SYSTEM OF RECTANGULAR SURVEYING EMPLOYED IN SUBDIVIDING THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES; ALSO INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBDIVIDING SECTIONS AND RESTORING LOST CORNERS OF THE PUBLIC LANDS. SXitlatrud with gtmo, Pl aorami: aud Napo; CONSTITUTING A COMPLETE TEXT-BOOK OF GOVERNMENT SURVEYING. FUR THE USE OF U. S. DEPUTY SURVEYORS, COUNTY SURVEYORS, AND ALL WHO CONTEMPLATE ENTERING THE PUBLIC SURVEYING SERVICE. TO WHICH IS ADDED AN APPENDIX CONTAINING INFORMATION IN REGARD TO ENTERING, LOCATING, PURCHASING AND SETTLING LANDS UNDER THE VARIOUS LAND LAWS, ETC. ETC. BY J. H. HAWES, LATE PRINCIPAL CLERK OF SURVEYS IN THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & Co. 1873. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by J. H. HAWES, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the District of Columbia. PREFAT'ORY REMARKS. THE following pages have been prepared to supply a want which is widely known and felt. The General Land Office is constantly receiving letters from county surveyors and others, soliciting information in regard to the system of government surveying, how to subdivide sections, restore missing corners, etc. etc. It is the custom of the department, in answer to these varied inquiries) to furnish as explicit directions as can be given within the ordinary limits of an official communication; but it is quite impracticable in such a communication to set forth in detail the principles and the laws, with their multifarious bearings and applications, which affect or control the surveyor in restoring obliterated public surveys, or running and marking the boundaries of legal subdivisions not before established in the field; and yet this information is essential to the surveyor who would execute his work correctly and in accordance with law. In view of the great number of inquiries of this character received by the General Land Office, the writer, who for several years had especial charge of the department of government land surveying, commenced the preparation of a circular to be printed for the use of the office, which should be sufficiently comprehensive to meet the class of inquiries referred to. The examination and reflection incident to the preparation of such a circular continued to develop new complications, and suggest new points to be explained, enlarging the scope of the work and ultimately inducing a change in the original design. It became apparent that the only plan which would afford surveyors all the information necessary to enable them to discharge their duties properly, was not only to lay down specific rules in particular cases, but to give a full and complete exposi(iii) iv PREFATORY REMARKS. tion of the surveying system, and the laws and instructions relating thereto. To give directions how to restore a lost corner without also affording some insight into the laws and practice under which it was originally established, would be like giving a theoretical explanation of a difficult field operation in civil engineering to one not conversant with that branch of mathenmatical science The government system of surveying is in some respects peculiar and unlike any other, and no adequate facilities have been afforded surveyors not employed in the public service to make themselves acquainted with its rules and principles. Hence it is in many cases impracticable to make instructions intelligible to the local surveyor, without first giving some explanations as to the manner in which the public surveys are executed. The writer has been frequently and forcibly impressed with this truth, when endeavoring to relieve correspondents of embarrassments occasioned by a want of the proper knowledge in regard to the laws and practice of the government surveying system. Where these are understood the instructions become comparatively simple and are readily comprehended. In 1855, a manual of instructions to regulate the field operations of United States deputy surveyors, was prepared and printed under the direction of the General Land Office. Other instructions had been printed at earlier periods, but the manual prepared in 1855 embraced all the improvements suggested by the experience of the surveying department up to that time, and was much more comprehensive and complete than anything of the kind which had preceded it. By the second section of an act of Congress, approved May 30th, 1862, it is provided: "That the printed manual of instructions relating to the public surveys, prepared at the General Land Office, and bearing date February 22d, 1855, the instructions of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and the special instructions of the Surveyor-General when not in conflict with said printed manual or the instructions of said Commissioner, shall be taken and deemed to be a part of every contract for surveying the public lands of the United States." A supplemental pamphlet containing many recent changes PREFATORY REMARKS. V authorized by the deportment was prepared by the writer for the use of the office, and printed July 1st, 1864. The modifications and additions contained in this pamphlet are now made a part of every surveying contract, subject of course to such subsequent changes as may fiom time to time be found necessary. These rules and instructions are only intended to be furnished by the department to persons in the government service, and the aim of the writer has been to embody them in a practical form for the use of the student and the general public; he has endeavored to furnish a TEXT-BOOK which will enable surveyors to fit themselves for the public service. To this end the present work has been systematized and arranged in convenient divisions and subdivisions under appropriate heads, and illustrated by examples, forms, diagrams and maps. To the Manual proper are added instructions for restoring extinct lines and corners of the public surveys, and for subdividing sections. These directions are based upon the laws of Congress and the well-established precedents of the General Land Office, and are very complete, embracing, it is believed, the principles at least, of nearly every case that will arise in practice. County surveyors in the public land states know well the difficulties experienced in executing this kind of surveys, and will find these instructions a great aid in performing their work. The manner of proceeding to have certain public lands surveyed in advance of the regular progress of the public surveys, under the provisions of the 10th section of the act of May 30th, 1862, known as the deposit system, is explained; also how to proceed to get certain small islands surveyed. An Appendix is added to the work containing instructions, forms, and rulings of the General Land Office, in regard to entering, locating, purchasing, and settling lands under the several acts following, to wit: Pre-emption Laws, Homestead Laws, Military Bounty Act, Agricultural College and Revolutionary Land Scrip, Mining Laws, etc. Also in regard to the adjustment of public grants of land to states and corporations, for railroads, canals, schools, universities and other purposes,.and the survey and settlement of private Vi PREFATORY REMARKS. land claims, under foreign titles and special acts of Congress, with various forms, etc. The comprehensive index attached to the book will enable the reader to turn readily to any subject desired. The writer cheerfully acknowledges his indebtedness to HON. JAMES M. EDMUNDS, late Commissioner of the General Land Office, for his valuable aid in selecting and preparing the instructions contained in the Appendix. He also takes this occasion to return his acknowledgments to HON. JOSEPH S. WILSON, the present Commissioner, for the uniform courtesy and kindness shown him in affording every facility to obtain the necessary data to complete the work and bring it down to current date. Trusting that he has to some extent succeeded in producing a hand-book of the public land system suited to the wants of a large and intelligent class of his fellow-citizens, the writer respectfully submits the following pages to the public, with the earnest wish that they may be instrumental in securing a uniformity in the laws and practice in the several land states, conforming to the laws of Congress and the decisions of the United States Courts. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE PREFATORY REMARKS..................................3........................ 3 The Public Land System........................................................ 11 The Public Land Department......................................................... 15 Surveying Districts.................................................. 15 Rates paid for Surveying.............................................................. 16 Areas of the States and Teritories, and public lands surveyed in each... 18 Comparative Table of Land Measures of the United States.................. 19 United States Land Offices, where located....................................... 20 U. S. SYSTEM OF RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. Introduction.............................................................................. 23 PRIMARY SUBDIVISIONS, ETC. Townships — Sections-Subdivisions of sections-Principal meridians and base lines-Ranges-Standard parallels................ 25 COURSING, MEASURING, AND MARKING LINES. Burt's solar compass-Standard chain-Tally pins-Marking tools -Horizontal measurement-Process of chaining —Line treesMarking lines-Insuperable objects on line-Random linesLines, how run....................................................... 27 PERPETUATION OF CORNERS. Chief object of surveys-Kinds of corners and mode of perpetuating the same: (1) Corner trees; (2) Stone corners; (3) Posts and witnesses; (4) Posts and mounds-Manner of constructing mounds-Bearing trees-Witness pits................................. 30 STANDARD AND CLOSING CORNERS. Standard corners-Closing corners........................................... 33 Township Corners. Township corner posts: (a) Standard township corners; (b) Closing township corners —Township corner stones — Township corner trees-Township corner mounds.............................. 34 Section Corners. Section corner posts - Section corner mounds - Section corner stones-Section corner trees........................................... 37 (vii) Viii TABLE OF CONTENTS. Quarter Section Corners. PAGB Quarter section posts-Quarter section mounds-Quarter section stones-Quarter section trees............................................ 38 Meander Corners. Meander posts-Meander mounds-Meander stones or trees........ 40 FIELD BOOKS..................................................... 40 Objects and data to be noted in the Field Book. Township and range —Variation of needle-Courses and measurements-Bearing trees-Mode employed to perpetuate corners -Line trees-Intersection of land objects-Intersection of hills, etc. —Intersection of water objects-Bottom landsLakes and ponds-Settlements and improvements-SpringsMinerals and coal beds —Roads and trails —Rapids, cascades, etc.-Precipices, caves, etc.-Natural objects-Land surface-Timber-Dates-General description-Names of surveying party-Verification of deputy surveyors-Verification of assistants-Approval and certificate of Surveyor-General.. 42 OF MEANDERING. Meandering of navigable rivers-Meandering of rivers not navigable-Wide flats-Islands in rivers-Lakes, ponds, etc........ 4: SURVEY OF SWAMP LANDS............................................ 49 ORDER OF CARRYING FORWARD THE PUBLIC SURVEYS.......................... 51 Meridians and base lines...................................................... 51 Initial point.................................................................... 52 Standard parallels or correction lines...................................... 52 The six principal meridians...................................................... 52 Independent meridians........................................................ 53 Townships west of the meridian, how surveyed............................... 53 Townships east of the meridian, how surveyed.................................56 Exterior or township lines........................................................... 53 Subdivisional or section lines, mode of running them....................... 58 Laws, regulations and instructions relating to deputy surveyors.......... 60 Contract and bond of deputy surveyor................................... 62 Oath prescribed to be taken by all persons in the public service......... 64 When one deputy does the work under a joint contract he may verify the same........................................................................... 65 Two active deputies, under a joint contract, each to verify his own work................................................................................. 65 Form of affidavit for joint surveys................................................ 66 Operations in the field, when to commence...................................... 66 TABLE OF CONTENTS. iX PAGE The surveying manual and instructions of the, Commissioner part of surveying contract............................................................... 67 Contracts must be approved by the Commissioner............................ 67 Prescribed limits for closings, and lengths of lines in certain cases...... 68 Measuring distances over lakes and rivers.................................. 69 Short method of finding the area of a multangular field.................... 72 Rules for correcting the course of random lines........................... 74 Table showing the difference of latitude and departure in running 80 chains at any course from 1 to 60 minutes................................ 76 Variation of the needle............................................................... 76 Methods of ascertaining the variations..................................... 79 To find the true meridian with the theodolite................................... 81 To find the true meridian with the compass................................. 83 Surveys may be made at expense of settlers in advance of the regular progress of the public surveys........................................ 86 Certain small islands may be surveyed at the cost of applicants......... 88 Specimen field book.................................... 91 Specimen township plat.............................................................. 118 The boundaries of the public surveys not to be changed.................... 119 RESTORING OBLITERATED BOUNDARIES.................................. 121 MODE OF RESTORING LOST CORNEFRS.............................................. 123 To restore extinct interior section corners............................ 125 To restore Section Corners on Township Lines, in the following cases: 1. Where it is common to four sections........................... 125 2. Where double section corners were originally established, one of which is still standing............................... 125 3. Where both corners are missing, and it is required to restore the one established when the township line was run............ 126 4. When it is required to restore the corner established when the township was subdivided............................................ 127 5. When triple corners have been established on range lines, one or two of which have become obliterated, and it is required to restore either of them................................................ 127 6. Where triple corners on range lines are all missing................ 128 To restore Quarter Section Corners, in the following cases: 1. On township boundaries................................................... 128 2. On section lines, closing on the north and west township boundaries.................................................................. 128 3. Interior quarter section corners........................... 129 X TABLE OF CONTENTS. To restore Township Corners, in the following cases: PAGE 1. When common to four townships........................................ 129 2. When on a correction line and common to any two townships... 129 To restore iMeander Corners................................. 130 Laws relating to the mode of surveying the public lands................... 130 OF SUBDIVIDING SECTIONS...................................................... 135 Instructions of the General Land Office in regard to restoring lost corners and subdividing sections................................ 142 APPENDIX. Regulations of the General Land Office in regard to furnishing certified copies of plats, records, etc............................... 149 Of uncovered meandered lakes..................................................... 151 Accretions-Riparian rights......................................................... 152 Coal lands................................................................................ 156 Public timber........................................................................ 158 Town sites........1........................................................................ 15'8 Town sites, Act of 1867............................................................... 161 Repayment of purchase money and changes of entry........................ 162 Graduated lands........................................................................ 164 Agricultural and Mechanical College scrip.................................... 164 Indian scrip............................................................................. 166 Revolutionary bounty scrip........................................................ 167 HOMESTEAD LAAW................................................................... 168 General Land Office circular in regard to homestead law............ 171 An act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain 174 OF MILITARY BOUNTY LAND WARRANTS.......................... 178 Assignment and location of land warrants................................ 178 General Land Office circular relating to military land warrants.... 181 An act to authorize the reissue of land warrants in certain cases.. 184 State selections.......................................................................... 186 Grant to states and corporations.................................................... 186 OF PRE-EMPTIONS................................................................ 189 Educational grants....................................................................... 192 Salt spring lands....................................................................... 194 Internal improvement lands........................................................ 194 Mining claims-Circular......................................................... 195 MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES.............. 205 HOMESTEAD RULINGS........................................................... 221 THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. THE public land system of the United States was inaugurated as early as the year 1785, and by the experience of many years has been brought to great perfection. It is conducted upon the same comprehensive and liberal principles which distinguish all the beneficent institutions of the government-institutions looking always to the benefit of the many, favoring especially the middle classes and the poor, and that stand forth as imperishable monuments of the profound wisdom and enlarged philanthropy of the great statesmen who organized and established them. The scope and magnitude of the land system of the United States will be more fully comprehended by a brief retrospect of its history. The territory northwest of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi rivers, known as the Northwestern Territory, being within the limits of the United States as defined by the treaty of 1783, which terminated the revolutionary war, was conveyed to the general Government, with certain reservations, by the State of New York, in 1781; by Virginia, in 1784; by Massachusetts, in 1785; and by Connecticut, in 1786. The territory acquired by these several cessions embraced the extent of country which constitutes the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and that part of Minnesota east of the Mississippi river. In 1802, Georgia conveyed to the United States that (xi) X1i THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. portion of the present States of Mississippi and Alabama lying north of the 31st degree of north latitude. By the treaty of 1803, the United States acquired from the French Republic the Territory of Orleans and Louisiana, embracing that portion of the States of Mississippi and Alabama south of the 31st degree of north latitude, and the vast country which now constitutes the States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, and that part of Minnesota west of the Mississippi river; also the Territories of Nebraska, Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and the Indian Territory. The State of Florida was acquired by treaty with Spain in 1819, and the States of California and Nevada, and the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah were obtained by treaty with the Republic of Mexico in 1848. Extending over 23 degrees of latitude and stretching away over 45 degrees of longitude, this vast public domain embraces eighteen states and nine territories, the smallest of which contains an area greater than that of England and Wales, and the largest twice as many square miles as the whole of Great Britain. The aggregate area of this vast extent of country is 1,446,716,072 acres, of which 485,311,778 acres had been surveyed by the government prior to the 1st day of July, 1867. In Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama, the public surveys have been finished excepting some small islands and fragmentary strips of land along the margins of rivers, bayous, etc. The surveys are also nearly completed in Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Florida. Within the territory acquired by the United States there were numerous private claims, the titles to which were derived from the former governments. Where, upon proper investigation, the titles have been found to be valid, these claims have been segregated from the public THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. Xiii lands and patented to the claimants, the area of such private grants already confirmed and patented amounting in the aggregate to 14,770,351. The public domain was first opened to public sale and then to private entry. Congress, in 1830, passed a law allowing actual settlers to secure titles to their locations on very liberal terms and without being subjected to compete at auction with outside bidders. The preemption system underwent various modifications from 1830 down to 1841, growing more and more liberal and beneficent towards the settler, until 1862, when the whole public domain, surveyed and unsurveyed, offered and unoffered, was thrown open to actual settlement at the lowest price and upon the most accommodating terms. Under the operation of this law the enterprising pioneer could select his homestead of 160 acres from the choicest fields of this extended country and commence his improvements without having to pay anything for his land until one year after the public surveys were extended over it, and with a certainty that his rights would be recognized and respected by the government. But there was yet another step to be taken in the direction of a still more liberal policy towards the western pioneer. -Congress, in 1862, passed the Homestead Law, giving to each settler who entered upon and cultivated the land, 160 acres, for which he has only to pay ten dollars to the government and four dollars as compensation to the officers for making out the necessary papers. The acts of the National Legislature have uniformly encouraged emigration and afforded the industrious poor man an opportunity to secure for himself a farm and a comfortable home. Upwards of four hundred millions of acres of as choice land as can be found in any country have passed to the ownership of individuals, and some fifteen hundred thousand families are to-day living in the XiV THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. enjoyment of comfortable, and thousands of them of luxurious homes, acquired from the government under the operation of this benign policy. But the liberality in public gratuities has been even more munificent than that towards individuals. MAore than 7,000,000 acres have been given to the states to aid in educating the people, thereby giving strength and vigor to the elements of a free government. Then Congress conceded to certain states the "swamp lands" within their limits, the aggregate selections thus far reaching 60,246,532 of acres. Upwards of sixty-five millions of acres have been granted for military services in the revolutionary war and the war with Great Britain, Mexico, etc. Five hundred thousand acres have been granted to each of the land states for internal improvements, grants to universities, and to aid in the building of railroads. Finally, Congress, in 1863, granted 150,000,000 of acres to aid in building the Pacific Railroad, a scheme which is destined at no very distant day to consolidate the industrial and commercial interests of the country, open up and people the vast empire beyond the western limits of the present frequented paths of civilization, and bind together the Atlantic and Pacific States, with their intermediate links, in a bond of union which internal conspiracies or foreign cupidity and avarice shall never be able to break, but which the lapse of ages shall weld stronger and stronger while time lasts. The policy of Congress with reference to the public domain, as indicated by their acts, appears to be not to look to the public lands as a source of direct revenue; but rather by encouraging bona fide settlements and aiding important works of internal improvement and institutions for the education of the people, to quicken the settlement of the country and the development of its resources, and, by increasing individual wealth and educa THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. XV tion, secure national riches, prosperity and happiness, thereby realizing the true end and aim of a democratic government, based upon the virtue, intelligence and freedom of its people. THE PUBLIC LAND DEPARTMENT. The Constitution of the United States delegates to Congress the power of disposing of the public domain. The General Land Office is the executive bureau, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, to carry into effect the laws of Congress relating to the public lands, and direct the various details of the public land system. The chief officer of the General Land Office is denominated the Commissioner, to whom all communications intended for this bureau should be addressed. SURVEYING DISTRICTS. The states and territories in which there are unsurveyed public lands are divided by Congress into surveying% districts. Some of these districts comprise one or more states or territories, but no more than one district is made out of a single state or territory. A SurveyorGeneral is appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for each surveying district, whose duties are to direct the surveying operations in his district, under the instructions of the General Land Office. The following table shows the surveying districts as at present constituted, and the location of each SurveyorGeneral's office, together with the name and salary of each of said officers. XVi THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. TABLE I. Surveyor-General's Name of Annual Surveying Districts. Office-where located. Surveyor-General. Salary. California and Arizona.... San Francisco....... Lauren Upson.... $3000 Nevada........................ Virginia City.-...... A. P. K. Safford. 3000 Oregon......................... Eugene City.......... E. L. Applegate.. 2500 Washington Territory...... Olympia............. S. Garfield......... 2500 Colorado and Utah........ Denver, Col.......... Win. H. Lessig... 3000 New Mexico................... Santa F6, N. M...... John A. Clark.... 3000 Kansas................... Leavenworth, Kan. Hiram S. Sleeper 2000 Iowa and Nebraska......... Plattsmouth, Neb... P. W. Hitchcock. 2000 Minnesota............... St. Paul............... Levi Nutting....... 2000 Dakota......................... Yankton............... Wm. Tripp........ 2000 Idaho........................... Boise City............ L. F. Cartee...... 2500 Montana....................... Helena................ S. Meredith....... 2500 Louisiana..................... Not in operation............ 2000 Florida.......................... Not in operation................ 2000 NoTE.-The public surveys have been completed in the following states, excepting some small islands and fragmentary strips of land along the margins of rivers, bayous, etc., to wit: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. Nearly all the public land is also surveyed in Louisiana and Florida. Each Surveyor-General is allowed a chief clerk, draughtsman, and such number of clerks as are necessary to carry on the business of his office, all of whom receive their appointments firom said Surveyor-General. If the fact were generally understood that the letting of all contracts for surveying the public lands and all positions in said offices are under the immediate and sole control of the Surveyors-General, fewer communications soliciting employment in the public surveying service would be addressed to the General Land Office, and some perplexity and disappointment would be saved to such applicants. RATES PAID FOR PUBLIC SURVEYING. All surveying contracts are made at specified rates per lineal mile of line "actually run and marked in the field," offsets and random lines not included, the rate varying THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. xvii according to the kind of line to be run and the locality in which the survey is to be made. The following are the surveying rates authorized by law for the respective states and territories: TABLE II. Names of States and Territories. Section Lines. Standard and e Base Lines. Township Lines. Base Lines. California and Arizona......... $12 00 $12 00 $15 00 Nevada.............................. 12 00 12 00 15 00 Kansas............................. 5 00 6 00 10 00 Iowa and Nebraska.............. 5 00 6 00 10 00 Oregon....................... 7 00 8 00 8 00 Washington Territory..................... Colorado........................... 7 00 8 00 10 00 Utah................................. 12 00 12 00 20 00 Minnesota.......................... Dakota Territory................. 5 00 6' 00 10 00 New Mexico....................... 7 00 8 00 10 00 Arizona............................ 10 00 12 00 15 00 Idaho................................................. Montana........................... Louisiana and Florida......... 4 00 4 00 4 00 The prices in the foregoing table are the maximum rates allowed by law, but the full prices are not always paid. In some localities surveying can be done at less than these rates, and still afford a fair compensation to the surveyor for his labor. In the more remote districts, where the cost of provisions and labor is greater, the full rates are allowed, and in some instances higher rates than those named are paid where the appropriation is based upon estimates at greater prices. When the field work is completed, the field notes are returned to the office of the Surveyor-General, where they are examined and tested, and plats* and transcripts are prepared and transmitted to the General Land Office, * The plats are uniformly constructed on a scale of 40 chains to an inch. 2 Xviii THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. approved by the Surveyor-General in his official capacity, together with the surveying account of the deputy; and no surveys are paid for until such plats and transcripts are examined at the General Land Office and found correct. The plats and transcripts are prepared without cost to the deputy surveyors. TABLE III. Areas of the States and Territories. Public Land: Areas of the Public Lands Area. States and States and surveyed to States. Territories. June 30, 1865. Acres. Territorie. _Acres. Ohio.......... 25,576,960 25,576,960 Maine............. 22,400,000 Indiana........ 21,637,760 21,637,760 New Hampshire 5,939,200 Michigan...... 36,128,640 36,128,640 Vermont.......... 6,535,680 Illinois......... 35,462,400 35,462,400 Massachusetts.. 4,992,000 Wisconsin..... 34,511,360 34,511,360 Rhode Island.... 835,840 Iowa............ 5,630,898 35,228,800 Connecticut...... 3,040,000 Minnesota..... 53,459,840 22,045,867 New York........ 30,080,000 Missouri....... 41,824,000 41,824,000 New Jersey...... 5,324,800 Arkansas...... 33,406,720 33,406,720 Pennsylvania.... 29,440,000 Mississippi 30,179,840 30,179,840 Delaware......... 1,356,800 Louisiana...... 26,461,440 23,461,440 Maryland....... 7,119,360 Alabama....... 32,462,080 32,462,080 Virginia.......... 39,265,280 Florida......... 87,931,520 26,631,520 North Carolina.. 32,450,560 Kansas......... 52,043,520 16,171,776 South Carolina.. 21,760,000 Nevada........ 71,737,741 728,119 Georgia........... 37,120,000 California...... 101,717,362 27,680,685 Kentucky......... 24,115,200 Oregon......... 60,958,720 5,730,186 Tennessee........ 29,184,000 Nebraska...... 48,636,800 13,561,132 Texas.............. 175,587,840 Dakota......... 153,982,080 1,859,989 Dis't Columbia.. 38,400 New Mexico... 77,568,640 2,293,142 Arizona........ 72,906,304 476,584,960 Colorado.......66,972,292 1,622,251: 1,446,716,072 Utah.......... 56,355,635 2,425,239 Montana....... 92,016,640 Total...... 1,923,301,032 Idaho......... 58,196,480 Washington... 44,796,160 3,530,645 Indian Ter'y.. 44,154,240 * 1,446,716,072 474,160,551 * Russian America, acquired by purchase in 1867, is estimated to contain 369,529,600 acres. The following is a comparative statement of the land measures of the United States and the French measures THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. X1X formerly used in the late Province of Louisiana. These proportions were adopted by the Surveyor-General's Office of St. Louis, Missouri, and are considered in all surveys as the true proportions between said measures. TABLE IV. Comparative Land Measures. LINEAR MEASURE. SUPERFICIAL MEASURE. French feet. U. S. feet. Arpents. Acres. 72 are equal to 77 288 are equal to 245 1 0 85 07 Perches. Poles. 2 1 70 14 6 7 3 2 55 21 Chains. Links. 4 3 40 28 1 0 29 166 5 4 25 35 2 0 58 333 6 5 10 42 3 0 87 5 7 6 95 49 4 1 16 661 8 6 80 56 5 1 4~5 833 9 7 65 625 6 1 75 10 8 50 69 7 2 04 166 100 85 06 94 8 2 33 333 1000 850 69 44 9 2 62 5 10000 8506 94 44 10 or 1 arpent lineal, 2 91 666 1 17 551 = 1 8 8 75 2 2653 3. 4 11 66666 4 70 204=1 4 5 14 58833 5 873755 5 6 17 60 75 55 30 —6 6 7 20 41666 8 22 85 = 7 8 23 83 333 p9 4 804= 8 9 26 25 10 57959 9 10 29 16 666 11 75 510= 10 100 291 66 666 117 55 102 100 1000 2916 66 666 1175 51 020= 1000 12 35 117~55 10 204 — =10000 Side of a league square. A league square contains 84 245 Arpents. Acres. 7056 6002 50 Side of a mile square. A mile square contains Arpents. Perches. Arpents. Perches. 27 4 2-7 80 725 3264 640 A league square contains 7056 arpents or 6002 50 acres. A mile square contains 725 arpents and 32-64 perches, or 640 acres. 12 arpents = 35 chains lineal. XX THE PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM. TABLE V. Location of United States Land Offices. OHIO. FLORIDA. OREGON. Chillicothe. Tallahassee. Oregon City, Roseburg, INDIANA. IOWA. Le Grand. Indianapolis. Fort Des Moines, Council Bluffs, KANSAS. ILLINOIS. Fort Dodge, Topeka Springfield. Junction City, Humboldt. WISCONSIN. MISSOURI. Menasha, Booneville, Falls of St. Croix, NEBRASKA. Ironton, Stevens' Point, Omaha City, Springfield. La Crosse, Brownsville, Bayfield, Nebraska City, ALABAMA. Eau Claire. Dakota City. Mobile, Husobville, CALIFORNIA. Huntsville, San Francisco, NEW MEXICO TER. Marysville, Santa F6. MISSISSIPPI. Humboldt, Stockton, DAKOTA TER. Jackson. Visalia, Sacramento. Vermillion. LOUISIANA. New Orleans, NEVADA. COLORADO TER. Monroe, Carson City, Denver City Nachitoches. Austin, Faiver City, Belmont. Fair Play. MICHIGAN. WASHINGTON TER. IDAHO TER. East Saginaw, Olympia, Boise City, Ionia, Vancouver. Lewiston. Marquette, Traverse City. Taylor's Falls, MONTANA TER. St. Cloud, Helena. Winnebago City, Little Rock, St. Peter, Washington, Greenleaf, Clarksville. Du Luth. Prescott. SYSTEM OF RECTANGULAR SURVEYING EMPLOYED IN SUBDIVIDING THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES. (xxi) INTRODUCTION. THE rectangular system of surveying adopted by the United States in subdividing the public lands, in its present state of perfection, is the simplest and most beautiful that could be devised. It is believed no other government equals our own in the perfection of its system of public surveys. A state when subdivided has the regularity and symmetry of a well-laid out city on a grand scale; the townships correspondiilg to the blocks and the sections and subdivisions to the lots, but with this difference in favor of the public surveys-the sections and townships are uniformly one and six miles square, bounded by lines conforming to the cardinal points. Then there is the principal meridian and base line, crossing each other at right angles, which form the frame-work upon which the subsequent surveys are built, answering to the main streets of a city, from which the blocks are consecutively numbered; so that any one possessing a knowledge of the system, can determine the locality and relative position of a township or subdivision with as great facility and certainty as he can a block or lot in a well-planned town. Ima1gine one vast city extending over 50,000 acres, surveyed in this manner, under the general supervision of one directing head, and we may have some just conception of the regularity and beauty of the government system of rectangular surveying. This perfection was not reached at once; the existing system is the result of many years' trial and change. The first government surveying was done in the State of Ohio, in 1796. The "seven ranges," as they were called, being the first seven tiers of townships west of the Ohio river, were first surveyed. The land department was at that time under the direction of the ( xxiii ) XxiV INTRODUCTION. Secretary of the Treasury,* Hon. Albert Galatin, and the work was executed under the immediate supervision of Rufus Putnam, the first Surveyor-General. The townships in these seven ranges commence respectively with number one on the river and number north. The present mode of reckoning townships and ranges was not adopted until a recent date. The convergency of the meridians was soon found to be a source of serious difficulty where long range lines were projected. Several plans were tried to overcome this difficulty, resulting finally in adopting the "correction parallels." Parallels are now required to be run every five townships or thirty miles north or south of the base line. Improvement has been gradual and slow; modifications have gone on step by step, until the present symmetrical and perfect system has been attained. We may now, therefore, safely venture to put forth a Hand-Book on this subject, feeling confident that the facilities thereby for the first time afforded the general public for becoming acquainted with the system of government surveying, will promote the public interest, and be appreciated by all who are interested in the subjects treated of. * The General Land Office was organized as a distinct bureau of the Treasury Department by act of Congress, approved April 25th, 1812. 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 FIG. 1 consecutively from one to 6 5 4 3 2 1 thirty-six, beginning at the northeast corner of the town- 7 8 9 10 11 12 ship and numbering west 16 15 14 13 18 1? 16 15 1i 7a with the north tier of sections, thence east with the 19 20 21 22 23 24 second tier, west with the third tier, and so on to sec- 30 29 28 27 26 25 tion thirty-six in the south- 3 32 33 34 35 36 a~ 2 8233 34 35 36 east angle of the township. (Fig. 1.) 3. SUBDIVISIONS OF SECTIONS.-Sections are divisible into four equal parts of 160 acres each, called Quarter Sections, * See Standard Parallels. (25) 26 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. and each quarter section is again divisible into two half-quarter sections of 80 acres, or four quarter-quarters containing 40 acres each. (Fig. 2.) FIG. 2. These are called Legal Subdivisions, and are the only divisions recognized 80.00 40 i 40 by the government in disposing of........................................... the public la ds, except where tracts a a a 80.00 40. 40 are made fractional by water-courses or other causes. or in the case of o. o 1 a60 town lots.* ~i 0 160 i~ ~ 160 [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 J/ieridian, 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 slurveys were made by authority of special enactments, and were excepticns to the established system of rectangular surveying. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 27 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 subdividing 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. 28 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. 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. Ile 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." RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 29 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 30 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. the township, are run from south to north; true east and west lines, except base lines, correction parallels, and lines between the west tier of sections in the township, are runfrom east to west. PERPETUATING CORNERS. 1. The chief purpose of the public surveys is to establish the corners of the public lands; and however true the coursings and accurate the measurements, the principal object will not be attained if the corners are not made permanent. The importance of perpetuating all corners of the public surveys in the most durable manner cannot be overrated. 2. The principal corners established in government surveys are of four kinds, to wit: 1, Township Corners; 2, Section Corners; 3, Quarter-Section Corners; and 4, Meander Corners; and four different modes are employed to perpetuate them, respectively, depending upon certain conditions, as follows: (1) Corner Trees.-When a tree not less than five inches in diameter stands immediately in place, it is found to be the best means of perpetuating any description of corner that can be employed, and should be adopted in preference to all others. (2) Stone Corners.-Where suitable stones can be readily procured, the deputy surveyor is required, in all cases except when a tree is found, to prefer them before either of the other modes of perpetuating corners, as constituting the most durable monument it is practicable to erect. Stones used for corners must have a length of at least 14 inches, and contain not less than 500 cubic inches. All corner stones 14 inches long or more, and less than 18 inches in length, should be set two-thirds of their length in the ground; if more than 18 inches long, they should be set three-quarters of their length in the ground. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 31 (3) Posts and Witnesses.-It frequently happens in a timbered country that suitable stones cannot be obtained. When this is the case, and trees are at hand for "witnesses," posts may be planted at the corners, and evidenced as directed under the head of "bearing trees" on page 32. All posts must be made of the most durable wood of the forest at hand. In loose or alluvial soil, section, quarter-section, or meander posts may be driven into the ground, instead of digging holes and planting them; but no posts should be so driven unless, from the nature of the soil, they will be thereby rendered more firm and enduring. (4) Posts and Mounds.-Where neither stones nor witness trees are to be found, the corners must be marked by mounds of earth erected around posts. This is the common mode of perpetuating the corners on prairie lands. 3. MANNER OF CONSTRUCTING MOUNDs.-The mode of erecting posts and mounds is as follows: The post will FIG. 3. be planted or driven into the ground to the depth of 12 inches at the precise corner point; and a marked 32 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. stone, a small quantity of charcoal or a charred stake nlust be deposited 12 inches below the surface-against the north side of the post, when the deputy is running north; against the west side, when he is running west, etc.- as witnesses in the future. It is optional with the surveyor to adopt either of these memorials; but one of them must in every case be employed, and the deputy must state in the field book which is used. IHaving planted the post-which must be of the same dimensions as prescribed for the same kind of corner without the mound-dig four "pits" at least 12 inches deep, on opposite sides and 6 feet from the post, piling and closely packing the excavated earth around it in such a manner as to form a cone-shaped mound, leaving the post to project 12 inches above the apex. Where sod is to be had, the mound must be covered with it, grass side up; but sod must never be wrought up with the earth in forming the mound. (Fig. 3.) The pits should be located at right angles, and at a uniform distance from the center point; but where it is found necessary, owing to the impracticable nature of the soil, to dig the pits or either of them at a greater distance than 6 feet, and in other directions, the course and distance to each pit so located must be noted in the fieldbook. 4. BEARING TREES.-The position of all corner posts or corner trees, of whatever description, must be witnessed by taking the courses and distances of two or more adjacent trees in opposite directions, as hereinafter directed. These bearing trees are distinguished by a smooth blaze facing the corner, with a notch at its lower end; and in the blaze is inscribed the number of the township, range and section. The letters "B. T."-bearing tree-are also cut upon a small blaze directly under the other, and as near the ground as practicable. If the tree should be a beech, or other smooth, firm bark, the RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 83 marks may be made on the bark and the blazes may be omitted. Where a tree not less than 21 inches in diameter can be found for a bearing tree within 300 links of the corner, it should be used. 5. WITNESS PITS. —Whenever the requisite number of witness trees cannot be found, the deficiency must be supplied by digging pits 2 feet square and not less than 12 inchles deep. STANDARD AND CLOSING CORNERS. Two sets of corners are established on standard parallels and base lines; one when said lines are run, and the other when the exterior and subdivision lines on the south of them are closed thereon. These corners are separately explained below; instructions for perpetuating and marking them will be found in their appropriate place. 1. STANDARD CORNERS.-At the time the parallels and base lines are run, the township, section, and quarter section corners are established thereon. As the township and section lines north are run from them, it follows that these corners will be common to two townships, sections, or quarter sections north of the parallel or base line, and these are called Standard Corners. 2. CLOSING CORNERS.-North and south lines are required to be run on the true meridian. IHence, when the township and section lines below reach the parallels or base lines north, they will not close on the standard corners previously established, because of the convergency of the meridians, but will strike the line at a distance corresponding to the convergency; east of the standard corners if the field of operations be west of the governing meridian, and west of said corners if the surveys be east of the principal meridian. Another set of township and section corners is therefore established at 3 34 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. the points of intersection with said standard or base line, and the distances of said corners from the corresponding standard corners previously set, are measured and noted in the field book. The corners so established are called Closing Coroners, and will of course be common to two townships or sections south of said base or standard line. No closing quarter section corners are established. (Fig. 4.) (See Quar. Sec. Cor., p. 38.) FIG. 4. -Standard and Closing Corners. T6NX o|b T 6 N R4 W e e R1W v m Correction o Parallel ~ T5N | T6N L R44W R1 W o oW TOWNSHIP CORNERS. Township corners are established at intervals of 6 miles each, and are perpetuated by the following modes, to wit: 1. ToWNSHIP CORNER POSTS.-The post is placed first in order because circumstances render its use most common in practice. Corner posts are required to be 4 feet in length, and at least 5 inches in diameter, and are to be planted to the depth of 2 feet, the part projecting above the ground being squared to receive the marks required to be cut upon them. When the corner is common to four townships, the post is set cornerwise to the lines, presenting the angles to the RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 35 cardinal points, and on each flattened side must be marked the number of the township, range rFI. 5. and section which it faces. Thus, N. if the post be common to townships one and two south of the a. 2. T. S base line, and one and two west s 36. S. 1. of the meridian, it should be set w. E. and marked as indicated by Fig. T. 2 S. T. 2 S. 5. Six notches will also be cut on R. 2 W. s. 1 6. each of the four edges. (Fig. 6.) (a) Standard Township Corners.If the post is on a standard parallel or base line, and is common to only two townships on the north side thereof; six notches will be cut in the FIG. 6. east, north, and west edges, and the letters "S. C." (Standard corner) will be cut on the flattened surface, but no notches will be cut in the south edge. (See Standard " X Corners, p. 33.) I (b) Ctosing Township Corners.-If the post is common to two townships south of the parallel or base line, six notches will be ~. cut in the east, south, and west edges, but < none in the north edge, and the letters "C. C." (Closing corner) must be cut upon the flattened surface. The manner of establishing standard and closing corners is explained on page 33. The position of all township corner posts?tl must be witnessed by four bearing trees,.~ il one in each of the adjoining townships, a. l marked in the manner prescribed under i the head of "Bearing trees," or by "pits,":l' where trees cannot be found. 2. TOWNSHIP CORNER STONES. -Township corner stones must be inserted in the 86 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. ground not less than eight inches, with their sides to the cardinal points, and small mounds of stones should be constructed against the sides of them. The notches on the edges are the only marks required, and the directions for notching township posts are to be followed in notching corFIG. 7. ner stones in like circumCIE.T"T stances. (Fig. 7.) 3. TOWNSHIP CORNER Cl uIII>I TREES.-A tree in place, gwhen employed to perpet-..~ uate a township corner, 1 i must be marked and witnessed in the same manner as a township post. 4. TOWNSHIP CORNER MoUNDS.-The post and mound is a common method of marking corners. The manner of constructing the mound is explained on page 31. Mounds at township corners must be 5 feet in diameter at their base, and 2} feet in perpendicular height. Posts in township mounds, therefore, require to be 41 feet in length, so as to be planted 12 inches in the ground, and allow 12 inches to project above the mound. The pits for a township mound will be 18 inches wide, 2 feet in length, and at least 12 inches deep, located 6 feet from the post, and on opposite sides. At corners common to four townships, the pits will be placed on the lines and lengthwise to them. On base and parallel lines, where the corners are common to only two townships, three pits only will be dug-two in line on either side of the post, and one on the line north or south of the corner, as the case may be. By this means the standard and closing corners can be readily distinguished from each other. Posts in mounds should be notched, marked, and faced precisely as directed for posts without the mound. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 37 SECTION' CORNERS. Section corners are established at intervals of 1 mile or 80 chains, and the four modes of perpetuating corners already described, are employed to mark them, to wit: 1. SECTION CORNER POSTS.-Posts for section corners must be 4 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter, firmly planted or driven into the ground to the depth of 2 feet, the part projecting being squared to receive ~' the required marks. (Fig. 8.). i When the corner is common to four ~ sections, the post will be set cornerzwise to C': the lines, and on bach flattened surface;s. will be marked the number of the section -- which it faces; also, on the northeast face, the number of the township and range OD will be cut. All mile posts on township lines will have ~ as many notches on the two correspond- l ing edges as they are miles distant from the respective township corners. Section'~ l| posts in the interior of a tozwnship will have * as many notches on the south and east Liil edges as they are miles from the south and east boundaries of the township, but no notches on the north and west edges. By this plan the corner can be identified thereafter, if the post be found lying upon the ground. All section posts, whether in the interior of a township or on a township line, must be witnessed by four bearing trees, one in each of the adjoining sections, to be marked in the manner described under the head of "Bearing trees." When the requisite number of bearing trees cannot be found, the deficiency will be supplied by substituting pits 18 inches square, and not less than 12 inches in depth. 38 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. 2. SECTION CORNER MOUND. -Mounds at section corners will be 4~ feet in diameter at their base, and 2 feet in perpendicular height; the post being 4 feet in length and inserted 12 inches in the ground. The post must be not less than 3 inches square, and is to be marked and witnessed the same as the post without the mound. At corners common to four sections, the post in mound will be set with the edges to the cardinal points; at corners common to only two sections, the flattened sides of the post will face the cardinal points. 3. SECTION CORFro. 9. -,mtt S&,one. NER STONES. -When stones are used for section corners on township lines, they II;1 ~ ~will be set with their ~-. edges in the direction,i i-:............ of the line; but when...... —. standing for interior section corners they will be planted facing the north, and should be notched the same as section posts similarly situated. No marks except the notches are required, but they will be witnessed by trees or pits as required where Posts are used. The requisite dimensions of corner stones are given under the appropriate head. (Fig. 9.) 4. SECTION CORNER TREE.-A tree in place at a section corner is marked according to the direction for marking section posts. QUARTER SECTION CORNERS, Quarter section corners are established at intervals of half a mile or 40 chains, except in the north and west tiers of sections in a township. Where the section lines exceed or fall short of 80 chains, in subdividing these sections, the quarter post is established just 40 chains from the interior section corner, throwing the excess or RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 39 deficiency upon the last half mile. The intervals between the quarter posts and the north and west township boundaries will therefore be irregular. Quarter section corners are not required to be established on the north boundary of the northern tier of sections in a township south of and bordering on a standard parallel or base line. The resurvey of standard or base lines, by the deputy surveyor, for the purpose of establishing such quarter posts, is unnecessary and will not be paid for. FIG. 10. Quarter section corners are perpetuated in A the following manner, to wit: 1. QUARTER SECTION POSTS.-Posts at quar- ter section corners must be 4 feet in length and < 1L a 4 inches in diameter, and be planted or driven W S into the ground 2 feet; the part projecting.~ being flattened or squared, so as to present e a smooth surface 3 inches in width. (Fig. 10.). The only mark required on a quarter section post is the characters "' S." The corner must also be witnessed by two bearing trees. 2. QUARTER SECTION~ MOUNDs. —MOUnds at t quarter section corners will be 44 feet in l diameter at their base, and 2 feet in perpendicular height, the post being 4 feet in length and inserted in the ground 12 inches; it will also be marked and witnessed the same as the post without the mound. 3. QUARTER SECTION STONES. —Stones used for quarter section corners must have the fraction "4" cut upon the west side of north FIG. 11. and south lines, and on the north side of east and west lines, and must be wit- -. nessed by two bearing trees. (Fig. 11.).. s. L 4. A TREE, when found in place, should be marked and witnessed in the........ same manner as the post. 40 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. MEANDER CORNERS. At the points where township or section lines intersect large ponds, lakes, bayous, or navigable rivers, posts are established at the time of running the lines, which are called nmeander corners. Either of the four modes described for perpetuating corners may be employed for meander corners. 1. MEANDER POSTS.-No marking is required on meander posts, but they must be witnessed by two bearing trees or pits. They should also be firmly inserted in the ground. 2. MEANDER MouNDs.-The mound and post at meander corners should be of the same dimensions as those for the section and quarter section corners. The pit should be directly on the line, and 8 links further from the water than the mound. When the pit cannot be so located, its course and distance from the corner should be stated in the field book. 3. STONES or TREES may be employed to perpetuate meander corners, and when so used must be witnessed the same as meander posts. FIELD BOOKS. The field notes of the deputy surveyor are the official and permanent record of the boundaries of the public lands. Thley afford the elements from which the plats of the public surveys are constructed, and are the original and only source from which authentic descriptions of established boundaries can be obtained. It is of the highest importance that deputy surveyors should keep a faithful, distinct and minute record of everything officially done and observed by them or their assistants in their field operations. Carelessness or a want of strict fidelity on the part of the surveyor, will impair the value of his notes, if not indeed render them worse than worthless. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 41 Deputy surveyors are especially enjoined to make themselves perfectly familiar with the requirements in this regard, and with the printed specimen field notes which accompany these instructions. They will also note particularly the following requirements: 1. Separate and distinct field books are required to be kept for the different kinds of lines surveyed; thus, there must be a separate field book for meridian and base lines, another for standard parallels or correction lines, another for exterior or township lines, and another for subdivisional or sectional lines. 2. The title-page of each field book will designate the kind of lines run, and describe the particular surveys, giving the name of the state or territory in a prominent line. State also by whom the survey was made, the number and date of the contract, and in separate lines the date of commencing and completing the work. 3. An index upon the plan illustrated in the specimen field book, referring to the page of each mile and to each kind of survey, must accompany the field notes. 4. The exhibition of every mile of surveying, whether of township or subdivisional lines, must be complete in itself, and be separated by a black line drawn across the page. 5. The notes should in all cases be taken precisely in the order in which the work is done on the ground, and must show all the perambulations, calculations, and field operations. 6. The descriptions of the surface, soil, timber, undergrowth, etc., on each mile of line run, should follow the notes thereof, and not be mixed up with them. 7. No abbreviations of words are allowable, except such as are constantly recurring, as "sec." for section, "in. diam." for inches diameter, "chs." for chains, "lks." for links, "dclist." for distance, " va. " for variation, etc. For quarter section corner, "- sec. cor." may be used, and for 42 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. 14 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 3 inches thick, in describing a corner stone, "14 x 12 x 3," being particular to always preserve the same order of length, width, and thickness. Proper names must never be abbreviated, however often their recurrence. 8. When surveys are commenced in one fiscal year and completed in another, the field book must be so kept as to show distinctly the amount of work done in each year separately. This requirement was adopted in 1863, and made imperative, in order that the General Land Office might be able to exhibit annually the amount of surveys actually executed in each fiscal year. 9. The notes must be written in precise and clear language, and the figures, letters, words, and meaning are always to be unmistakable. 1No leaf must be mutilated or obliterated, and none be taken out, whereby suspicion might be created that the missing leaf contained matter which the deputy believed it to be his interest to conceal. OBJECTS AND DATA REQUIRED TO BE NOTED IN THE FIELD BOOKS. 1. The township and range, or a description of the particular locality of the operations, should precede the notes of the surveys, and be repeated at the top of each page. 2. VARIATION OF THE NEEDLE.-The variation of the needle must always be stated in a separate line preceding the notes of measurement. At all points in the lines where any material change in the variation is found, such changes, with the exact points where they occur, must be carefully noted. 3. COURSES AND MEASUREMENTS.-The course and ex act length of every line run, noting all offsets therefrom, with the reasons and mode thereof. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 43 4. BEARING TREES.-The kind and diameter of all bearing trees, with their courses and distances from their respective corners, and the precise relative position of witness corners to the true ones. 5. MODE EMPLOYED TO PERPETUATE THE CORNERS.State if it be a post; if a tree in place, give the name and diameter; if a stone, the kind and dimensions; if a mound, the material (earth or stone) of which it is constructed, the kind of memorial buried at the side of the post, the fact that it is erected in accordance with instructions, and the courses and distances of the pits from the center of the mound where necessity exists for deviating from the general rule. 6. LINE TREES.-The name, diameter, and distance on line to all trees intersected. 7. INTERSECTION OF LAND OBJECTS.-The distances at which the lines intersect and leave any settlers' claim and improvement, prairie, river, creek, or other "bottom," swamp, marsh, grove and windfall; with the courses of the same at the points of intersecting and leaving them. 8. INTERSECTION OF HILLS, ETC.-The distances at which a line begins to ascend, reaches the top, begins to descend, and arrives at the foot of all remarkable hills and ridges, with their courses and estimated height in feet above the land of the surrounding country. 9. INTERSECTION OF WVATER OBJECTS.-The distances on line to all rivers, creeks, and smaller streams of water, with their width at the points of intersection, and the course they bear; also, in the case of navigable waters, all the particulars of the mode by which the width is ascertained. 10. BOTTOM LANDS.-W- et or dry, and if subject to inundation, to what depth. (See Swamp Lands.) 11. LAKES AND PoNDS. —Describe their banks and give their he ght; also the depth of water, and whether it be pure or stagnant. 44 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. 12. SETTLEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.-Towns and villages, Indian towns and wigwams, houses and cabins, fields, fences, and other improvements; groves, mill-seats, forges, and factories. 13. SPRINGs.-Whether fresh, saline, or mineral, with the course of the streams flowing from them. 14. MINERALS AND COAL BEDS.-Note all coal banks or beds, with a particular description of the same, as to quality, extent, and diggings therefor; and designate the localities by the smallest legal subdivisions. A recent law of Congress makes the strict observance of this requirement essential. 15. ROADS AND TRAILs.-Whence and whither, with their directions. 16. RApIDS, CASCADES, CATARACTS, or falls of water, with the height of their fall in feet. 17. PRECIPICES, CAVES, RAVINES, sink-holes, stone quarries, ledges of rocks, with the kind of stone they afford. 18. NATURAL CURIOSITIES.-Interesting fossils, petrifactions, organic remains, etc.; also all ancient works of art, such as mounds, fortifications, embankments, ditches, etc. 19. LAND SuRFACE.-Whether level, broken, or hilly1st, 2d, or 3d rate on each mile —st rate to indicate extra quality, 2d rate good average, and 3d rate inferior quality. 20. TIMBER.-Name the several kinds of timber and undergrowth in the order in which they predominate, on each mile of line. 21. DATES.-State the month and day of the month in a separate line, immediately following the notes of each day's work. 22. GENERAL DESCRIPTION.-In subdivisional work the deputy must subjoin at the conclusion of the ordinary notes taken on line a general description of the township in the aggregate, as regards the face of the country, its soil and geological features, timber, minerals, water, etc.; and n1)lld add any further description or information touch RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 45 ing any matter or thing connected with the survey which he may be able to afford and may deem useful or necessary to be known. 23. NAMES OF SURVEYING PARTY.- The field book should also contain a list of the names of the persons employed in running, measuring, and marking the lines embraced in said notes, stating the respective capacities in which they severally acted. 24. VERIFICATION OF DEPUTY SURVEYOR.-The deputy must append to each separate book of field notes his affidavit that all the lines described therein have been run and all corners established and perpetuated in strict conformity with instructions and the laws of the United States, and that the foregoing are the true and original field notes of such survey. 25. VERIFICATION OF ASSISTANTS.-The chainmen, axman, and compassmen must also attest under oath that they assisted said deputy surveyor in executing said surveys, and that to the best of their knowledge and belief the work has in all particulars been performed strictly according to the instructions furnished by the SurveyorGeneral. 26. APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATE OF SURVEYOR-GENERAL. -To each of the original field books the Surveyor-General will attach his official approval, and to the copies of the field notes transmitted to the General Land Office, he will affix his official certificate that they have been correctly copied from the originals on file in his office. For a more full understanding of the manner of keeping the field book, and the forms requisite to be used, reference is made to the specimens which accompany these instructions. By giving due attention to these specimens and instructions, the surveyor will be enabled to fulfill all the requirements of law in this regard. 46 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. MEANDERING. Large lakes, navigable rivers and bayous, are by law of (Congress made public highways, and as the government surveys progress they are meandered and segregated from the public lands. Large ponds and water-courses not navigable are in some cases also meandered. At those points where the lines of the public surveys intersect meanderable streams and bodies of water, "meander corners" are established at the time of running such lines. By the process of meandering, these corners are connected by ascertained courses and distances along the margin of the water, and the configuration of lakes, bayous, rivers, etc. is thereby obtained. In meandering water-courses, where a distance is more than ten chains between stations, even chains only should be taken; but if the distance is less than ten chains, and it is found convenient to employ chains and links, the number of links should be a multiple of ten, thereby saving time and labor in testing the closing both in the field and in the Surveyor-General's office. Standing with the face looking down stream, the bank on the right hand is termed the "right bank," and that on the left hand the "left bank." These terms are to be uniformly used to distinguish the two banks of a river or stream. To meander a river the deputy will commence at a meander corner on the township line and proceed to course the sinuosities of the river bank, measuring the distance on each course, to the next meander corner on the same or another boundary of the township, entering the courses and distances in their proper places in the field book, and in the order in which they are taken, and noting the intersections with all intermediate meander corners. 1. NAVIGABLE RIVERS.-All navigable rivers are to be RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 47 meandered on both banks, and care must be taken, in time of high water, not to mistake the margins of bayous or the borders of overflowed marshes or "bottoms" for the true river bank. Sufficient courses must be talken to follow closely the windings of the river and embrace all the land to its margin. All streams of water emptying into the river, with the width at their mouth, the height of falls and cascades and the length of rapids, must be noted; and the banks, current, and bottom of the stream meandered, should be described in the field book. 2. RIVERS NOT NAVIGABLE.-Rivers not embraced in the class denominated "navigable" under the statute, but which are well-defined natural arteries of internal communication, and have a uniform width, will only be meandered on one bank. For the sake of uniformity, the surveyor will traverse the right bank when not impracticable; but where serious obstacles are met with, rendering it difficult to course along the right bank, he may cross to the left bank and continue the meanders as far as necessary; but all changes from one bank to the other will be made at the point of intersection of some line of the public surveys with the stream being meandered. The subdividing deputies will be required to establish meander corners on both banks of such mneanderable streams at the intersection of all section lines, and the distances across the river will be noted in the field book. 3. WIDE "FLATS."-Where wide, irregular expansions occur in rivers that are not navigable, and such expansions are permanent bodies of water, the area of which is more than forty acres, and embraces more than onehalf of a legal subdivision of forty acres, they should be meandered on both banks. 4. ISLANDS IN RIVERS.-The precise relative position of islands in a township made fractional by the river in which the same are situated, must be determined trigo 48 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. nometrically. Sighting to a flag or other object on the island from a special and carefully measured base line connected with the surveyed lines, and on or near the river bank, form connections between the meander corners on the river and points in direct line on the shores of the island, at which points establish meander corners, and calculate the distance across. The operation must be particularly and fully described in the field notes. 5. LAKES, PONDS, ETC.-Lakes embracing an area of less than forty acres will not be meandered. Long, narrow, or irregular lakes of larger extent, but which embrace less than one-half of the smallest legal subdivision, will not be meandered. Shallow lakes or bayous, likely in time to dry up or be greatly reduced by evaporation, drainage, or other cause, will not be meandered however extensive they may be, but such lakes should be described, and the facilities for draining or prospect of becoming dry from natural causes stated. Posts will be established by the subdividing deputy, at the intersections of all the public lines with these lakes, the same as if they were to be meandered. To meander a lake, pond, or bayou, commence at a meander corner on the township line, and proceed as directed in meandering a navigable river.'Where the body of water lies entirely within the township boundaries, the deputy should commence at a meander corner established in subdividing, and from thence course around the entire pond or lake, noting the intersection with all the meander corners previously established. To meander a pond lying entirely within the boundaries of a section, run and measure two lines to such pond from the nearest opposite section or quarter section corners, giving the courses thereof, and at each of the points where these lines intersect the margin of the pond, establish a "witness point" by fixing a post in the ground, and taking bearings and distances to adjacent trees, or ii no trees are found, raising a mound. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 49 The relative position of these points being thus definitely fixed in the section, commence at one of them and course to the other, noting the intersection, and thence to the place of beginning. The mode of proceeding must be fully set forth in the field book. The meander notes must state particularly the corner from which they start, and the meanders of each firactional section are to be exhibited separately. All islands, rapids, and bars are to be noticed, and their exact situation indicated by intersections to their upper and lower points; also the head and mouth of all bayous. The notes of meanders will be placed at the end of the notes of the township, and according to the dates when the work is performed, as illustrated in the specimen field notes. Following and composing a part of such notes will be given a description of the soil, timber, and depth to which the bottoms are subject to overflow. The lakes, bayous, ponds, and so much of meanderable rivers as lie within the boundaries of a township are to be meandered at the time of subdividing the township, and the notes thereof will be annexed to and form a part of the field notes of such subdivisional survey. No blazes or marks of any description are to be made on lines meandered between established corners. SURVEY OF SWAMP LANDS, By the act of Congress, approved September 28th, 1850, swamp ani overflowed lands "unfit for cultivation" are granted to the state in which they are situated. These lands are selected and approved to the state according to the predominating character of the smallest legal subdivision. If the larger part of such subdivision is swamp and overflowed, it goes to the state; if otherwise, it is excluded from the grant, and retained by the government. In order therefore to determine what lands fall to the 4 t0 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. state under the swamp grant, it is necessary that the field notes of surveys, in addition to the other objects of topography required to be noted, should indicate the points at which the public lines enter and leave all lands coming within the purview of said grant. The deputy surveyor is charged with the responsible duty of describing with care and fidelity the true character of all lands within the field of his surveying operations, which may come under the denomination of "swamp and overflowed," or "unfit for cultivation." The grant aforesaid does not embrace tracts subject to casual inundations, but only those where the overflow would wholly prevent the raising of crops without the aid of artificial means, such as levees, etc.; hence the deputy should state whether such lands are continually and permanently wet or subject to overflow so frequently as to render them totally unfit for cultivation, giving the depth of inundation as determined from indications on the trees, etc. The frequency of overflow should be set forth as accurately as possible, from a knowledge of the character of the stream which causes the same, and the general contour of the country contiguous, aided by such reliable information as may be obtained from persons acquainted with the facts. The character of the timber, shrubs, plants, etc. growing on such tracts, and the contiguity of the premises to rivers, water-courses, or lakes should be stated. The words "unfit for cultivation" are to be employed in addition to the usual phraseology in regard to entering or leaving such swamp, marshy, or overflowed lands. It may be that sometimes the margin of bottom, swamp, or marsh, in which such uncultivable land exists, is not identical with the margin of the body of land "unfit for cultivation;" and in such cases a separate entry must be made for each opposite the marginal distance at which they respectively occur. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 51 But in cases where lands are overflowed by artificial means, such as dams for milling, logging, etc., such overflow will not be officially regarded, but the lines of the public surveys will be continued across the same, without setting meander posts, stating particularly in the notes the depth of the water and how the overflow was caused. ORDER OF CARRYING FORWARD THE PUBLIC SURVEYS. In the preceding pages we have explained —st, the system of dividing the public lands into rectangular tracts of convenient size to be disposed of for pastoral and agricultural purposes; 2d, the manner of coursing, measuring, and marking the lines of the public surveys; 3d, the mode of establishing and perpetuating the corner boundaries of the public lands; and 4th, how the field book, which is the permanent record of everything officially done or observed by the deputy surveyor and his assistants, is to be kept, with full instructions as to the objects and data required to be recorded therein. We are now prepared to explain the order in which the public surveys are carried forward in the field. First, then, let us suppose for illustration, that it is required to commence operations in a new territory where no public surveys have been made. Meridians and Base Lines.-It will be remembered that all government surveys are projected from previously established meridians and base lines, or standard parallels. Before proceeding to lay off townships, therefore, a meridian and base line must be surveyed and marked, unless the proposed surveys are in continuation of those already executed in an adjoining state or territory, from an existing base. Meridians may be run either north or south as may be necessary to reach the locality desired. They must, however, be run on a due north or due south course, the half 52 UNITED STATES SURVEYING MANUAL. mile, the mile, and the six mile corners being accurately measured and durably perpetuated according to the instructions in the preceding pages. Base lines may be run on either a due east or dute west course from the meridian, planting the half mile, mile, and township corners at the prescribed intervals, FULL MEASURE. Initial Point.-The first step in proceeding to establish a meridian and a base line, will be to select some prominent natural land-mark convenient to the locality where the earliest surveys will be needed, for an initial or starting-point. An isolated, well-defined mountain, or the point of confluence of two rivers, afford favorable objects for the purpose indicated. If these are not to be found, some other permanent natural object should be sought for. Standard Parallels or Correction Lnes.-It may also be necessary to run one or more standard lines in the early part of the surveying operations, for it will be borne in mind that all range lines are to be run north from base or standard lines. Standard parallels, like base lines, may be run on either a due east or due west course fiom the meridian, planting the half mile, mile, and township cor. ners at the prescribed intervals, fall measure. These lines form the skeleton or framework upon which to hang or build up the public surveys. Itaving pro. vided the proper basis for this operation as directed, the deputy surveyor will next proceed to surveyPrincipal Meridians. —As the public surveys progressed westward, six meridianal lines, denominated Principal Meridians, have been established and designated in numerical order from east to west, to wit: The 1st Principal Meridian runs north from the mouth of the Great Miami river, between the States of Ohio and Indiana to the south boundary of Michigan. The 2d Principal Meridian runs north from the mouth of the Little Blue river, through the center of the State of Indiana to its northern boundary. RECTANGULAR SURVEYING. 53 1. EXTERIOR OR TOWNSHIP LINES., Systematic order is observed in running township lines, and the perambulations of the deputy surveyor are fully illustrated by Diagram A, on page 54. TowNsHIPs WEST OF THE MERIDIAN. -Begin at the first pre-established township corner on the base line, west of the meridian, which will be the southwest corner of Township 1 N., Range 1 W., marked No. 1 on the diagram: thence north on a true meridian line 480 chains, establishing the section and quarter section corners thereon as per instructions, to No. 2, where establish the corner to Townships 1 and 2 N., Ranges 1 and 2 W.; thence east on a random line, setting temporary section and quarter section stakes to No. 3, wherie measure and note the distance at which the eastern boundary is intersected north or south of the true or established corner. Then, calculating a The 3d Principal. Meridian runs north from the mouth of the Ohio river through the center of the State of Illinois, terminating at its northern boundary. The 4th Principal.Meridian runs north from the Illinois river through the western part of Illinois and the center of Wisconsin to Lake Superior. The 5th Principal Meridian runs north from the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers through the eastern portion of the States of Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa, and governs the surveys in Minnesota lying west of the Mississippi river, and also in Dakota lying east of the Missouri river. The 6th Principal Meridian commences on the Arkansas river, in the State of Kansas, and runs north through the eastern part of Kansas and Nebraska, terminating at the Missouri river. Independent Meridians.-In addition to the six principal meridians above described, a number of Independent Meridians have been established in the newer states. In New Mexico the surveys are reckoned from the Independent Meridian of New Mexico. In Utah, the Independent Meridian is styled the "Salt Lake Meridian." The surveys in Oregon and Washington Territory are governed by an Independent Meridian called the " Wilt lamette Meridian;" and in California there are three Independent Meridians governing the different surveys in that state, named respectively "Humboldt Meridian," "'lit. Diablo Meridian.," and "St. Bernardino Meridian." The surveys in Nevada are numbered from the "Mt. Diablo Meridian" in California. '\I///:D - Lt2 -I - __________ ZCOR,L/NIENEN * 21 10 70 21 H*P~6 Ao.'zo Jo. 2 2=i N Z / 7- 7 -. 31B2 fl /7 O 3 303 25 27 /