All lands in the public domain are subject to subdivision by this rectangular system of surveys, which is regulated by the u. It is mainly used to divide the public domain lands that are owned by the federal government for. This is a musthave resource for every surveying office. A history of the rectangular survey system bureau of land. Albert white began his career with the general land office in 1946. The rectangular survey system is based on principal meridians and base lines. Rectangular survey financial definition of rectangular survey. Specifically, the location information is in a system of rectangular surveys form called public land survey system. The origins of the integrated postsecondary education data system ipeds data collection date back to the very beginnings of the department of education. Study 31 land discription quiz flashcards from caleb k. The ideal rectangular grid didnt always work for another reason. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Unfortunately, that copy is missing the specimen field. Manual of instructions for the survey of the public lands of the united states. Archives in washington, and the family history library in salt lake city, utah. D 48100 the rectangular survey system divides each. Als first book, history of the rectangular surveying system, published in 1983, is a definitive look at the history of surveying in the united states, from the most famous surveyor, thomas jefferson, to present day. Rectangular survey system law and legal definition. It is objective, orderly, verifiable, and permanent. A rectangular grid system such as the dominion township grid system of 160 acre quarter sections with road allowances, is the. Ranges exist every 6 miles east and west of each meridian. Within any given township, sections are numbered beginning in the b.
Government rectangular survey system financial definition. Chapter 6 flashcards flashcard machine create, study and. A history of the rectangular survey system 1983 edition. Full text of a history of the rectangular survey system. The book covers the political and economic events leading to the passage of the first land ordinance, the development of the rectangular. The rectangular survey system divides each township into 36 equal sections. Land is designated as either a base line eastwest or principal meridian line northsouth. Original instructions to surveyors of the public lands 18151881, roy minnick, ed. History how history lead to the creation of the public land survey system plss revolutionary war began 1775 ended 1783 declaration of independence july 4, 1776 in 1784 congress discussed issues, real problems country was broke borrowed money needed to pay soldiers 4. A rectangular grid system such as the dominion township grid system of 160 acre quarter sections with road allowances, is the cheapest method of producing the most surveyed acres in the shortest time. Nasa images solar system collection ames research center. Key events in the evolution of ipeds and the different survey components are detailed below. Construction survey made to control the horizontal and vertical positions, dimensions, and configuration of a design.
Concepts will include principal meridians, the plss, and how. A recorded subdivision plat is used in the a geodetic survey system. The plss is a way of subdividing and describing land in the united states. A survey for the reconnaissance or to select the most feasible route for a highway, railroad, transmission line, or types of corridor facilities. The history and origins of survey items for the integrated. The rectangular survey system is also known as public land survey system. Department of the interior, bureau of land management blm. More money had been spent at law, in disputes arising from that mode of settlement, in new jersey, noted elias boudinot in 1790, than would have been necessary to purchase all the land of the state.
The rectangular survey system 4 as settlers moved westward into wild and unsurveyed areas of the newly created united states public domain, they found land suitable for farming and just built a cabin, cleared land and began to farm. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Start studying rectangular government survey system. The rectangular survey is a substitute term for the public land survey system. The government survey system is a federal land survey system that has been applied to most of the land added to the united states since the system was adopted in 1785. The primary survey line running north and south in any area described by the rectangular survey system is its a township line. Rectangular survey system american legal encyclopedia. When the horizontal township lines and the vertical range lines intersect, they form these squares that are the basic units of the rectangular survey system. Rectangular government survey system flashcards quizlet. Search the history of over 411 billion web pages on the internet. Publications available from cadastral consulting, llc. There were no formalities of ownershipthey squatted. The adoption of any survey system should take into consideration access, present and future, potential isolation of settlers and cost of survey.
This is a specialized map that accurately delineates the boundaries of individual land parcels within a given area of subdivision. The survey divided the public lands into rectangular tracts, located with reference to base lines running east and west and prime or principal meridians running north and south. Albert white and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Also known as the rectangular survey system, it was created by the land ordinance of 1785 to survey land ceded to the united states by the treaty of paris in 1783, following the end of the american revolution. He is recognized by many in his field as a true expert in cadastral surveying history. March 2008 indiana genealogist page 46 volume 19, issue 1. A rectangular system of survey was devised in the eighteenth century. Government survey system, sections, and townships real. The rectangular survey system devised for the plss is often credited to thomas jefferson. Management of land boundaries, blm brochure providing an overview of the cadastral survey program. March 2008 page 48 indiana genealogist volume 19, issue 1 the rectangular survey system in indiana continued 2, 1781 by the virginia general assembly for bountyland due to the men of the illinois. Public land survey system plss united states of america. The bulk of the surveying on vancouver island quickly evolved into a system, quote a rectangular form, and the shortest side of the said rectangle, shall be two.
Texas master naturalist program cradle of texas chapter cultural history series. The history was originally part of the general professional commissions commission 1 and then received its. Topographic a survey which has for its major purpose the determination of. They are very similar to, and in most cases repeat word for word, the 1833 surveyor generals instructions for the states of ohio, indiana, and the territory of michigan. A history of the rectangular survey system by white, c. Government rectangular survey system financial definition of.
Albert whites a history of the rectangular survey system, and a collection of. D 48100 the rectangular survey system divides each township. He paints a picture of the difficulties encountered by the pioneers of the modernday rectangular survey system, as well as an. The principal unit of the rectangular government survey system. What method is used to correct for the curvature of the earth in the rectangular survey system.
Albert white, an indepth book published by the blm in 1983. The rectangular public lands survey system was generated in the us west of the appalachians through the innovative genius of thomas jefferson. The public land survey system plss is the surveying method developed and used in the united states to plat, or divide, real property for sale and settling. A primer on the rectangular survey system by thomas jefferson for use in describing land among the public lands. The office of surveyor general was established by congress in 1796, but it was not until february 11. What does government rectangular survey system mean in finance. The history of surveying and measurement has been part of fig work since its establishment more than years ago. His concept, partly based on british precedents, was ultimately refined into the american rectangular survey system, which has been basic to land ownership, administration, and management.
This is natural because of the role of surveying, mapping and exploring the globe since beginning of mankind. The characteristic feature of lot, block, and tract is the plat of survey. The public land survey system plss is a surveying method designed to divide real property into defined plots. Albert, 1926publication date 1983 topics surveying, surveying. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Geodetic survey system is a method created for the purpose of land description and consists of nationwide marks at longitude and latitude points. A rectangular system would survey all the land, with no gaps or gores, make the buyer take the poor land along with the good land, and make every mans land have a common boundary with his neighbor. He has worked on surveying crews in the dakotas, arizona, alaska, nevada, and oregon, gathering memories and momentos as the years progressed. A system established in 1785 by the federal government, providing for surveying and describing land by reference to principal meridians and base lines. We begin in section ii with a brief history of the land survey systems. The description starts by identifying the particular portion of a section one square mile of land. The primary survey line running north and south in the rectangular survey system is the.
The 1833 instructions are reprinted in the book, a history of the rectangular survey system, by c. Full text of a history of the rectangular survey system see other formats. A history of the rectangular survey system, volume 2. The rectangular survey system specifies locations by using a rectangular coordinate system. A history of the rectangular survey system internet archive. Meaning of government rectangular survey system as a finance term. The rectangular survey system was specified by congress in 1785 to mark large tracts of land that the united states received in its early years, including the northwest territory. Combined with the survey system, a description of this land may read as.
The location of any land in the county can be found by reading the land description. For more information on the cadastral survey program, check out the following. The appendices reprint portions of old plats, manuals, and other correspondence. Albert white produced for professional land surveyors of colorado, incorporated by the publishing house, 1996 public lands 560 pages. Rectangular survey system law and legal definition uslegal. It is one of the important ways of subdividing and describing the land in the united states. He was the surveying representative from virginia who chaired the transfer of 80% of his native state, 172 million acres, into the us. It is also sometimes referred to as the public land survey system or rectangular survey system. Definition of government rectangular survey system in the financial dictionary by free online english dictionary and encyclopedia. Zoning by governmental entities is best described as c. These tools will help you assess your knowledge of concepts pertaining to the rectangular survey system. Cultural history the united states public land survey.
The land system is an important part of american history and culture. Study 27 chapter 4legal description of land flashcards from francisco m. Albert, 1926publication date 1983 topics surveying, surveying publisher. What does government rectangular survey system mean. It is a rectangular approach to surveying the land breaking the district down to quadrangles of 24 miles. Definition of government rectangular survey in real estate. Also known as the rectangular survey system, it was created by the land. This was modified to the presentday size of 6 miles by 6 miles. It is mainly used to divide the public domain lands that are owned by the federal government for the benefit of the citizens of the united states. Geodetic survey system law and legal definition uslegal. It is known that jefferson proposed a rectangular survey system, although his system was based on the decimal system townships 10 miles by 10 miles. It is also sometimes referred to as the public land survey system or.
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