Boundaries and Landmarks

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 SurveyorII. The Description of Property. Simple Deeds without DimensionsIII. The Relative Legal Value of Evidences of BoundaryIV. Landmarks. Stakes and StonesV. Landmarks (continued). Marked Timber. Ditches and BalksVI. Landmarks (concluded). Fences and WallsVII. Deeds with Complete DescriptionsVIII. Sources of Error in DescriptionsIX. The Relations of the Surveyor and the LawyerX. House LotsXI. House Lots (concluded) XII. Highway RecordsXIII. Re-running Old Highway RecordsXIV. Laying Out New RoadsXV. Responsibility of the Surveyor