Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-18
For the Wing and Tribunc.l


Perhaps no one realizes more fully the
truth fthe maxim: ''What i worth doing
is worth doing well - than a surveyor. who
is called upon 10 establish lines dividing
different tracts OF land. where the mnnu-
mrnts or marks indicating the former lines
have been Obliteratcd; which lines were
located by a combined instrument-the
guess compass and chain.
The measurements made at an early dav
are not eV n an pprOXimaJe 10 the true
distance, as the mode Of operation was 10
measure the recorded distance, thrn add n
percentage Of measure. aud establish the
boundary, and In many instances the
courses were recorded in = similar man
ner.
The foundation Of the SURVEYS Of our
county was laid with so little regard 10 a
system OF accuracy. that a part OF the Eu-
perstructure follows with but little regard
70 the plummet and line; and the cOnse-
quence Is, You sometimes find numerous
marked lines bounding the same tract Of
land. each having a distinct and separate
hearing. but designated in the recorded
bounds by one common course. Sweep
away the landmarks snd il is impossible
for the locator TO return next day and re-
trace bis lines. Let us endeavOr. a far as
possible, TO correct the errors Of the past
by doing our surveying upon correct prin-
eilles. that all followers may haYe no diff
Guilty in rcirJCing OUR LINES in all time 10
come. And IN order 10 30 this we must
adhere strictly to the following principles
In this longitude the magnetic needle does
not point North. Then a North line Is not
with the direction Of the needle. l am in
formed the meridian line, established by
law, in the first SURVEYS OF West Tennessee,
was 61z' West Of the line indicated by the
needle, and such a line i the established
North and South in reference to LAND
boundaries; although at this point the
variation in true North and South line
Q 40 q
There Is 4 small annual decrease in the
variation Of the needle, here, IRON the true
meridian, which surveyors have not prop
erly considered. a North line in our
county was established by law, but the law
was not lnVioltte, as witness our Range
and Section mes, in their different bear
ings, and but little attention has been paid
the established meridian in most OF the in
terror surveys. To come tn the proposed
reform: Let Us take the bearing OF the
Range line upon which we propose to base
our survey; observe the variation OF The
needle at tire time, thereby establishing the
meridian; or if we know the annual de-
crease in variation, and the variation OF the
needle from the meridian at former date,
we can estimate the difference for the pres
ent, establishing the desired line parallel
with the Range Your line established, If
you understand the use Of the compass, you
can proceed; remembering it requires the
utmost care TO DO work with a needle in
Strument accurately. When the bounda.
ries are established he cure to motto the date
and the variation IF the needle from the
meridian; this done you will be able in
future to retrace the lines by observing the
difference OF variation OF the two periods.
And upon this plan the Range line and
lines parallel thereto are North and South,
and when the terms are used we viii .un-
derstand what they mean and be able to
locate them, and thereby bring about order
aud agreement in the various courses. As
to measures, they should be made in d.
rect line and the unit OF measure borne, in
every instance horizontally.
F. W. CAMIBELL.