Public Lands Survey System Rectangular Survey System Sections, Ranges, Townships Roberta Bobbi King Lakewood, Colorado State Land States vs. Public Land States State Land States: Metes and bounds twenty rods to the ash tree thence west fifty rods to Powell s s creek Public-land land States: Rectangular survey system SE¼ Sec. 10 T29N R16W of the 6 th PM Early Colonists Occupancy and Use based on the doctrine that living there and using the property made it yours Continued to present day homesteading: cultivate and settle pre-emptors emptors: cultivate and settle 1
Early Land Companies London Company granted rights to settle 34-41 41 north latitude Plymouth Company granted rights to settle 38-45 45 north latitude Virginia Company lands: Old Point Comfort, to the Pacific Ocean New England Council lands: 40-48 48 north latitude, and sea to sea Massachusetts Bay Company present-day Commonwealth of Mass., west New England, Virginia Origin of the term: Townships Conn., Mass., R.I. were corporations 30 families given a land grant survey done for a town rectangles of 6-106 miles laid out allotted according to each family s s need title given, couldn t t be sold without group permission common boundaries survey first, occupy later Other colonies followed this pattern 2
Colonial restrictions Quitrent payment to the grantor Primogeniture eldest inherits all Entail lineal descendants only inherit entailed land cannot be sold Primogeniture Entail 1780s 1781: Articles of Confederation 1783: Treaty of Paris Ended the Revolutionary War The United States of America exists Articles of Confederation Maryland: The back Lands claimed by the British Crown, if secured by the blood and treasure of all, ought in reason, justice, and policy be considered as a common stock. 3
Articles of Confederation Congress: the unappropriated lands that may be ceded or relinquished to the United States shall shall be disposed of for the common benefit of the United States. Acquisitions to 1853 Conflicting Opinions Hamilton: Sell it to anyone for highest price Large parcels at low prices Patent and survey their properties Jefferson: Give every man the opportunity Small parcels at low prices Survey first, sell later 4
Land Ordinance of 1785 surveyors surveyors shall divide into townships of 6 miles, The lines shall be measured with a chain; and exactly described on a plat subdivisions subdivisions 640 acres...numbered 1 to 36 No. 16 for the maintenance of public schools Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Eliminated primogeniture and entail Provided for territorial governors, judges Officials needed to be landowners and residents Northwest Territory be divided into 3-55 states set pattern for organization of statehood Slavery outlawed Survey Systems 5
6 th Principal Meridian Survey 6
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Standard Parallel 8
Standard Parallel Guide Meridian Standard Parallel Guide Meridian Initial Point Standard Parallel Guide Meridian Initial Point Principal Meridian 9
Standard Parallel Guide Meridian Baseline Initial Point Principal Meridian Standard Parallel Guide Meridian Baseline Initial Point Principal Meridian Standard Parallel Standard Parallel (correction line) Guide Meridian Baseline Initial Point Principal Meridian 10
6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 17 T3S R4W 16 15 T3S R4W 19 20 21 22 23 24 14 13 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 32 33 34 35 36 11
6 5 4 3 160 acres 320 acres 2 640 1 acres 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 17 T29N R16W 16 15 T3S R4W 19 20 21 22 23 24 14 13 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 32 33 34 35 36 6 5 4 3 40 acres 80 acres 2 160 1 acres 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 17 T29N R16W 16 15 T3S R4W 19 20 21 22 23 24 of the 6 th PM 14 13 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 32 33 34 35 36 6 th Principal Meridian Survey 12
6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 17 T29N R16W 16 15 T3S R4W 19 20 21 22 23 24 14 13 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 32 33 34 35 36 Legal Land Descriptions SE¼ Sec 10 T29N R16W of 6 th PM SE¼ Sec 2 T29N R16W of 6 th PM NE¼ Sec 17 T29N R16W of 6 th PM NE¼ Sec 18 T29N R16W of 6 th PM SE¼ Sec 10 T29N R16W of 6th PM 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 SE¼ Sec 2 11 12 16 NW¼ 18 Sec 17 17 NE¼ Sec 17 SE¼ Sec 10 15 14 13 T3S R4W 19 20 21 22 23 24 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 32 33 34 35 36 13
Claimant Testimony Application Great Salt Lake Initial Point 14
Great Salt Lake Initial Point 6 th Principal Meridian Initial Point 6 th P.M. Initial Point 15
Good Luck! 16