Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-06-27
Laws Of Pennsylvania
1 PURIIC1

AN A CT to provide for the establishment of true
mersdian hneS, and Of standard measures for
surveyors chains, and to regulate the practice
OF surveying iE thiS Commonwealth:
WHEREAS, 1t IS known that an account Of
he variation of the magnetic needles from The
rue pole of the earth, much difficulty and in.
convenience exists in asceraining aud tracing
the lines Of old surveys
And Whereas, II is also known thar surVey-
or's chains by being worn are heightened be-
yond Their true measure, so that but few sur
veyors OF county have chains Of an equal
length, nor have they equal or standard meas
ures 10 make their chains Of equal length, and
thus rendering uncertain The true boundaries of
many tracts of land where the former land
marks have been obliteraled or removed and in
somuch as it is believed lha, by establishing
true meridian lines, and having standard meas
ures for two or four pole chains in every coun-
ty of this Commonwealth. and having prop
er regard TO them in making future surveys,
much of such difficulty may be avoided, there
fore;
SECTION l. Be it enacted bv the Senate and
House of Representatives ofthe Commonwealth of
PennsylUansa in General Assembly met, and 1t
is hereby enacted by the authority of the same.
counties of this Commonwealth are hereby au-
lhorzed and directed within two years from
and after the passage of this act, 10 cause 10 be-
marked and established on some inaliEeable
properly belogIng TO the county, or on such
properly as the commissioners Of The county
may hereafter acquire for lha, purpose, al or
near the seat of Justice Of the several counties,
true meridian line and fixed standard measure
of a two or four pole chain, agreeing with and
made after The measure of the standard yard
now in the Office of the Secraery Of the Com
monweallh, and the cost whereof TO be paid out
OF the respective county treasures.
SECTION 3. When The said true meredian
lines and The measures of the said two or four
pole chain shall have been so marked and es-
tablished as aforesaid the said county commits
sioners shall give public notice thereof in one
or more newspapers of their respective coun-
ties, or Otherwise, for at least three successive
weeks, and it shall be the duly of every land
surveyor in this Commonwealth after such no.
lice has been given as aforesaid, in The month
of April In each year, to adjust and verify his
compass, by one of the said meridian lines, and
10 ascertain the variation Of lie needle from The
true meredain, and his chain by one OF The
said measures Of the said standard two or four
pole chain, and the surveyors shall thereafter
in all their returns of surveys or writings con-
cerning surveys of land and lines run by the
compass, note the bearings or courses of such
surveys and lines, so as TO show the true and
not the magnetic bearing, together with the
dates of such survey or tracing The lines.
SECTION 3. Any surveyor, after notice is
given as required by the provisions Of this act.
who shall neglect or refuse TO comply with The
requirements Of this act, by making any survey
with an unadjused compass or chain, he shall
for every such neglect or refusal, pay the sum
of ten dollars on complaint made by any per.
son interested in such survey before the JUS
,ice of the peace nearest TO Ihe tract or lot of
land so surveyed, 10 be recovered as debts of
like amount are by law recoverable, the one
half lhereof to the person making The COM
plant and the other half 10 The treasurer Ofth
school district in which such survey is made
for the use of said district.
SECTION 4. Il shall be the duty Of the COM
mssioners of the several counties aforesaid, to
procure book 10 be kept in heir Office, and eve-
ry surveyor on having adjusted his chain and
compass as aforesaid, shall enter therein the va.
ration of his compass from the true meridian,
whether east, or west, and the day on which he
adjusted his chain and compass, and shall sub
scribe his name thereto for future reference.
]. S MCALMONT,
Speaker Of the House of Representatives..
V. BEST,
Speaker Of the Senate.
Approved The twenty day of April, A.
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