Boundaries and Landmarks: A Practical Manual

From the PREFACE. This manual is intended to familiarize the surveyor with the different types of old boundaries that exist throughout the country. A great deal has been written on this general subject, especially in reference to the public lands of the West. Very little, however, is being done on the conveyances of the Eastern States, and it is my hope to furnish something which may prove useful to those who are likely to meet with cases of this sort. No attempt is made to describe how the lines should be measured; the intent is rather to furnish suggestions as to the method of locating the line to be measured — in short, finding it. It is far more important to have faulty measurements on the place where the line truly exists, than an accurate measurement where the line does not exist at all. CONTENTS. I. The Work and Training of the Surveyor II. The Description of Property. Simple Deeds without Dimensions III. The Relative Legal Value of Evidences of Boundary IV. Landmarks. Stakes and Stones V. Landmarks (continued). Marked Timber. Ditches and Balks VI. Landmarks (concluded). Fences and Walls VII. Deeds with Complete Descriptions VIII. Sources of Error in Descriptions IX. The Relations of the Surveyor and the Lawyer X. House Lots XI. House Lots (concluded) XII. Highway Records XIII. Re-running Old Highway Records XIV. Laying Out New Roads XV. Responsibility of the Surveyor