Clear, practical guide to how the public lands are surveyed and subdivided
This classic reference explains the United States system of rectangular surveying and provides instructions for laying out townships, ranges, sections, and corners. It also covers restoring lost corners and subsurveys, with practical steps and examples to help surveyors work accurately under the law.
The book combines historical context, field procedures, and official guidelines to help readers understand how public lands are measured, marked, and recorded. It includes notes on the deposit system, adjustments to boundaries, and procedures for documenting field data and bearings in a way that supports lawful, consistent results.
- How the public land system is organized, including townships, ranges, and sections
- Techniques for perpetuating and restoring corner monuments and boundaries
- Procedures for surveying, measuring, and recording land boundaries and notes
- Complementary information on related laws, historic practices, and appendix references
Ideal for county surveyors, land officials, students, and professionals working with public land records and legacy surveys.