1881 Surveying Instructions U.S.G.L.O.

This is an original copy of the very scarce 1881 surveying instructions for the government public lands. It is complete as to text and all plates. The treatise provides direction to the U.S. Deputy Surveyors regarding the instruments, tools, and methods of survey for government work. This edition overcomes some of the deficiencies of the 1855 Manual by providing instructions for a number of previously untreated surveying functions in a single hardbound and widely-distributed publication. These include the subdividing of sections and the surveying of private land grants.

This edition is particularly important in that it discontinues the government practice of setting the center quarter section corner midway between the east and west quarter corners as directed by an earlier government publication. It also halts the earlier government practice of using cardinal courses in subdividing fractional sections by now prescribing the use of intermediate courses. It thus rejects the clear language of the Congressional Act of 1805 and substitutes what it claims to be the “spirit of the law.” The original guidelines for using cardinal courses were thus changed after 70+ years of usage to what government officials thought was a preferable method. One further directive in this edition is that missing interior section corners should be re-established at proportionate distance between existing corners to the north and south only, rather than by the double proportionate method used today.

Some die-hard surveyors of the time looked upon these 1881 instructions as garbage. But they are what they are – an official government rule-book for how to survey public land. The practice of using intermediate courses in subdividing fractional sections continues to this day although in modified form. Government surveyors have again changed what they believe to be the “spirit of the law” and adopted what is now the “weighted mean” doctrine. This is the current USBLM method of subdividing fractional sections even though higher authority seems nonexistent. The procedure doesn’t appear either in the 1973 Manual of Instructions, the Case Book, or in the U.S. Codes.

Knowing how early surveyors conducted their original surveys and resurveys is extremely important to the modern surveyor in locating boundaries today. That is why having instructions such as these is so important.

Size is 6.0" x 9.2" with 109 pages and 5 folding plates. The printed text is in good condition noting only a couple of short tears, a few marginal pencil lines and the paragraph on lost corner re-establishment is X’d out with blue pencil. Perhaps the original owner of this book was one of the die-hards who disliked the aberrant content.

All 5 of the folding plates have tears as typical of being unfolded without proper care. Some tears are mended with tape and all content is present - there is nothing missing. This is a well-used copy and that condition is most noticeable in the binding. The front and rear covers are fully attached although showing much wear. This includes noticeable scuffing and partial tearing of the cloth at the outer hinges. The inner hinges show separation along much of the paper lining. The good news about the book’s condition is that it is complete and intact and very usable.

There is located inside the front cover an undated early pencil signature of P.M. Morse, Courthouse, Eugene, ORE.

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