opportunities for error; inasmuch
as the variation of the needle, as noted in the original field notes of
survey, may have undergone violent changes by removal of the cause,
such as timber, &c., or increased attractions by exposure of minerals,
thus giving no means of correction to be applied in that direction at
the time of retracement. Moreover, the variation of the needle as noted
is not to be implicitly depended upon, since the observations for varia-
tion are in many instances crude and rough, and at best afford but an
approximation in such 'work. It is, therefore, deemed preferable, where
such variation has been carefully noted in the original field notes of
survey, and the lines have been run with a true meridian throughout,
to retrace the meanders by the angles made by the several successive
courses. For instance, supposing the first course of a meander in a
section to be initiated from a north and south section line, and the course
by compass to be N. 30° 15' E., true meridian, the surveyor will lay off
the angle of 30° 15′ in the direction required; the second course being
N. 850 45′ E., makes an angle with the preceding course of 55° 30'; the
next course being S. 23° 30' E. makes an angle with the preceding course
of 66, and so on through the section. The required distances on
each course being carefully chained, the excess or deficiency of the
aggregate distance should be proportionately distributed on each course
between the meander corners from the data thus found; also any error
that may develop itself in the angles will be proportionately distributed
upon the several angles and the entire meanders corrected in accord-
ance therewith. Where no variation has been noted in the original
field notes of survey, the meanders can only be retraced by trial lines,
on the courses and distances originally given, and corrected by propor-
tionate measurement of angle and distance as above. The surveyor
will, of course, take cognizance of any information furnished by the
criginal field notes of survey, as to objects on each course to which dis-
tances may be given or bearings taken, as well as at the meander sta-
tions themselves.
14. Fractional section lines.-County and local surveyors being some-
times called upon to restore fractional section lines closing upon Indian,
military, or other reservations, private grants, &c., such lines should be
restored upon the same principles as directed in the foregoing pages,
and checked whenever possible upon such corners or monuments as
have been placed to mark such boundary lines.
In some instances corners have been moved from their original posi-
tion, either by accident or design, and county surveyors are called upon
to restore such corners to their original positions, but, owing to the
absence of any and all means of identification of such location, are unable
to make the result of their work acceptable to the owners of the lands
affected by such corner. In such cases the advice of this office has in-
variably been to the effect that the relocation of such corner must be
made in accordance with the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction,
13
the United States having no longer any authority to order any changes
where the lands affected by such corner have been disposed of.
The original evidences of the public land surveys in the following
States, viz: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mis-
souri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kansas have been turned
over, under the provisions of sections 2218, 2219, and 2220, United States
Revised Statutes, to the State authorities, to whom application should
be made for such copies of the original plats and field notes as may be
desired.
N. C. MCFARLAND,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Approved.
2517-3000
Commissioner.
March 13, 1883.
H. M. TELLER,
Secretary.
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