The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-05-20
INTERESTING
Origin of the Meridian and Base Line
Used in Surveying.

Origin of the Meridian and Base Line
Used in Surveying.
Minneapolis Journal:
To the Editor of the Journal: l desire
information IN regard to the terms used
in describing lands in tins country or,
more particularly III this state and North
The usual form Is something
like this Section No. 4, in township No.
{. north, range No. Z. west, from the NTH
principal meridian. l should like to Know
where this fifth principal mcr!dlah ~
located, and by whom was 1t established;
and how far apart are these "meridian'
lines. Also the township numbers IN ms
state run from south to north. ! would
like to know what and where is the base
line that the townships are numbered
from, and Is 1t u straight Inc, fuiinins
ent states of the west? BY looking at a
map OF his state | should think that the
base line from which the townships are
numbered from is not a straight and reg
ular one, for the townships IN Hehnepin
county are numbered from rs upwards,
while in the western part of the state, and
straight west of us they are numbered liz
and upward.
viii you kindly assist me?
Ignorant,
Minneapolis. April IA.
[The Journal is indebted to MIR. Cooley.
county surveyor, for the following salts
factory eXp.anation]:
The system of rectangular surveying
which governs the division of government
lands was authorized by congress May 70.
1888. At that time lands in the state OF
Ohio were occupied by the early settlers
and n survey was made necessary. In or
der to establish the system of townships
and sections an initial point was estab-
lished at the junction Of the ONO ana
Big Miami rivers. From this initial point
O line was run due north and south called
| the first principal meridian and a inc
| also run due east and west called the
1n,e, line JHrn,, fhic initial DOint town
| ships six miles square were laid off on the
| meridian and on the base line and the
system thus built up and extended indlfi-
nitely to meet the requirements OF the
settlers. The first row of townships north
of The base line was designated town L
north. and the first row south was desig-
nsted town / south. each succeeding row
being numbered progressively.
Abe first tier east or west of the prin-
clpal meridian was designated range /
east or range i west, and each succeeding
tier was numbered progressively.
AS the country developed these surveys
We're extended to meet the demand OF the
settlers, but when a demand was created
too far away to be embraced by the sur
veys already made a second system was
necessary and the initial point established
lished for the second principal meridian
near the confluence of the Little Blue
and Ohio rivers. Whenever the settle
49, " ~ N'''ANs i'(5.
the reach of any existing survey a ne"
meridian and base line must be estab-
lished. and there are now twenty-seven
principal meridians IN the United States.
Hennepin county lands are covered part
ly by the fourth meridian surveys, but
mostly by the fifth. The fourth meridian
surveys carried up from the south and
east We're originally intended to stop at
the Mississippi river, while the fifth
meridian was Intended to cover all
of the lands west of the river,
but the demands for land entries on
the land now covered by the city OF Min
neapolis and the necessity for establishing
the boundaries OF the old Fort Smelling
reservation made it necessary to carry
the fourth meridian surveys across the
river, owing to the fact that such survey
could be made sooner than by carrying
up those made from the fifth principal
meridian. Townships 81, IS and 90 oi
range "a west We're the ones thus carried
across in advance III 1853. In the follow
ing year the surveys We're extended from
the south on the fifth meridian system
which governs nearly all the lands il
Minnesota west of the Mississippi rive
and a large portion Of North and Soutl
Dakota.
The location of the principal meridian
may be determined by the number of tn
range multiplied by six and the location
; of the base line by the number of thu
toWnShip multiplied by the same NUMBER
Thus Minneapolis Is in town 20 N. rang,
, "a w, of the fourth principal meridian
! Therefore the initial point from which
these surveys We're made would be II
!, miles south and 14 miles east, and is TIL
= intersection of the principal meridian,
| due north and south line, and the has
! line, due east and west. Irnmediatel.
west of the city is town III n, of range =
|, W., of the fifth principal meridian. Tina
j initial point would therefore be approx
y, mately 7O2 miles south and 126 miles cas-
= of the city.
q Maps issued by the general land office
: copies OF which may be seen at the offic
of the county surveyor. show the locatio
of all the principal meridians and bias
q, lines.
q vi government surveys are made 1nde
. the authority of the general iand oftic;
: and under the Immediate supervision G
. the surveyors general of the differeI
states.