The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-11-15
The System Of United States Surveys
and Landmarks.

rectangular tracts, six miles square
called townships, bounded by lines con
forming to the cardinal points and con
tanning as nearly as may be 90, 04O acres
Townships are subdivided into 81
tracts, one mile square, called sections
containing GAO acres each.
Sections are divided into quarter sec
tons of 100 acres each, and these arr
again divided into quarter-quarter sec
tons (or forties'0, containing Al
acres each.
Two principal lines are established
prior to the survey of townships
north and south line, called a principal
meridian, and an east and west line,
styled base line. These are the bases
of the public surveys.
A number of townships in tier north
and south are denominated a range
The ranges are numbered east and west
from the meridian.
The townships are numbered north OIL
south from the base lines.
The law requiring north and south
lines to conform to the true meridian,
these lines approach each other as they
extend northward, thereby throwing
the townships out of square. To cor
rect this standard parallels, or correc-
ton lines, are run every four or five
townships north and south of the base
line. These are run due east and west
and constitute new bases for the town
ships surveyed beyond them.
1t is evident that the corners estab-
IShed on the new line will not coincide
with the corners of the townships last
surveyed, as these are at intervals OF
exactly six miles, while those south
were at shorter intervals the farther
north they ran. The corner where the
corner. The corner where the old line
is abandoned is called closing corner.
The principal corners established in
the Government surveys are township,
section, quarter-section and meander,
and four methods are employed to per-
petuate them, to-wit: Posts and wit
nesses, posts in mounds, and stones and
trees.
Township corners are established at
intervals,of six miles, and are perpetu-
ated in the following modes:
Posts, four feet long, five inches in
diameter, driven two feet into the
ground, the upper portion squared.
When the corner is common to four
townships, the post is set presenting
angles to the cardinal points, and on
each flattened side is marked the num-
Der of the township, range and section
which it faces. Six notches will also be
cut on each of the edges. If the post
has no notcheS on either the north or
south edges, it indicates that it does not
affect the township on the side wanting
the notches, as in the case of a standard
or closing corner on a base line. All
township corners are witnessed by four
bearing trees, or pits if no trees are near,
one in each township.
Mounds at township corners are feet
in diameter at the base and % feet high
The posts are 4! feet high, y inches in
the round, and y inches above the
mound. The pits are Is inches wide, 2
feet long, and at least II inches deep,
located 6 feet from the post, and on OPP
pOsite sides. At corners common to
four townships the pits will be on the
lines and lengthwise to them. When
two of the adjoining townships are not
affected by the mound Gas on base lines) g,
the pit on that side will be omitted The
posts in mounds are marked the same as
if not in mounds.
Stones, IA inches long, and to contain
500 cubic inches, to be inches in the
ground, with the sides to the cardinal
points, and small mounds of stones
against the sides. The notches on the
edges are the only marks, and are the
same as for posts.
Trees when in place are marked and
witnessed as a post. Section corners
are established at intervals of one mile
or eighty chains, and are perpetuated
by the same methods as township corn
ers.
Posts, four feet long, four inches in
diameter, two feet in the ground, the
upper part squared, and set with the
corners towards the section lines, and
on each flat surface will be cut the num-
Der of the section it faces, and on the
northeast face will be,cut the number OF
the town and range.
All mile posts on town lines will have
as many notches on the corresponding
edges as they are miles from the respect
i've township corners.
Section posts in the interior of g
township will have as many notches on
the south and east edges as they are
miles from the south and east bounda-
ries of the township, but none on the
north and west edges.
All section posts are witnessed by a
bearing tree in each of the adjoining
sections. When trees are not found,
pits eighteen inches square, and twelve
inches deep will be substituted
Mounds at section corners will be foul
and one-half feet in diameter, two feet
high. The post four feet long, at least
three inches square, and twelve inches
in the ground, and is marked and wit
messed the same as a post without g
mound. If common to four sections
the edges will face the cardinal points,
if to two sections, the sides will face.
Stones used for section corners OF
township lines are set with their edge;
in the direction of the line; but where
standing for interior corners they vii
face the north, and will be notched a.
posts. No marks except the notche.
are made, but they will be witnessed by
trees, or pits the same as posts.
Trees in place are marked the samt
as section posts.
Quarter section corners are establish
ed at intervals of half mile, or fort,
chains, except in the north and west tier
of sections in township which are ir
regular, in consequence of the excess %
deficiency of land in the township, bein!
regulated in the last quarter sections.
Posts are four feet long, inche
wide, two feet in the ground. The on
ly mark is "a S." They are witnesses
by two trees.
Mounds are four and one-half feet il
diameter and two feet high, the post be
lug four feet long, twelve inches in tn
/ ground, marked and witnessed as a pos
! without mound.
Stones have /" cut on the west sid
of north and south lines, and are wit
messed by two trees.
Trees are marked and witnessed a
posts.
Meander corners are established
where lines intersect considerable bod