Thomas M. Beer P.L.S. · ... 360, and combinations 180, 90, ... E Two hundred and three Poles to three Pines on the same Mountain in thence N ... IMPORTANT WORDS USED IN …

Land Surveying Systems in the United States A SunCam online continuing education course

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Land Surveying Systems In the United States of America

by

Thomas M. Beer P.L.S.



INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYING SYSTEMS

The American Congress of Surveying and Mapping defines Land Surveying as “the science and art of making all essential measurements to determine the relative position of points and/or physical and cultural details above, on, or beneath the surface of the Earth, and to depict them in a usable form, or to establish the position of points and/or details”.

Ever since ancient times, when mankind first decided it was necessary to mark the boundaries of his land to separate it from lands of others, Land Surveying has become an essential aspect in human affairs. Man is not alone in nature regarding this aspect. Many species of animals mark and defend territorial limits to preserve an area essential for their survival. Some naturalist and anthropologist have coined this activity as “the territorial imperative”. The ancient Egyptians were well versed in re-establishing tracts of land caused by the annual flooding of the Nile River and to construct monumental structures that are still marveled at today. The Great pyramid, build around 2700 BC, was constructed so precisely that it is nearly square by a few inches. The first written system of recorded land documents were established about around 3000 BC. Another ancient civilization, the Babylonians, were considered masters at making astronomical observation and calculation. They utilized the Sexagesimal system of numbers inherited from their Mesopotamian ancestors. This system uses a base 60 system that is still used today to quantify time and units of directions. The Babylonians used 360 units or degrees to equally divide a circle. The rationale for this number is that it is divisible by so many other numbers itself, 360, and combinations 180, 90, 60, 30, 20, 15, 12, 10, 6, 5, 4. 3, 2 and 1. Using their mathematics and observations an accurate calendar was formulated that could accurately measure events over time. Ancient Greeks studied Egyptian geometry and expanded the principles of this science with the works of Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, and the other mathematicians of the Classical Greek period. The Romans where exceptional engineers and built their empire with the surveying knowledge gained from more ancient civilizations. Their engineered roads, bridges, sewer systems,



buildings, and aqueducts survived for centuries, some of which are still in use today. In addition to ancient contributions, Land Surveying in the United States is based on laws, customs, methods, and units of measurements of the three principle powers of the Colonial period, these being England, Spain and France. Most of the surveying customs used in the original 13 colonies were derived from techniques evolved over the centuries in Britain, with Anglo Saxon, Celtic traditions. In addition customs from mainland Europe, based on Imperial Roman traditions, were reintroduced to Britain with the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is necessary for a modern day land surveyor, civil engineers and architects to have knowledge of the history of Land Surveying. It is a Surveyor's duty to retrace and follow in the footsteps of the original surveyor in the reestablishing the boundary of a particular parcel of land. This knowledge is an essential tool to be used in reproducing the boundaries of a particular parcel of land surveyed long ago. Much of Land Surveying work is more akin to tasks performed by a detective, using evidence more than the science of Geometry to reestablish boundaries surveyed long ago. The two major systems of Land Surveying used in the United States are: Metes and Bounds that originated in the original Colonial period and the more modern Public Lands Survey System sometimes referred to as the Rectangular Land System. METES AND BOUNDS “Pursuant. To a Warrant from the Proprietors Office to Me directed I have Surveyed for Edward Hogan Three Hundred and thirty acres of Waste and Ungranted Land Situated Lying and being in the County of Augusta and on the Lost River or Cacapehon about Six miles with in the Boundary Line of the Northern Neck and Bounded as followeth Beginning at a white Oak and white Pine Saplins on the West Side of the River and runs thence S....60°.. E Two hundred and Eighty Poles to three Chestnut Oaks on a steep Mountain Side thence N

…9 °… E Two hundred and three Poles to three Pines on the same Mountain in thence N … 60°..W

Two hundred and Eighty Poles to two white Oaks in a Drain of the Mountain thence S …2°.. W One hundred and thirty two Poles to two white Oakes thence S … 22°… W Sixty Eight Poles to the Beginning this first Day of November 1749 “ by



John Lonem GWASHINGTON SCC and Chainmen Edward Cordon Edward Hogan Marker James Hamiltons The forgoing is a transcript of a survey described from George Washington in 1749. The description is an example of a typical survey done during this period. Land Surveying was a primary profession for our early forefathers and often conducted by wealthy, well educated persons. In fact 3 of the 4 Presidents sculpted at Mount Rushmore were surveyors, they being Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. Conversely, many early surveyors like Daniel Boon, were self thought frontiersmen who depended more one their fighting skills, that knowledge of Geometry to tame the west Metes and Bounds is a system that is based on Metes (Measurements) and Bounds (Boundaries). Standard elements of a metes and bounds description in the foregoing Washington's description are:

A description of the location of the parcel in terms of which county, and where within the County where the land lies. “Land Situated Lying and being in the County of Augusta and on the Lost River or Cacapehon about Six miles within the Boundary Line of the Northern Neck”

A point of place of Beginning : “Beginning at a white Oak and white Pine Saplins on the West Side of the River”

A direction and distance to another point or landmark: “runs thence S....60°. E Two hundred and Eighty Poles to three Chestnut Oaks on a steep Mountain Side :

A description of the Area of Land: “Three Hundred and thirty acres of Waste and Ungranted Land”

A date when the survey was conducted. In addition to the Metes description above, the word Bounds refers to a boundary. A surveyed line could refer to a river, roadway margin, the boundary of another parcel, or subdivision, or the high water level of a lake for example.



Metes and Boundaries are often called indiscriminate surveys. In Colonial times property boundaries consisted of a patchwork of various irregular shaped parcels. As shown on a Map of George Washington's Mount Vernon Tract.

IMPORTANT WORDS USED IN METES AND BOUNDS DESCRIPTIONS Important words used in Metes and Bounds descriptions are At, To, and Along. The word At indicates a particular location of an object or point in the survey. This could be the location of the beginning point for the survey, corners, or points along a particular survey line. For example natural occurring landmarks marking a point could be the confluence of two creeks, a tree, a peak of a mountain, etc.



If the description does not reverence any particular object artificial of natural, most often the words “to a point” is ment6ioned. AT can be an artificial landmark like a fence corner, the intersection of two road beds, corner of a building or an iron stake or concrete monument. AT can be a point referenced from recorded legal record, for example the Southeast corner of land conveyed as described in a particular deed, lot corner in a particular recorded subdivision of land, or a Right of Way margin of a particular road. At in modern times can be coordinates based on Latitude and Longitude, or coordinates based on State Plain systems based on Mercator of Lambert projections, or other grid system. In the case of natural and artificial monuments all points can become lost. Trees are cut or decay away, buildings are destroyed, fences removed, etc. Lost monuments are a main drawback of any Metes and Bounds survey. A land surveyor then becomes a detective to re-establish where the land marks were previously located. Metes and Bounds surveys tied to State Plain Coordinates can be considered permanent in nature since they can be reestablished regardless of what occurs on the ground in the location of the surveyed parcel. The word To as used in a metes description meant the line is to run from the previous point to an object or a point. In Washington's description. The first call from the point of beginning is “thence S....60°. E Two hundred and Eighty Poles to three Chestnut Oaks on a steep Mountain Side”. The trees on a steep mountainside is the corner. The direction and distance do not rule, they are only used to locate the trees. If the trees are lost other evidence could be things like fences and walls installed soon after the land was cleared, testimony from a reliable witness, monuments set from prior surveys. If nothing else references the original location, the bearings and distance may be the only option left to establish the corner. The word To must be mentioned in the original survey descriptions. If a monument, say an iron rod is found and it is not mentioned in the original survey, one can assume that it may have been placed by another surveyor or property owner. Its location may match the calls for direction and distance, but it may or may not trace the footsteps of the original surveyor. Other evidence that would more strongly indicate the location of the destroyed trees it must be taken into consideration The word Along as used in a Metes and Bounds survey refers that the survey follows a particular demarcation. These calls may be natural boundaries, like the center-line of a creek, the ridge of a hill, the shore line of a lake for example. It can be an artificial boundary based on some man made



feature, like a fence line, center line of paved road, face of a wall, or a building, or it can be from record, like a particular property line mentioned in a deed, or a particular county boundary line. These are also monuments that can be lost over time, creeks shift course, roads are realigned, fences and walls are removed. Property law is complex. It is based on customs, statutes, and court decrees that govern how land location disputes are to be resolved. UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS DIRECTION, AREA, AND LINEAR Direction Early Survey Directions of Metes and Bounds are usually based on magnetic compass directions called Bearings. A circle of 360 degrees is divided into four quadrants. Quadrant I - Northeast, Quadrant II- Southeast, Quadrant III- Southwest, Quandary IV- Northwest. Directions start from 0 degrees North or South to 90 degrees East or West.



Early Surveyor's Bearing Compass These bearings are listed in the direction of travel from the beginning point thence to a point, thence to a point back to the beginning point presumably creating a closed polygon. Examples of how internal angles relate to bearings as follows:



The word origin of “Bearing " is thought to have arrived in Ancient times when navigators used the constellations of the Big and Little Dipper. These star formations were called Ursa Major and Minor in Latin. Ursa meaning bear. So when it became time to navigate one was said to “get his bearings”. In our American Culture the folk song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” was a line from a song that depicted the route of their exodus to the slave free states of the North. The Dipper (Drinking Gourd) was used as a pointer to Polaris and thus the freedom of the North. Another method to determine directions is with Azimuth Degrees that are usually measured clockwise from North. They go from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. With East being 90 degrees, South 180 degrees, West 270 degrees. The problem with magnetic bearings is that magnetic compass readings vary from place to place. Also, the magnetic pole is not a fixed point and it moves over time. The difference from true geographic north and magnetic north is called its declination. The figure below is a present day Isogonic. This map that illustrates how the declination changes from place to place from 0 degrees to more than 20 degrees East and West in Maine and Washington State.



To find declinations from years past go to the National Geophysical Data Center (NOAA) website http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/USHistoric.jsp For Canadian information go to http://geomag.nrcan.gc.ca/apps/mdcal-eng.php With these calculators one can enter in a location (as latitude and longitude or zip code) and a date and get the declination over time. By comparing the declination from present data with one of earlier time. For example the declination in Portland Oregon has varied as much as 4 degrees from 1900 to 2000. Magnetic Directions are crude. In the case of Washington's survey of 1749, the Magnetic bearings where rounded to the nearest degree. Distance during the period where considered more accurate. Curves in descriptions are usually described with at least several elements to indicate the direction the curve is going in, its length. and radius. The following are examples of typical curve calls: “ Thence along a curve to the right having a radius of 525 feet and an arch length of 175.36 feet” “Thence along a curve concave to the South having a chord bearing of S 25 Deg W, a radius of 450 feet a cord length of 75.45 ft.” Other elements could be added for instance, Central Angle of the curve, Degree of Curve, Middle Ordinate, Semi Tangents, External Distance etc. AREA AND DISTANCE MEASURE UNITS The standard unit of area in the United States is the Acre. One Acre equals 43,560 square feet. The first things that comes to mind is why such a strange uneven number. The Acre as originally defined in early times, would be considered the area that a plowman could expect to work in one day’s time. To a simple Saxon farmer in medieval times, this unit is something that could be readily conceived. Even today the average modern American sports fan would be hard pressed to envision how big a 3.5 acre field would be, but would have little trouble to envision an area based on a certain number of football fields. When early farmers plowed a field they measured their progress with a wood pole, also called a rod,



pole or perch, The plowman would plow one furrow, rest then turn his oxen and repeat the process over and over again. The distance of each furrow became the basis of the unit called the furlong. This distance was eventually standardized to be 220 yards, 660 feet, or forty rods. An acre of 43,560 square feet was standardized to be one Furlong or 40 rods in length by 4 rods or 66 feet in width around the 13th century. The Englishman and mathematician, Edmond Gunter, devised a measuring device made of a steel chain and links to eliminate the wooden poles typically used to measure distances. A new unit 66 feet called a chain was adapted. A chain consists of 100 links each 0.666 feet in length. Surveyors used to describe a course as being so many chains and links. . A chain was to equals 4 of the old rod, pole ,or perch (16.5 ft.) units. An acre then also became 10 square chains.

Gunter's Measuring Chain Note the unit the chain is 66 feet the instrument was usually 33 feet in length. Most of the lands of the United States was painstakingly measured with this device. The human body was the original source of measurement. No explanation is needed for the basis of the units known as a foot or hand. Other measurement of the body is the yard and fathom. The yard was the distance from ones nose, or center of one's chest to the tip of one’s fingers with an arm extended. The Fathom was the unit from tip to tip of fingers with both arms extended. A mile to an early Roman citizen, was the distance covered by 1000 paces. The Roman pace was the distance covered by stepping left than right and left again. This distance was approximately 5 feet.

Originally, measurements based on anthropomorphic units are crude and vary, since we are not all



created equally in this respect, a foot length obviously varies greatly from person to person. To create a more accurate method of measurements a standard must be created. One historical method of creating a standard unit would be to take the measurement of a particular person, in one case in England, the King's booted foot was used to create an object (metal bar) of a fixed standard length to be used by all. It is thought that King Henry I may have been the sovereign chosen for this honor. In early times a standard bar of metal was accurately duplicated, and placed around the kingdom where an interested party could scribe off a length to further duplicate the standard.

Early British Public Standard Unit Duplicating Plaque In the instance of the mile, it was altered during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by act of Parliament to equal 5,280 feet. Why 5,280 instead of 5000 feet of Roman origin? This adjustment was made so a mile would equal 8 furlongs or 80 chains, and a square mile would then equal 640 acres making the whole system more rational.



The preferred modern scientific unit of measurement is the Metre (Meter). In 1791 The French Academy of Science decided that this unit should be based on a length being one ten-millionth of the distance along a meridian along its quadrant. In other words the distance from the Equator to the North Pole. By convention in 1889, the International Prototype Metre became two lines, (based on the 1791 prescribed distance) were inscribed on a bar of an alloy ninety percent platinum and ten percent iridium at the temperature of melting ice. Today the standard Metre has been refined to be 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of the orange-red emission line in the spectrum of Krypton 86 atom in a vacuum. In an effort to exactly match the old foot unit of measurement with the new Metric unit, a new unit called a U.S. Survey Foot was adapted. It is defined as being 1200/3937 meters. One International Foot is 0.999998 U.S. Survey Feet. US PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM (PLSS) President Thomas Jefferson was the architect of our present system used by the United States Government to divide and describe lands under its jurisdiction. Jefferson was selected the chairman of a committee, to develop a system and to manage the lands in the emerging western territories. Land would be used to award service in the war and to generate funds for the emerging nation. Jefferson, being a surveyor, well aware of the inadequacies of the metes and bounds surveys was well suited for the task. Jefferson also had an intense lifetime interest in geography. It was he who commissioned the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the West. This mission became known as the “Corps of Discovery”. Through his efforts a rational well conceived plan was developed. That plan introduced a grid system that would divide land into easily described and proportioned rectangular parcels. Most of the PLSS systems are surveyed from an initial point with the North South line ( based on true North) running through the point. The East West line running through this point is called the base line. The system has 37 named meridians through the system. The following is the actual wording of the act that was passed by the Second Continental Congress. “An Ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of Lands in the Western Territory.



Be it ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, that the territory ceded by individual States to the United States, which has been purchased from the Indian inhabitants, shall be disposed of in the following manner: . . .

The Surveyors, as they are respectively qualified, shall proceed to divide the said territory into townships of six miles square, by lines running due north and south, and others crossing these at right angles, as near as may be . . .

The lines shall be measured with a chain; shall be plainly marked by chaps on the trees and exactly described on a plat; whereon shall be noted by the surveyor, at their proper distances, all mines, salt springs, salt licks and mill seats, that shall come to his knowledge, and all water courses, mountains and other remarkable and permanent things, over and near which such lines shall pass, and also the quality of the lands . . .

The board of treasury shall transmit a copy of the original plats, previously noting thereon, the townships, and fractional parts of townships, which shall have fallen to the several states, by the distribution aforesaid, to the Commissioners of the loan office of the several states, who, after giving notice of not less than two nor more than six months by causing advertisements to be posted up at the court houses, or other noted places in every county, and to be inserted in one newspaper, published in the states of their residence respectively, shall proceed to sell the townships, or fractional parts of townships, at public venue . . .

Done by the United States in Congress assembled, the 20th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1785, and of our sovereignty and independence the ninth.”

The first area where lands were subdivided in accordance with the Land Ordinance of 1785, was in the Ohio Territory. The location being in the south eastern portion of the present day State of Ohio along the Ohio River... This division of lands has become known as the “Old Seven Ranges” because seven North to South Ranges of Townships were surveyed. Contrast the orderliness of this system compared to the indiscriminate metes and bound surveys of Washington's Mount Vernon Plat.



In addition to this first attempt, Ohio became an experimental patchwork with 17 distinct survey districts. Many mistakes and lessons were learned in regards to these first surveys that resulted in an improved system that eventually spread west ward and includes 30 States. Under the Land Ordinances land would be divided into rectangular townships being approximately 6



miles square. Each mile within the township would be arranged as illustrated below. Because meridians converge townships are approximately square.

General Land Office Section Numbering Sections adopted May 18, 1795 The above illustration is the present day system of numbering sections used. Below is the original numbering convention from the Ordinance of 1785 used in early surveys in Ohio.

Ordinance of 1785 Each one mile square, or 640 acre section of a township, is normally divided in squares or rectangles by the following convention:



To establish townships, accurate astronomical observations were made to establish a “Principal Meridian” that ran from true North to South. Another line called the Base Line it runs from East to West was established off the meridian. The intersection of the two lines were called the “Initial Point” Lines were then established off the Principal Meridians and Base lines. Lines running parallel to the Meridian were called “Ranges” These North South lines were numbered from East to West and are referred to as being East or West of a particular Principal Meridian. Lines established off the baseline running East to West were referred to as Tiers or Township Lines. They are numbered North or South of the particular baseline.



SAMPLE OF A PUBLIC LAND DESCRIPTION N ½, SE 1/4, SW 1/4, S24, T2N, R1E In this example assume the parcel is located in a state that has the third principal meridian. To find where this parcel exists and how much land is described it is best to work backwards. First locate the range in this case the range R1E. In this case it is the first column East and next to the Principle Meridian. T2N To find this area look for the second tier row north of the Baseline. The area T2N R1E is six square miles described.

N ½ SE ¼ SW ¼ S24 T2N R1E The following is a description and graphic illustration of a parcel typically described in a Public Land Description.

N ½ SE 1/4 SW 1/4 S24 T2N R1E



S24 This refers to section 24 of the 36 sections of a Township. It is an area of 1 square miles of 640 acre

N ½ SE 1/4 SW ¼ S24 T2N R1E

SW ¼ This refers to the south west quadrant of section 24. It is an area of 160 acres.

N ½ SE 1/4 SW 1/4 S24 T2N R1E



` SE ¼ This refers to the south east quadrant of the SW1/4 160 acres above. It is an area of 40 acres.

N ½ SE 1/4 SW 1/4 S24 T2N R1E

N ½ Finally, this refers to the north half of the SE ¼ 40 acres above or 20 acres.



U.S. PUBLIC LANDS SURVEY MAP

Public Land States Map & Data Source Bureau of Land Management

Public Land Survey System (PLSS) States:

Alabama. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and admitted into the Union December 14, 1819 (3 Stat. 608); records with the Secretary of State at Montgomery.

Alaska. Purchased from Russia in 1867; admitted into the Union January 3, 1959 (72 Stat. 339); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Anchorage.

Arizona. Included in the lands ceded by Mexico in 1848 and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853;



admitted into the Union February 14, 1912 (36 Stat. 557; 37 Stat. 1728); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Phoenix.

Arkansas. Acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and admitted into the Union June 15, 1836 (5 Stat. 50); records with the Department of State Lands at Little Rock.

California. Ceded by Mexico in 1848 and admitted into the Union September 9, 1850 (9 Stat. 452); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Sacramento.

Colorado. Acquired largely under the Louisiana Purchase in 1808, but including additional land, title to which was quieted through treaty with Spain, in 1819, with other lands annexed with Texas in 1845, and lands ceded by Mexico in 1848; admitted into the Union August 1, 1876 (18 Stat. 474; 19 Stat. 665); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Denver.

Florida. Ceded by Spain in 1819 and admitted into the Union March 3, 1945 (5 Stat. 742); records with the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund at Tallahassee.

Idaho. Acquired with the Oregon Territory, title to which was established in 1846, and admitted into the Union July 3, 1890 (26 Stat. 215); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Boise.

Illinois. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and admitted into the Union December 3, 1818 (3 Stat. 536); records in the Illinois State Archives, Secretary of State, at Springfield.

Indiana. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and admitted into the Union December 11, 1816 (3 Stat. 399); records with the Archivist, Indiana State Library, at Indianapolis.

Iowa. Acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and admitted into the Union December 28, 1846 (9 Stat. 117); records with the Secretary of State at Des Moines.

Kansas. Acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 (additional lands annexed with Texas in 1845); admitted into the Union January 29, 1861 (12 Stat. 126); records with the Auditor of State and Register of State Lands at Topeka.

Louisiana. Included in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803; boundary extended to include additional lands, title to which was quieted through treaty with Spain in 1819; admitted into the Union April 30, 1812 (2 Stat. 701); records with the Register, State Land Office, at Baton Rouge.

Michigan. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and admitted into the Union January 26, 1837 (5 Stat. 144); records with the State Department of Treasury at Lansing.

Minnesota. Included in the territory of the original 13 States (additional lands acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803); admitted into the Union May 11,1858 (11 Stat. 285) records with the Department of Conservation at Saint Paul.



Mississippi. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and admitted into the Union December 10, 1817 (3 Stat. 472); records with the State Land Commissioner at Jackson.

Missouri. Acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and admitted into the Union August 10, 1821 (3 Stat. 645, 3 Stat. Appendix II); records with the State Land Survey Authority at Rolla.

Montana. Acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and with the Oregon Territory, title to which was established in 1846; admitted into the Union November 8, 1889 (25 Stat. 676, 26 Stat. 1551); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Billings.

Nebraska. Acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and admitted into the Union March 1, 1867 (14 Stat. 391, 820); records with the State Surveyor at Lincoln.

Nevada. Ceded by Mexico in 1848 and admitted into the Union October 31, 1864 (13 Stat. 30 749); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Reno.

New Mexico. Included in the lands annexed with Texas in 1845, with lands ceded by Mexico in 1848, and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853; admitted into the Union January 6, 1912 (36 Stat. 557, 37 Stat. 1723); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Santa Fe.

North Dakota. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and with lands acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803; admitted into the Union November 2, 1889 (25 Stat. 676; 26 Stat. 1548); records with the State Water Conservation Commission at Bismarck.

Oklahoma. Acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and with lands annexed with Texas in 1845; admitted into the Union November 16, 1907 (34 Stat. 267; 35 Stat. 2160); records in the New Mexico State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Ohio. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and admitted into the Union November 29, 1802 (2 Sat. 173); records with the Auditor of State at Columbus.

Oregon. Included in the Oregon Territory, title to which was established in 1846; admitted into the Union February 14, 1859 (11 Stat. 383); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Portland.

South Dakota. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and with lands acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803; admitted into the Union November 2, 1889 (25 Stat. 676; 26 Stat. 1549); records with the Commissioner of Schools and public Lands at Pierre. The plats of mineral patent surveys of South Dakota are filed in the Montana State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Billings, Montana, and the necessary mineral surveys are directed from that office.

Utah. Ceded by Mexico in 1848 and admitted into the Union January 4, 1896 (28 Stat. 107, 29 Stat. 876); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Salt Lake City.



Washington. Included in the Oregon Territory, title to which was established in 1846; admitted into the Union November 11, 1889 (25 Stat. 676, 26 Stat. 1552); records in the Oregon State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Portland, Oregon.

Wisconsin. Included in the territory of the original 13 States and admitted into the Union May 29, 1848 (9 Stat. 233); records with the Department of Natural Resources at Madison.

Wyoming. Included with lands acquired under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, with lands annexed with Texas in 1845, with lands included in the Oregon Territory, title to which was established in 1846, and with lands ceded by Mexico in 1848; admitted into the Union July 10, 1890 (26 Stat. 222); records in the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management at Cheyenne.

Non Public Land Survey System States:

Metes and bounds states include the original Thirteen Colonies and their respected territories that latter became States. These include became the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Main, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. In addition to the original colony lands, Hawaii and Texas are also included in the Non Public Land Survey System States. United States Department of Interior The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) It is now the responsibility of the Federal Governments Bureau of land Management (BLM) to survey, restore obliterated* or lost corners**, and maintain records for approximately 1.5 billion acres of Public Lands. This area covers more than 75 percent of the area of the United States. It consists of the area contained in 30 PLSS States.

A fundamental necessity for surveyors practicing within PLSS areas, is the Bureau's “Manual of Surveying Instruction” The current edition was published in 2009. It is the 9th version of the manual. The first edition was published in 1851. The Manual is intended to instruct how cadastral surveys shall be made in PLSS States.

From BLM manual of instructions:

*An obliterated corner is one at whose point there are no remaining traces of the monument or its accessories, but whose location has been perpetuated, or the point for which may be recovered beyond reasonable doubt by the acts and testimony of the interested landowners, competent surveyors, other qualified local authorities, or witnesses, or by some acceptable record evidence.



**A lost corner is a point of a survey whose position cannot be determined, beyond reasonable doubt, either from traces of the original marks or from acceptable evidence or testimony that bears upon the original position, and whose location can be restored only by reference to one or more interdependent corners

United States Department of Interior The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)mple Nevada



PSLL Plat 1893 Plat Township 18 North -Range 50 EAST Mount Diablo Meridian See enlarged sections plan next sheet

Sample Nevada PSLL Plat 1893 Enlarged Portion Plat Township 18 North -Range 50 EAST 640 Acre Sections Distance Units are in Chains



Conclusion The history of surveying in the United States is a colorful one, as well as being complex one. We owe much to past generations in this endeavor. Their painstaking and sometimes courageous efforts in the field of surveying and mapping should be appreciated by all. The author hopes that this lesson helps shed light on their efforts.

Documents

Thomas M. Beer P.L.S. · ... 360, and combinations 180, 90, ... E Two hundred and three Poles to three Pines on the same Mountain in thence N ... IMPORTANT WORDS USED IN …