I??ve been reading the 1868 Manual which is sort of a how to survey in the PLSS not just for Government Surveyors, but also County and Private Surveyors who had to fill in the missing pieces.
it??s enlightening.
It says subdivisional lines run all the way across the section without making a distinction between center lines and 1/16th lines. This implies no bearing break at the center line crossings. Maybe since it??s all simple squares they thought the difference would be negligible. At least this is the way I read it.
Also restoring lost interior section corners seems to only involve proportioning north-south lines. The text is somewhat confusing but that??s what it looks like. They don??t seem to care about the east-west lines.
They also have simple calculation rules of thumb. For example, say you run a 40 chain random line and get a falling of 35 links. 35 minus 1/7th of 35 is 30?? correction. If you go 80 chains just halve your falling so in the case of 70 links falling, divide in half is 35 minus 5 (1/7th) is 30?? correction.
One more thing, random lines and offset lines were not paid for, only true lines.
Maximum $12 per mile in California for interior section lines.
1868 Manual? I don't remember ever seeing a reference to such a critter. C. Albert White has a copy of Circular 22, dated June 10, 1868 in his book, but it doesn't appear to apply to your post. I have several copies of the 1864 "Instructions to the Surveyors General of Public Lands of the United States" (June 1, 1864), but I don't see any reference to the policies you outline above.
Any chance that you could enlighten me with a link or other information concerning this document??ÿ I know that there were a number of state specific documents issued by the GLO during the 19th Century, that are somewhat obscure.
Thanks in advance,
Loyal
@loyal it??s not an official manual but was written by a retired GLO official??
https://glorecords.blm.gov/reference/manuals/1868SystemofRectangularSurveying.pdf
Aha... J.H. Hawes! I have a copy of the 1882 edition w/ an appendix added after the 1868 edition (Facsimile Reprint by Carben Surveying Reprints 1977). A worthwhile?ÿ addition to any library.
Thanks Dave
