surveyor is recommended to plant midway between each pit and the trench, seeds of some tree, (those of fruit trees adapted to the climate being always to be preferred,) so that, in course of time, should such take root, a small The clump of trees may possibly hereafter note the place of the corner. facts of planting such seed, and the kind thereof, are matters to be truthfully noted in the field book.

WITNESS MOUNDS TO TOWNSHIP OR SECTION CORNERS.

If a township or section corner, in a situation where bearing or witness trees are not found within a reasonable distance therefrom, shall fall within a ravine, or in any other situation where the nature of the ground, or the circumstances of its locality, shall be such as may prevent, or prove unfavorable to the erection of a mound, you will perpetuate such corner by selecting in the immediate vicinity thereof a suitable plot of ground as a site for a bearing or witness mound, and erect thereon a mound of earth in the same manner and conditioned in every respect, with charcoal, stone or charred stake deposited beneath, as before directed; and measure and state in your field book the distance and course from the position of the true corner of the bearing or witness mound so placed and erected.

DOUBLE CORNERS.

Such corners are to be nowhere except on the base and standard lines, whereon are to appear both the corners which mark the intersections of the lines which close thereon, and those from which the surveys start on the north. On these lines, and at the time of running the same, the township, section, and quarter section corners are to be planted, and each of these is a corner common to two, (whether township or section corners,) on the north side of the line, and must be so marked.

The corners which are established on the standard parallel, at the time of running it, are to be known as "standard corners," and, in addition to all the ordinary marks, (as herein prescribed,) they will be marked with the letters S. C. Closing corners will be marked with the letters C. C. in addition to other marks.

The standard parallels are designed to be run in advance of the contiguous surveys on the south of them, but circumstances may exist which will impede or temporarily delay the due extension of the standard; and when, from uncontrollable causes, the contiguous townships must be surveyed in advance of the time of extending the standard, in any such event it will become the duty of the deputy who shall afterwards survey any such standard to plant thereon the double set of corners, to wit, the standard corners, to be marked S. C., and the closing ones which are to be marked C. C.; and to make such measurements as may be necessary to connect the closing corners and complete the unfinished meridianal lines of such contiguous and prior surveys, on the principles herein set forth, under the different heads of "exterior or township lines," and of "diagram B."

You will recollect that the corners, (whether township or section corners,) which are common to two, (two townships or two sections,) are not to be planted diagonally like those which are common to four, but with the flat sides facing the cardinal points, and on which the marks and notches are made as usual. This, it will be perceived, will serve yet more fully to distinguish the standard parallels from all other lines.

THE MEANDERING OF NAVIGABLE STREAMS.

1. Standing with the face looking down stream, the bank on the left hand is termed the "left bank," and that on the right hand the "right bank." These terms are to be universally used to distinguish the two banks of a river or stream.

2. Both banks of navigable rivers are to be meandered by taking the courses and distances of their sinuosities, and the same are to be entered in the field book.

At those points where either the township or section lines intersect the banks of a navigable stream, posts, or, where necessary, mounds of earth or stone, are to be established at the time of running these lines. These are called “meander corners ;" and in meandering you are to commence at one of these corners on the township line, coursing the banks, and measuring the distance of each course from your commencing corner to the next "meander corner," upon the same or another boundary of the same township, carefully noting your intersection with all intermediate meander corners. By the same method you are to meander the opposite bank of the same river.

The crossing distance between the meander corners on same line is to be ascertained by triangulation, in order that the river may be protracted with entire accuracy. The particulars to be given in the field notes.

3. You are also to meander, in manner aforesaid, all lakes and deep ponds of the area of twenty-five acres and upwards; also navigable bayous; shallow ponds, readily to be drained, or likely to dry up, are not to be meandered.

You will notice all streams of water falling into the river, lake, or bayou you are surveying, stating the width of the same at their mouth; also all springs, noting the size thereof and depth, and whether the water be pure or mineral; also the head and mouth of all bayous; and all islands, rapids and bars are to be noticed, with intersections to their upper and lower points to establish their exact situation. You will also note the elevation of the banks of rivers and streams, the heights of falls and cascades, and the length of rapids.

4. The precise relative position of islands, in a township made fractional by the river in which the same are situated, is to be determined trigonometrically-sighting to a flag or other fixed object on the island, from a special and carefully measured base line, connected with the surveyed lines, on or near the river bank, you are to form connection between the meander corners on the river to points corresponding thereto, in direct line, on the bank of the island, and there establish the proper meander corners, and calculate the distance across.

5. In meandering lakes, ponds, or bayous, you are to commence at a meander corner upon the township line, and proceed as above directed for the banks of a navigable stream. But where a lake, pond, or bayou lies entirely within the township boundaries, you will commence at a meander corner established in subdividing, and from thence take the courses and distances of the entire margin of the same, noting the intersection with all the meander corners previously established thereon.

6. To meander a pond lying entirely within the boundaries of a section, you will run and measure two lines thereunto from the nearest section or quarter section corner on opposite sides of such pond, giving the courses of such lines. At each of the points where such lines shall intersect the margin of such pond, you will establish a witness point, by fixing a post in

the ground, and taking bearings to any adjacent trees, or, if necessary, raising a mound.

The relative position of these points being thus definitely fixed in the section, the meandering will commence at one of them, and be continued to the other, noting the intersection, and thence to the beginning. The proceedings are to be fully entered in the field book.

7. In taking the connection of an island with the main land, when there is no meander corner in line, opposite thereto, to sight from, you will measure a special base from the meander corner nearest to such island, and from such base you will triangulate to some fixed point on the shore of the island, ascertain the distance across, and there establish a special meander corner, wherefrom you will commence to meander the island.

The field notes of meanders will be set forth in the body of the field book according to the dates when the work is performed, as illustrated in the specimen notes annexed. They are to state and describe particularly the meander corner from which they commenced, each one with which they close, and are to exhibit the meanders of each fractional section separately; following, and composing a part of such notes, will be given a description of the land, timber, depth of inundation to which the bottom is subject, and the banks, current, and bottom of the stream or body of water you are meandering.

9. No blazes or marks of any description are to be made on the lines meandered between the established corners, but the utmost care must be taken to pass no object of topography, or change therein, without giving a particular description thereof in its proper place in your meander notes.

OF FIELD BOOKS.

The field notes afford the elements from which the plats and calculations in relation to the public surveys are made. They are the source wherefrom the description and evidence of locations and boundaries are officially delineated and set forth. They therefore must be a faithful, distinct and minute record of every thing officially done and observed by the surveyor and his assistants, pursuant to instructions, in relation to running, measuring, and marking lines, establishing boundary corners, &c.; and present, as far as possible, a full and complete topographical description of the country surveyed, as to every matter of useful information, or likely to gratify public curiosity.

There will be sundry separate and distinct field books of surveys, as fol

lows:

Field notes of the meridian and base lines, showing the establishment of the township, section or mile, and quarter section or half mile, boundary corners thereon; with the crossings of streams, ravines, hills, and mountains; character of soil, timber, minerals, &c.

Field notes of the "standard parallels, or correction lines," will show the establishment of the township, section, and quarter section corners, besides exhibiting the topography of the country on line, as required on the base and meridian lines.

Field notes of the exterior lines of townships, showing the establishment of corners on lines, and the topography, as aforesaid.

Field notes of the subdivisions of townships into sections and quarter sections.

The field notes must in all cases be taken precisely in the order in which the work is done on the ground, and the date of each day's work must fol

low immediately after the notes thereof. The variation of the needle must always occupy a separate line preceding the notes of measurements on line. The exhibition of every mile of surveying, whether on township or subdivisional lines, must be complete in itself, and be separated by a black line drawn across the paper.

The description of the surface, soil, minerals, timber, undergrowth, &c., on each mile of line, is to follow the notes of survey of such line, and not be mixed up with them.

No abbreviations of words are allowable, except of such words as are constantly occurring, such as "sec." for "section;" in. diam." for "inches diameter; "chs." for "chains;" "lks." for "links;" "dist." for "distant," &c. Proper names must never be abbreviated, however often their

recurrence.

The nature of the subject-matter of the field book is to form its title page, showing the State or Territory where such survey lies, by whom surveyed, and the dates of commencement and completion of the work. The second page is to contain the names and duties of assistants. Whenever a new assistant is employed, or the duties of any one of them are changed, such facts, with the reasons therefor, are to be stated in an appropriate entry immediately preceding the notes taken under such changed arrangements. With the notes of the exterior lines of townships, the deputy is to submit a plat of the lines run, on a scale of two inches to the mile, on which are to be noted all the objects of topography on line necessary to illustrate the notes, viz. the distances on line at the crossings of streams, so far as such can be noted on the paper, and the direction of each by an arrow-head pointing down stream; also the intersection of line by prairies, marshes, swamps, ravines, ponds, lakes, hills, mountains, and all other matters indicated by the notes, to the fullest extent practicable.

:

With the instructions for making subdivisional surveys of townships into sections, the deputy will be furnished by the Surveyor-General with a diagram of the exterior lines of the townships to be subdivided, (on the above named scale,) upon which are carefully to be laid down the measurements of each of the section lines on such boundaries whereon he is to close, the magnetic variation of each mile, and the particular description of each corner. P. in M. signifies post in mound. And on such diagram the deputy who subdivides will make appropriate sketches of the various objects of topography as they occur on his lines, so as to exhibit not only the points on line at which the same occur, but also the direction and position of each between the lines, or within each section, so that every object of topography may be properly completed or connected in the showing.

These notes must be distinctly written out, in language precise and clear, and their figures, letters, words, and meaning are always to be unmistakable. No leaf is to be cut or mutilated, and none to be taken out, whereby suspicion might be created that the missing leaf contained matter which the deputy believed it to be his interest to conceal.

SUMMARY OF OBJECTS AND DATA REQUIRED TO BE NOTED.

1. The precise length of every line run, noting all necessary off-sets therefrom, with the reason and mode thereof.

2. The kind and diameter of all "bearing trees," with the course and distance of the same from their respective corners; and the precise relative position of witness corners to the true corners.

3. The kind of materials, (earth or stone,) of which mounds are constructed—the fact of their being conditioned according to instructions—

with the course and distance of the "pits," from the centre of the mound, where necessity exists for deviating from the general rule.

4. Trees on line. The name, diameter, and distance on line to all trees which it intersects.

5. Intersections by line of land objects. The distance at which the line first intersects and then leaves every settler's claim and improvement; prairie, river, creek, or other "bottom;" or swamp, marsh, grove, and wind fall, with the course of the same at both points of intersection; also the distances at which you begin to ascend, arrive at the top, begin to descend, and reach the foot of all remarkable hills and ridges, with their courses, and estimated height, in feet, above the level land of the surrounding country, or above the bottom lands, ravines, or waters near which they are situated.

6. Intersections by line of water objects. All rivers, creeks, and smaller streams of water which the line crosses; the distance on line at the points of intersection, and their widths on line. In cases of navigable streams, their width will be ascertained between the meander corners, as set forth under the proper head.

7. The land's surface-whether level, rolling, broken, or hilly.

8. The soil-whether first, second, or third rate.

9. Timber-the several kinds of timber and undergrowth, in the order in which they predominate.

10. Bottom lands-to be described as wet or dry, and if subject to inundation, state to what depth.

11. Springs of water-whether fresh, saline, or mineral, with the course of the stream flowing from them.

12. Lakes and ponds-describing their banks and giving their height, and also the depth of water, and whether it be pure or stagnant.

13. Improvements. Towns and villages; Indian towns and wigwams; houses or cabins; fields, or other improvements; sugar tree groves, sugar camps, mill seats, forges, and factories.

14. Coal banks or beds; peat or turf grounds; minerals and ores; with particular description of the same as to quality and extent, and all diggings therefor; also salt springs and licks. All reliable information you can obtain respecting these objects, whether they be on your immediate line or not, is to appear in the general description to be given at the end of the notes.

15. Roads and trails, with their directions, whence and whither.

16. Rapids, cataracts, cascades, or falls of water, with the height of their fall in feet.

17. Precipices, caves, sink holes, ravines, stone quarries, ledges of rocks, with the kind of stone they afford.

18. Natural curiosities, interesting fossils, petrifactions, organic remains, &c.; also all ancient works of art, such as mounds, fortifications, embankments, ditches, or objects of like nature.

19. The variation of the needle must be noted at all points or places on the lines where there is found any material change of variation, and the position of such points must be perfectly identified in the notes.

20. Besides the ordinary notes taken on line, (and which must always be written down on the spot, leaving nothing to be supplied by memory,) the deputy will subjoin, at the conclusion of his book, such further description or information touching any matter or thing connected with the townand ship, (or other survey,) which he may be able to afford, deem useful or necessary to be known-with a general description of the town

may