Land Measurement Metes and Bounds and Public Land

Land Measurement Metes and Bounds and Public Land Survey

Land Measurement is needed for: i. Purchase/sale i. Agricultural crop compliance i. Taxes i. Management activities

Commonly used length units i 1 mile = 5280 feet = 80 chains i 1 chain = 66 feet = 100 links i 1 rod = 16. 5 feet i 4 rods = 1 chain

Commonly used area units i 1 acre = 43, 560 square feet i 10 square chains = 1 acre i 1 square mile = 640 acres m/l i 1 hectare = 10, 000 square meters i 1 hectare = 2. 471 acres

All distance measurement is assumed to be horizontal Distance measured along a slope must be adjusted to horizontal distance

To adjust slope distance, must know % slope % Slope = Elevation change. Horizontal distance 10 feet 3. 5 feet % slope = 3. 5/10 = 0. 35 or 35%

Adjusting slope distance to horizontal distance Horizontal distance = (Slope distance)2 (%Slope)2 + 1

Adjusting 1 chain slope to horizontal Horizontal distance = (66 feet)2 (0. 35)2 + 1 = 62. 3 feet

Horizontal Distance for 1 chain on a 35% slope 62. 3 feet 35 % 66 slo fee pe t

Slope distance necessary on a 35% slope for 1 chain horizontal 66 feet 35 % 69 . 9 fee t slo pe

Legal Descriptions and Land Survey

Two systems used in U. S. i. Metes and bounds i. Original 13 colonies i. Maine i. Vermont i. West Virginia i. Kentucky i. Tennessee i. Texas i. Public Land Survey i. Remaining continental states i. Alaska i. Hawaii

Survey Systems in U. S. Metes & Bounds Public Land Survey

Metes and Bounds System Mete: A direction, or more often a combination of a distance and direction i. e. N 42 o E, 16. 3 chains Bound: description of the boundary of an adjoining property i. e. the southwest boundary of the Johnson property

Metes & Bounds Problems i. Difficult to reconstruct i. Often inaccurate i. Kentucky had 1, 275, 000 acres not recorded i. Virginia i 40 counties with 554, 000 ac. more than their combined area i 55 counties with 370, 000 ac. less than their combined land area

Public Land Survey Sometimes referred to as Rectangular Survey

Public Land Survey i. Started in Ohio in 1785 i. Provides a very uniform method for land description i. Easy to re-establish i. Less likelihood of errors than with Metes and Bounds

Early Surveyors’ Equipment Burt Solar Compass

Each PLS survey starts from a known hub i. Hubs were usually established at the confluence of two rivers i. Locations were determined accurately by celestial observation

The Stage is Set in Iowa On December 18, 1832, Jenifer T. Sprigg crossed the Mississippi into Iowa near what is now Fort Madison and set a marker at the common corner of sections 1, 12, 6, and 7 in Tier 67 North Ranges 4 and 5 West.

First Iowa Surveyor

The Beginning of PLS in Iowa 5 th Principal Meriaian Lyon completes 5 th PM in Iowa, Dec. 1837 Burt ties in across river, Nov. 20, 1836 Burt sets first point on 5 th PM in Iowa W. A. Burt starts survey Oct. 25, 1836

Iowa Public Land Survey Years 1856 -1858 1853 -1855 1847 -1849 1839 -1841 1850 -1852 1844 -1846 1842 -1843

5 th PM Surveyed PM and Base Line for Iowa Hub is approximately 130 miles SE of Little Rock, Arkansas at the mouth of the St. Francis River Base Line

24 miles 5 th PM First rectangle is 24 mi by 24 miles Standard Parallels Guide Meridians 24 miles Base Line

24 x 24 mile rectangles are subdivided 5 th PM 24 miles T 4 N 24 miles Township T 2 N 6 mi T 3 N 6 mi T 1 N Base Line R 1 E R 2 E R 3 E R 4 E

Beginning of Legal Description T 4 N T 2 N 6 mi T 3 N 24 miles 5 th PM 6 mi T 1 N Base Line R 1 E R 2 E R 3 E R 4 E T 3 N, R 3 E, 5 PM

Each Township is divided 6 5 4 3 7 8 9 10 2 1 11 12 Section T 3 N 36 1 mi. R 3 E 1 mi.

Adding to the Legal Description 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 T 3 N R 3 E 36 1 mi. Sec 11, T 3 N, R 3 E, 5 PM

Section Corners were marked during survey Gives rise to an interesting possible hobby

Sections can be subdivided NW 1/4 NE 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 1 mile SE 1/4 Contains 160 Acres 1 mile

Adding to the Legal Description NW 1/4 NE 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 1 mile SE 1/4, Sec 11, T 3 N, R 3 E, 5 PM

Further subdivision NW 1/4 NE 1/4 1 mile NW 1/4 NE 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 SW 1/4 1 mile NW 1/4 Contains 40 acres

Adding to the Legal Description NW 1/4 NE 1/4 1 mile NW 1/4 NE 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 SW 1/4 1 mile NW 1/4, SE 1/4, Sec 11, T 3 N, R 3 E, 5 PM

Further subdivision NW 1/4 NE 1/4 1 mile NE 1/4 SW 1/4 1 mile SE 1/4 NW 1/4 Contains 10 acres

Adding to the Legal Description NW 1/4 NE 1/4 1 mile NE 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 1 mile NW 1/4, SE 1/4, Sec 11, T 3 N, R 3 E, 5 PM

Further subdivision NW 1/4 NE 1/4 1 mile NE 1/4 SW 1/4 1 mile SE 1/4 W 1/2 Contains 5 acres

Adding to the Legal Description NW 1/4 NE 1/4 1 mile NE 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 1 mile W 1/2, NW 1/4, SE 1/4, Sec 11, T 3 N, R 3 E, 5 PM 5 Ac 10 Ac 40 Ac 160 Ac 640 AC