Boustrophedonically? Not so fast

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Strictly Surveying

Last Post by holy-cow 6 months ago

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BurkC

(@burkc)

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Trivia time. The Manual of Surveying Instructions 1890 states that Congress initially approved the layout of sections initially being 7 miles (49 sections) later being amended to 6 (36 sections).

Also, initially they were to be numbered as they were surveyed Section 1 being the SE corner going north and section 36 being the NW corner (last surveyed). Congress then amended the numbering to what we have today before any lands were ever surveyed. Actually, this numbering makes more sense given as that is how they actually surveyed on the ground.

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Carry on.

Posted : March 31, 2026 6:37 am

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holy-cow

(@holy-cow)

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That is what they put down in their notes. That is absolutely no guarantee that they really did it that way.

Wish I could think of the name of the original surveyor who developed a route system that made for the shortest possible distance to all corners interior to a township. As I recall, he did a lot of work in Nebraska. Sure wish Jerry Penry was contributing here today. He would know.

Posted : April 3, 2026 10:27 pm