The government's manual of surveying instructions issued in 1855 was intended to provide the necessary directions to U.S. Deputy Surveyors who were working in subdividing the public lands. Unfortunately, the manual was small and lacked details for many of the situations that were typically encountered in the field. For that reason, surveyors such as Burt, Hawes, Clevenger and Dorr published handbooks and manuals that filled in many of these details. Clevenger's work was first published in 1874 and this is the 3rd edition.

The instructions provided through these sources generally followed the laws of Congress but not always. Even the government's own instructions strayed from literal interpretations, so works of this type help provide valuable insight in understanding why some surveys aren't always in accord. The private manuals are as much a necessary resource for surveyors working in cadastral survey retracement as are the official government instructions.

Size is 4.1" x 6.5" with 200 pages. Condition is good noting some scuffing to the edges of the leather cover. Pages have gilt edges.