The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-11-23
Surveying.

DCErN6 the more recent sessions Of the
Legislature. several Sfo-ts were made by
native members % introduce bills regulat-
ing laud-szrveying. These efforts failed
Of receiving due attention. not because
such legislation Was not needed, nor be-
cause this need waS not appreciated, but
On accouut Of the fact that the matter re
1u-red s more thorough knowledge Of
what Was really wanted, and Of what would
fal within the proper sphere Of Legislation,
than any one seemed 70 possess. A great
many practical Difficulties have been
found In the matter Of adjusting bouuda-
ries In this country. aud 50 many puzzliug
Questions arise in running out old lines,
thar It / s matter Of congratulatioa that
50 few expensive lawsuits have IS vet
arisen with respect 70 the ownership Of
STRIPS Of land, 70 say nothing Of larger
portions.
a brief notice Of some Of these difcul-
ties may be Of interest TO the general read
e., a. vel s. 70 many who have occasion
from tiraa 10 time to determine 8 boundary
line. and may also suggest means Of Obvi-
a,ing the same IN futrre. by some system
size a.d wsll-ievisei plau-
One great difficulty Is found 10 be the
lack Of system aud uniformity IN al the
surveys made hitherto, whether for the
Land Commission or for private indiyid-
uals- One Palpable example Of this,
though 1t Is more : cause Of annoyance
than Of inaccuracy, Is the variety Of de-
nominations Of measurements used Dis
tances are given. sometimes in chains and
Inks: sometimes IN chains and vulgar
fractions Of > chain: sometimes in feet
and inches. then again in chains and parts
Of s chain expressed IN feet and inches:
and sometimes. worse than all. by al of
these combined in the same survey. Are
IS OF surface. are expressed IN square
fsthoms; IN square rods; N acres, roods,
perches and tathoms: IN sores and square
chains; and again les they should bel in
scres and dacinals Of sn sore. A eomical
instance Of the practical mischief resulting
from this variety Of style occurred a
short tine since, in the appearance Of
survey IN which all the sides w,Ee describ-
ed A. being Just IS many links IN length
as they resny we're feet in length, thus
making every distance about two-thiris .
Of Is aetual measurement, and the total .
area $ : natural consequence less than .
oae-hzlf Of the truth All who have oe-
eaSioa 70 draw I'D deeds have noticed this
confusion Of units Of measurement.
It nav be doubted whether the sixty
six-foot chain, and the link Of 7.s2 inches.
should ever have been introduced into
this co1ntry. The ~Gunter's Chain Is
10 doubt convenient On the great rectsn-
gUlar surveys Of public lands IN the Uni
ted States. as being an exact fraction Of
: nile The only possible argument for
Is use here, VIZ, that ten square chains
equal one acre, i Of little moment, az the
reduction Of sqEzre feet TO acres and deci-
mas Of an acre / IN practice one Of the
least lzbOriOCs CT Necessary calculations.
In actual service. ffty-foot chain. which
fest instead Of links, Is altoeeth-
e the most accurate, the strongess, and .
the most easily handled, and the foot Is
the unit Of measurement which should Be ,
adopted here IS soon as Is practicable ;
But , much more serious source Of
trO0bIs than the above has been the prae-
ice Of sending any number Of different
surveyors into the same district to meas
Ire and report boundaries, without reguir-
ng Of then any eOneert Of action, OF any
Inc comparison Of desc-ibedlinez. Il j. g