brown boundary control and legal principles

BROWN’S BOUNDARY CONTROL AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES BROWN’S BOUNDARY CONTROL AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES Seventh Edition WALTER G ROBILLARD, B.S., M.A., L.L.M., J.D Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina Licensed Land Surveyor; Attorney at Law DONALD A WILSON, B.S., M.S Maine and New Hampshire Licensed Land Surveyor; Registered Professional Forester Based on the Original Ideas and Concept Created by CURTIS M BROWN Chapter contributed by George Cole, PSM, Tallahassee, Florida Cover Design: Michael Rutkowski Cover Image: Verplanck Colvin, Topographical Survey of the Adirondack Region of New York, 1880 / courtesy of the author This book is printed on acid-free paper ∞⃝ Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc All rights reserved Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with the respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation You should consult with a professional where appropriate Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom For general information about our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at (800) 762-2974, outside the United States at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002 Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Robillard, Walter G (Walter George), 1930– Brown’s boundary control and legal principles / Walter G Robillard, B.S., M.A., L.L.M., J.D Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina licensed land surveyor, attorney at law; Donald A Wilson, B.S., M.S Maine and New Hampshire licensed land surveyor, registered professional forester ; based on the original ideas and concepts created by Curtis M Brown — Seventh edition pages cm Includes index ISBN 978-1-118-43143-6 (cloth), ISBN 978-1-118-75854-0 (ebk.); ISBN 978-1-118-75856-4 (ebk.); ISBN 978-1-118-75078-0 (ebk.) Boundaries (Estates)—United States Surveying—Law and legislation—United States Title examinations—United States I Wilson, Donald A., 1941– II Brown, Curtis M (Curtis Maitland), 1908–1993 Boundary control and legal principles III Title IV Title: Boundary control and legal principles KF639.B7 2009 346.7304'32—dc23 2013018924 Printed in the United States of America 10 CONTENTS PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER HISTORY AND CONCEPT OF BOUNDARIES 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Significance of Boundaries 1.3 Boundary References 1.4 Terminus: The God (or Goddess) of Boundaries 1.5 Disputes and Boundaries 1.6 Role of the Surveyor in Boundaries 1.7 What Is Being Created? What Is Being Located? 1.8 Original Written Title 1.9 Rights and Interests in Land Are Composed of a Bundle of Rights 1.10 Role of the Court 1.11 Real and Personal Property 1.12 What Constitutes Real Property 1.13 Nature of Modern Estates 1.14 Taxes on Land and Tax Maps 1.15 Easements and Licenses 1.16 Servitudes, Restrictions, Covenants, and Conditions 1.17 Actions on Boundaries and Easements 1.18 One Unique Parcel or Boundary 1.19 The Original Boundaries Are Sacred 1.20 Conclusions xvii xix 1 13 15 16 19 20 21 24 25 25 29 30 31 31 32 v vi CONTENTS CHAPTER HOW BOUNDARIES ARE CREATED 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Definitions 2.3 Classification of Boundaries 2.4 Methods of Boundary Creation 2.5 Who May Create Boundaries? 2.6 Sanctity of the Original Survey 2.7 Original Lines Remain Fixed 2.8 Distinctions between the Original Boundary Survey, the Retracement Survey, and the First Survey 2.9 Original Technological Methods of Boundary Creation Not Relatable to Modern Methods 2.10 Original Lines May Be Redescribed As a Result of a Retracement 2.11 Conclusions 35 35 36 39 40 43 47 47 48 49 50 50 CHAPTER OWNERSHIP, TRANSFER, AND DESCRIPTION OF REAL PROPERTY AND ACCOMPANYING RIGHTS 53 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 Concepts of Boundaries, Land Ownership, and Land Descriptions Overview of Boundaries Public and Private Lands Sources of Title Voluntary Transfer of Real Property Chain of Title Torrens Title System Unwritten Rights or Title to Land Methods of Voluntary Transfer of Title Deed or Description Title or Lien Deed of Trust Mortgage Escrow Title Assurance and Title Insurance Abstractors Attorney’s Opinion General Land Descriptions What Is in a Description? Measurements Magnetic Directions Reference Datums Elements of Land Descriptions Types of Descriptions Conclusions CHAPTER BOUNDARIES, LAW, AND RELATED PRESUMPTIONS 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Introduction Constitutional Law and the Surveyor Jurisdiction Federal Jurisdiction 53 55 58 59 60 60 61 62 63 64 65 65 65 66 66 67 68 68 68 69 74 75 77 77 80 81 81 82 83 83 CONTENTS 4.5 Federal Government, Agency, or Officer as a Party 4.6 Sovereign Immunity 4.7 United States as a Defendant 4.8 Disposing of Federal Lands 4.9 Color of Title Act 4.10 Public Law 120 4.11 Small Tracts Act 4.12 Researching the Laws 4.13 Court Reports 4.14 Legal Research 4.15 Judicial Notice 4.16 Evidence 4.17 Presumptions 4.18 Common Presumptions 4.19 Survey Systems Present in the United States 4.20 Conclusions CHAPTER CREATION AND INTERPRETATION OF METES AND BOUNDS AND OTHER NONSECTIONALIZED DESCRIPTIONS 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 Introduction Methods of Creating Metes and Bounds or Nonsectionalized Descriptions Metes Descriptions Bounds Descriptions Combination Metes and Bounds Descriptions Strip Descriptions and Stationing Descriptions by Reference Aliquot Descriptions Other Means of Creating Boundaries in Descriptions Nomenclature in Metes and Bounds Descriptions Adjoiners Deed Terms for Curves Lines and Their Elements Tax Descriptions and Abbreviated Descriptions Subdivision Descriptions Parcels Created by Protraction Features of Platting Acts Writing Land Descriptions Early Surveys Priority of Calls in Metes and Bounds Surveys Applying Priority Calls Conclusions CHAPTER CREATION AND RETRACEMENT OF GLO BOUNDARIES 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Introduction Original Surveys and Corrective Surveys Law, Manuals, and Special Instructions Effect of Manuals on Resurveys vii 84 84 85 85 85 86 86 86 87 88 89 90 92 93 94 97 99 99 103 103 106 107 108 109 109 111 113 121 121 123 130 132 134 134 135 135 138 139 141 143 143 146 146 147 viii CONTENTS 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 History of the Public Land Survey System Testing Ground: The Seven Ranges Act of May 18, 1796—Clarification of 1785 Acts of 1800 1803—The System Explodes Act of March 26, 1804 Act of February 11, 1805 Land Surveys after 1805 Survey Instructions State Instructions and Statutes Instruments Used Field Notes Nomenclature for Sections Meandering Resurveys and Retracements Defective Boundaries Encountered in Resurveys Sectionalized Surveys and Innovations Irregular Original Government Subdivisions Townships Other Than Regular Summary of the GLO System CHAPTER FEDERAL AND STATE NONSECTIONALIZED LAND SURVEYS 148 149 154 156 159 160 160 163 164 169 177 179 179 179 179 181 182 182 182 184 188 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Early New England and Other Colonial-Era Surveys 7.3 Ohio Company of Associates 7.4 Donation Tract 7.5 Symmes Purchase 7.6 Virginia Military District 7.7 United States Military Tract 7.8 Connecticut Western Reserve and Firelands 7.9 Moravian Tracts 7.10 Florida Keys Survey 7.11 Donation Land Claims 7.12 Exchange Surveys and Their Status 7.13 Prior Land Grants from Foreign Governments 7.14 French Grants in the Louisiana Purchase 7.15 Mississippi Townships 7.16 Soldier’s Additional Homestead 7.17 Indian Allotment Surveys 7.18 National Forest Homestead Entry 7.19 Tennessee Townships 7.20 Florida: Forbes Company Purchase Surveys 7.21 Georgia Lot System 188 189 192 193 193 194 195 195 196 196 197 197 197 198 202 203 203 203 203 205 206 Surveys in the Noncontinental United States 210 General Comments Hawaiian Land Laws Puerto Rican Land Surveys 210 210 213 7.22 7.23 7.24 514 GLOSSARY OF TERMS True North True North differs from magnetic north, which varies from place to place and over time due to local magnetic anomalies True North is in relation to the earth’s axis and not the magnetic poles Trust deed A written instrument by which a borrower (trustor) conveys his or her land to another (trustee) for the benefit of the lender (beneficiary) as security for the repayment of the money lent In the event of a failure of the trustor to repay the money, the trustee conducts a foreclosure sale of the real property U Unwritten law The law not promulgated and recorded but which is, nevertheless, observed and administered in the courts of the country It has no certain repository but is collected from reports of the decisions of the courts and from the treatises of learned persons Uplands Lands bordering on waters V Vacate To annul; to render an act void, as “to vacate an easement.” Vara The measure of land used in connection with Spanish land grants It is generally accepted as being about 33 inches, but its definition varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction Vest To give title to or to pass ownership to property W Warrant A promise that facts are as they are represented to be West A curved line following a latitude Practically, it is at right angles to north, since most descriptions are too small in area to have noticeable curvature Westa Half a hide of land, or 60 acres With Shows an association, as “parallel with,” not “parallel to.” With a line, meaning along a line, is commonly used in the eastern states Words of exclusion To, from, by, between, and on are words of exclusion unless there is something in the phrase that makes it apparent that the words were used in a different sense “To a stone mound,” “on Brown’s land,” and “by the river” exclude other terms Writ An order issued by a court requiring the performance of an act or giving authority to have it done INDEX Abbreviated descriptions, 130 Abstractors, 67 Accessory to monument, 297 Accretion, 253–254, 455 boundaries of, 371, 372 changes of, 270 erosion and, 270–277 ownership of, 262 Accretion distribution, 270–276 Acquiescence, 39 Acre, 72 Acreage conveyances, 455 Acts of 1745, 1796, 1805, 143–145 Adjoiner, 120, 121 Adverse possession, 20, 31, 39, 59 in Hawaii, 210–212 Agreement, 39 Agrimensores, 215 Ahupuaa, 211 Alabama, 211 half-mile posts, 317 Alaska, 182, 235, 457–459 Aliquot description, 182, 183, 236 Aliquot parts, 109, 327 Aliquot subdivisions, 109, 327, 364 Allotees of wills, 432, 433 Alluvion, see Accretion, 270–276 “Along”, 235, 241 Ambiguity, 342, 450 Ambiguous terms, 337, 343, 347, 369, 372 Angle: deflection, 125, 378 exterior, 125 interior, 125 Annual change, 378 Apex, 217 Apportioning, see Excess and deficiency; 400 et seq exceptions, 247 proportioning, 400 Appurtenant easement, 25 Area: considerations, 424–427, 445, 449 control of, 347 in metes and bounds conveyances, 348 by proportions, 400, 428 in subdivisions, 428, 431 Arizona, 197 Arpent, 72, 198, 199 parcels, 199 Artificial monument(s), 39, 355–357 control of, 37, 338, 339 identification of, 355, 398 in metes and bounds deeds, 138 obliterated, 355 on streets, 400–404 subdivisions, 399 uncalled for, 363, 402 Astronomic bearings, 364 Attorney’s opinion, 66 Authority, 286 Augmenting clause, 77 515 516 INDEX Avulsion, 270 Azimuth, 125 Babylonian stone, 100–102 Baseline method, 270 Bearing, 123 basis of, 123 compass, 123, 380 control of: by harmony, 364–365 in metes and bounds descriptions, 364–365 principles for method of, 377 declination, 74, 377 deflection, 123 magnetic, 74, 377 Bearing object, 353 Bearing tree, 297, 298, 317, 355 Beating the bounds, 4–8 Bed: division of, 240 ownership of, 214, 217, 232, 233, 262, 269 Beginning, point of, 372 Beating the bounds, Biblical reference to boundaries, 7, 358 Blanket easement, 210 Blaze, 32, 39, 153, 165, 404, 413,410 Block corners, 404–410, 417 Block establishment, 376, 404 Boundaries, 3–7: basis, 468 changes, 457–459 correction of, 182 creation, 2, 41, 49, 81, 138, 478 defective, 179 establishment, 466 macro, 9, 39–40, 55–78 micro, 9–10, 39–40, 55–58 overview, 55, 470 philosophy, 479 running lines, 42 shifting, 458 signifance, survey basis, 468 wrongly monumented, 393 Boundary action, 31, 47 classification, 39 description, 68,77 disputes, establishment, 466, 476 running lines, 42 simultaneous, 386 survey, 49, 468 Bounding descriptions, 106 Bounds, 106 Bundle of rights, 16, 53, 231 Bureau of Land Management, 286 authority of, 146, 286 history, 143 Burt, William Austin, 177 California, 197 Calls: directory, 377 locative, 377 priority of, 138–141 topographic, 230 two directions, 454 Cardinal directions, 127, 369 Center line, 241, 438 presumption, 235 Central meridian, 133 Chain, 69, 70 2-pole, 165 Chain of title, 61 Chap, 153 Character mark, number, 376 Circular curves, 375 Claim: mineral, mining, 216–229 Closing corner, 296 Closure, error of, 296, 310, 322, 365, 366 Compleat Surveyor, 14 Colonial method of dividing accretion, 274 Color of Title Act, 85 Combinations, 386, 436–438 Commencement, point of, 104 Common law, 87, 93, 260 Common report, 402 INDEX Common usage, 300 Compass, 127 bearings, 378, 380, 390, 398 points, 126–127 Concave curve, 122 Conflicting elements, 347, 394 Connecticut, 15 Connecticut Western Reserve, 154, 195 Continental Congress, 195 Controlling term, 347 Control of conflicting elements, 347, 399 Control point of monument, 355 Convergence of meridians, 163, 379 Convex curve, 122 Conveyances: sequential, 340 simultaneous, 341 Coordinates, 127, 374 control of, 374 Corner, 5, 14, 37, 355 accessory, 355 closing, 296, 312 definitions, 36–39, 355 double, 164, 320 existent, 355 identification of, 215, 296 interior, 325 lost, 355 marking, 159–162 memorial to, 355 names, 355 obliterated, 355 original, 293 posts, 165,172, 173 quarter, see quarter quarter-quarter, 294 restorations, 306–316 section, see Sections standard township, 307 Corrective survey, 146 Course, 95 Court jurisdiction, 290 Court reports, 87 Covenants, 29, 30 Creating surveyor, 481 Curtesy, 19 517 Curve: circular, 122 concave, 122 continuing of, 122 convex, 108 deed terms, 121 degree of, 108 proportioning on, 404, 416 numbers, 412 terms of, 108 treatment of, 375 written and character numbers of, 376 Customary measure, 73 Daily variations, 74,177, 377 Date of execution, 351 Datum: magnetic, 74, 75 mean sea level, 76 reference, 75–76 tidal, 259, 268 Declination, 65–66, 75, 177, 356, 377 Deed, 64 of, 131 by acreage, 113 direction of travel, 74, 117 by distance, 112 by division line, 111 easement, 63 by exception, 113 grant, 63 in writing, 344 intent of, 350 nomenclature, 113 “of”, 113 proportional, 112 quitclaim, 63 riparian, 264 senior, 341 subdivision, 132 terms of, 345 trust, 65 warranty, 63 whole, 344 Deed terms, 116 518 INDEX Defective boundaries, 181 Defendant, 85 Deficiency, see excess and deficiency Deflection angle, 125 Degree of curve, 123, 375 Delta, 376, 123 Delta alpha angle, 123 Dependent resurvey, 289 Description, 64 Descriptions: abbreviated, 131 aliquot, 78, 109, 390 aliquot, interpretation of, 327 ambiguity in, 450 area, 113 azimuth, 125 basis of, 124–125 bearing, 126 bounding, 78, 106, 111 bounds, 106 cardinal, 447 compass, 74 components, 68 control of, 365 conflicting elements, 347, 394 dignity of, 362 distance, 112 division line, 111 double, 454–455 easements, 232–240 elements of, 77 error in, 364 exception, 113 interpretation, 343–350 Lambert, 129 land, 68 lines of, 111 magnetic, 74 measurement, 443 metes, 103, 111 metes and bounds, 99, 111 nomenclature, 113 “of,” 113, 438–450 of dividing line, 415–419, 445–453 parts, 77, 78 perimeter, 78 principles, 358 proportional, 112 quasi-metes and bounds, 111 reference, 109 stationing, 108 strip, 108 subdivision, 132 survey, 345 tax, 131 types of, 67–68, 77 writing, 135 Dip, 217–219 Direction, 106, 345 Direction, compass, 123 Direction, magnetic, 74 Direct line measurement, 374 Directory calls, 377 Discovery of minerals, 216 Disputes, 337 Distance: 7–9 control by harmony, 357, 399 metes and bounds deeds, 343 proportionate, 412, 415 in subdivisions, 413, 415 Division line conveyances, 443 Donation land claims, 917 Donation Tract, 193 Double descriptions, 454 Double proportionate measure, 305–308, 315 Dower, 18 Dutch, 135, 136, 232 Earth flow, 458 Earthquakes, 456 Easement(s), 21–27, 232 affirmative, 22–27 appurtenant, 22–27 blanket, 230, 231 boundaries, 237 centerline, 230, 240–241 deed, 62, 63 descriptive, 232–235 in gross, 25 INDEX litigating, 250 locating, 234 necessary, 26 negative, 25 ownership of, 232, 240 perimeter, 241 positive, 25 reversion of, 229, 221–246 revival of, 237 rights, 232 road, 235 surveyor responsibility, 233 three descriptions, 233 title to, 233 use of, 237 words, 241 Encroachment, 352, 357, 470 End lot, 419 Erosion, 270, 271 Error, 68, 364, 455 ambiguous, 323 of closure, 315, 323 distribution, 368, 369 gross, 323 in last course, 368 of measurement, 419 Escrow, 46, 66 Establishment, 467 of boundaries, 466 in Louisiana, 467 Estate: 18, 24 at will, 24 defeasible fee simple, 24 dominant, 24 fee, 16, 24 fee simple, 18 fee simple absolute, 18 fee tail, 18 for years, 24 life, 18, 24 per autre vie, 18 servient, 26 Estoppel, 27, 30, 39 Ethics, 472 Evidence, 478 519 best available, 289, 360, 361, 398, 472 of boundaries, 478 preponderance of, 485 title, 68, 69 Exception conveyances, 113 Excess, 412–414 Excess and deficiency, 412–414 along subdivision boundaries, 391 in block, 416 caused by error, 391 controlled by monuments, 400, 402 limitations on, 388 on curve, 416 principles, 400 proportioning, 400 remnant principle, 419 scaling, 420 single proportionate, 415 Exchange surveys, 197 Existent corner, 363–365 Extralateral rights, 218–220 Facts, 464 Federal: jurisdiction, 83 land, disposal of, 85 patents, 291 Federal and state laws, 23 Fee: easement, 232 simple absolute, 17, 22 tail, 18 Feet and inches, 376 Feoffment, 63 Field notes, government, 294 Fire, 459 Firelands, 195 First stated condition, 376 Five Mile Townships, 154 Florida, 174, 196, 205 Florida Keys, 196 Foot: French, 69–71 international, 70 standard, 70 520 INDEX Footsteps, 44, 161, 292 Forbes Purchase, 205 Foreign land grants, 197 Fractional sections, 315 Frauds, Statute of, Freehold, 18, 19 Free lines, 123 Freeman, Thomas, 164 French grants, 198 Fructus naturales, 23 Function of surveyor, 464 Gaps, 361, 454 General acceptation of terms, 352, 470 Geodaesia, 37 Geodetic method, sections, 182 Georgia lots, 206 Glaciers, 459 Glacio-isostatic rebound, 329 GLO, 57 Government measure, 329 Grantee, construed in favor of, 372 Grantor, construed against, 372 Great Mahele, 211 Grid, 76, 129 Lambert, 76, 129 Mercator, 76, 129 Gross errors, 323, 361 Ground measure, 163 Guide meridian, 179, 307–308 Gunter, Edmund, 70, 71 Hack, 153, 154 Half-lot, 441–442 Half-mile corner (post), 174, 217, 317 Harmony, control by, 354, 356 Hawaii, 210–213 Hereditament, incorporeal, 29 Hereditments, 21, 24, 226 High water mark, 268 Homestead, 53 Homestead Act, 57 Homestead entry, 203 Horizontal measure, 374 Hutchins, Thomas, 151, 154 Identification: of corners, 296, 399–400 of lines, 296 monuments, 398 Ilis, 210 Illinois, 161 Improvements, 403 control of, 40 as monuments, 400–403 street, 410–412 Inches, 376 Incorporeal hereditaments, 54 Independent resurvey, 316, 228 Index error of measurement, 409 Indiana gore, 154 Inference, 92, 93 Informative terms, 346 Instruments, used, 177 Insurance, title, 66 Intent: aids, 352 government, 291 particular and general, 347 Intentions of parties, 347 aids to interpret, 352 control of, 352 Interest in land, 16–19, 21, 24 Interpretation: of descriptions, 327 principles, 358 Inundation, 276, 270 Irregular exterior, 315 Islands, 277 Isogonic charts, 74, 75 Judicial notice, 89 Junior and senior deeds, 340–342 Jurisdiction, 83 Federal, 83 Kamaaina, 211 Kentucky, 353, 364 Krypton, 76 Kudurru, 100 INDEX La Jolla Park, 110 Lake, 270 Lambert coordinates, 75, 76 Lambert projection, 75, 76 Land, 22, 77 descriptions, 77 open to claims, 220 Land court, 61 Land divisions, 192 Land litigations, 19, 87 Land movement, 455–457 Land rights, 229 Land survey: basis of, 468 opinion, 464 performance of, 464 research, 88 Land surveyors, authority, 467 Land surveyors, function of, 464 Land title, 15 Landslides, 458 Law: Application of, 464 common, 78 Constitutional, 81, 82 facts of, 464 Federal, 83–85 Lease, 24–26 Least likely mistake, 352 Legal monuments, 120 Legal research, 86, 88 Leybourn, Wm., 37 Liability, 474 License, 25 Lien, 65 Life estate, 18, 231 Line, 37, 123–127 angles, 125 deflection angle, 125 direction, 123 free, 123 parallel, 126 run, 138 straight, 106 trees, 153 Lines marked and surveyed, 153, 353 521 in sectionalized land, 270 in subdivisions, 329 Littoral owners, 291 Location, mining, 221 Locative calls, 377 Lode, 216–217 Lode claim, 217 Long-lake method, 272–276 Lost closing corner, 355 restoration along township line, 308 Lost corner, 355 relocation of, 302 Lots, establishment of, 412 adjoining subdivisions, 389, 428–430 by area, 429 by curves, 416 by end lot, 418 by excess and deficiency, 414 by mathematical error, 413–414 by monuments, 418 by remnant rule, 419 by scaling, 424 by single proportion, 415 Lottery, 191 Louisiana, 169–171 boundary establishment, 467 Louisiana Territory, 467 Love, John, 37 Ludlow’s Meridian, 467 Maere, Macro boundaries, 55–56, 393 Magnetic annual change, 65 Magnetic bearings, 74–75 Magnetic compass, 74 Magnetic daily variation, 74 Magnetic declination, 74 Magnetic direction, 74 Magnetic storm, 74 Mahele, Great, 211 Maine townships, 190 Majority probability, 383 Mansfield, Jared, 147, 159, 163 Manual of Instructions, 49, 147, 183 Map, called for, 346 522 INDEX Marsh, 267 Massachusetts, 15, 261 Mathematical error, 412 Mean high water, 259–261 Mean higher high water, 259 Mean low water, 241 Mean lower low water, 241 Mean sea level, 241 Mean tide level, 259 Meander corner, 179, 291 Meander line(s): 264–266 control of, 131, 314 nonriparian, 313–314 Measure, 69 customary, 70 government, 329 unit of, 72 Measurement index error, 410 Measurement units, 72 Measurements, 69 Memorial, 355 Meridian: central, 129 guide, 307 magnetic, 150, 155 principal, 307 true, 142, 150 Meter, 70 Metes and bounds, 20, 56, 70, 94–95, 102 conveyances, 102 definition of, 82, 86 Macro boundary, 46 Micro boundary, 46 Mile, geographic, 148 Mill site, 220 Mineral surveyor, 216–220, 223 Mineral surveys, 216–220 Mining claim, 223 Mississippi townships, 202 Missouri law, 329 Mistake, 364 Monument, 37, 38 Monuments, 118, 297, 355 adjoining, 121, 140 area, 141 artificial, 38, 39, 120, 360 Biblical reference to, 355 boundary, 118, 259, 360 conflicting, 355, 359 control of location by, 355, 362–363 control point of, 363 identification of, 296, 398 improvements as, 361, 403 legal, 120 natural, 38, 119, 359 obliterated, 357, 432 original, 396 properties of, 121 record, 119–121, 360 record descriptions, 121, 399 search for, 471 setting, 473 title, 398 “to”, 362 uncalled for, 363, 402 Moon Lake, 323–324 Moravian tract, 196 Mortgage, 65 Mulford, 465 Natural monument, 34, 119, 121 Natural monument control: in metes and bounds, 359 sectionalized land, 296 subdivisions, 405 Natural phenomena, 455 Navigable waters, 268 Navigation, 268 Navigational servitude, 268 New England, 189 New Mexico, 197 New York, 425, 428, 455 Nomenclature for sections, 179 Nonparallel lines, 447 Nontidal waters, 262–264 North Carolina, 15, 217 Northwest Territory, 150, 163 Notes, 179 Numbers, character, 376 INDEX Obliterated corner, 355 Obliterated monuments, 355 Obliterated subdivisions, 432 “Of” “in” and “that” descriptions, 114, 440 Ohio, 15, 192 Ohio Company, 192 Omitted areas, 325 Opinion, 464 Order of importance of conflicting elements, 347–349 Ordinance of 1785, 149 Oregon Manual of 1851, 147, 164 Original field notes, 94 Original lines, 47, 301, 380, 387, 395 Original monuments, 398 Original survey, 47, 472 Original survey of lines, 43, 46 Original title, 15 Overflowed lands, 267 Overlaps, 454 Ownership, 53, 470 of streets, 240 Parallel bounds, 438–440 Parallel lines, 126 Parallel, standard, 159, 320, 321 Parol evidence, 344 Particular provisions, 377 Past events, 460 Partition, 443, 444 Patent(s), 241, 291 mining, 216, 222 Pennsylvania, 19, 217 Perambulation, 7, Perch, 166 Permanence of lines, 395 Perpendicular distribution of accretions, 272–277 Pie method, 274 Pitch, 192 Placer claim, 216 Plat, 132, 133 called for, 346 control of, 346, 347 features of, 134 Platting Act, 134 Point, 37 Point of beginning, 104, 372 Point of commencement, 104 Pole, 69 Possession, 342, 472 mining, 222 Post, corner, 207, 208 Praedial servitude, 8, 227 Presumption at law, 93 Presumptions, 92 centerline, 235 common, 93 GLO, 333 Priority of calls, 138–139, 344, 485 Private surveys, 467, 468 Private ways, 236 Proceedings in partition, 433 Process verbal, 467 Projection: Lambert, 126 proportional rules, 428 transverse Mercator, 126 Property, 16, 21, 53, 54 classification, 21 constituents, 24, 210 personal, 20 real, 20, 53 transfer, 53 Proportional conveyances, 112, 444 Proportional measure, 301, 302 double, 300 single, 404 Proportionate shoreline, 270–273 Proportionate shoreline method, 270 Proportioning: 279–276 accretions, 270–276 adjoining subdivision boundaries, 428 confined to block, 414 controlled by monuments, 400 curves, 416 double, 305 523 524 INDEX Proportioning (continued ) end lot, 391 excess, 359 lost corners, 302–304 New York Rule, 425 partition, 433 remnants, 419 rules, 419 sectionalized lands, 303–305 single, 304, 415 wills, 434 Proration, 413 Protraction, 134 Protraction of, 134, 318 parcels, 318 rules, 428 sections, 318 Public domain, 53 Public Lands, 58 Public law, 58, 86 Puerto Rico, 213–215 land titles, 213 research, 215 surveys, 214 waters, 214 Putnam, Rufus, 154, 192 Qualifying clauses, 71 Quarter corner: center, 312 location of, 313, 321 not originally set, 320 Quarter-quarter corners, 299, 334 Quarter sections, 299, 334 Quitclaim deed, 64 Quitrent, 19 Radius, 122 Range, 163 Rangeway, 192 Real property, 20–24, 53 Rebuttable presumption, 93, 350 Record monuments, 120, 362 control of, 120, 362 in subdivisions, 399 Reference datums, 75 Reliction, 271 Remnant rule, 419 Research, 88, 469 Researching laws, 469 how much, 469 Reservation, 192 Restoration of lost corners, 302 Resurveys, 261, 287 dependent, 288–289 government, 147, 148, 179 independent, 268–269 types of, 288 Retracement, definition, 14 Retracement procedure, 325 Retracements, 287, 304 Retracements, sectionalized lands, 288 Responsibility, 467, 480 Reversion, 227 apportionment, 241 division of bed in, 233 rights in street, 240 Revival of private rights, 290 Right of way, see Easement Rights in land, 29 Rights, bundle of, 16, 17, 53 Rights in land, common-law, 16–17 Rights, unwritten, 62 Riparian rights, 245 apportionment, 272–277 Rittenhouse compass, 165 Roads: along private ways, 245 boundaries of, 235, 244 dedication of, 240 description of, 240 Rod, 72, 73 Role of surveyor, Rome, 252 Rood, 72 Rules, proration, 428 Scale unit, 376 Sea level correction, 76, 130 Sectionalized lands, 188, 189 INDEX history of, 188 identification of corners and lines for, 292, 296 original corners, 291–294 restoration of lost corners in, 302 retracements of, 281 subdivision of sections in, 318 Seisin, 16, 63 Livery of, 63 Senior rights, 291, 349 Sequential conveyances, 337 Sequential patents, 340, 342 Servitudes, 29, 268 Seven Ranges, 149, 154 Shoreline changes, 270 Simple, fee, 18 Simultaneous boundaries, 341, 386 Simultaneous conveyances, 341 Simultaneous rights, 386 Single proportion: on curves, 416 sectionalized lands, 304 subdivisions, 41, 414 Slides, 452, 458 Small Tracts Act, 86 Sovereign immunity, 84 Special grants, 192 Standard parallel, 307 State laws, 329 Stationing, 108 Statute of Frauds, Statute law, 41, 42 Storm, magnetic, 74 Straight lines, 123 Street conveyance to center line, 235–237 establishment of, 405–407 improvements, 407 measurement index, 409 no width, 410 Strike, 217–219 Strip conveyance, 108 Subdivision, 365–370 acts, 134 aliquot, 327, 390 boundaries, 390 525 conflicting elements, 394 corners, 390 defined, 389 description, 135 establishment of lots of, 412–414 establishment of streets incorrectly described, 412 finality, 395 incorrectly monumented, 393 intentions of the parties of, 394 lots, 390–292 monumenting, 318, 396–398 protraction, 394 sectionalized, 318 wrongly monumented, 303 Submerged lands, 266 Submerged Lands Act, 266 Subsidence, 458 Surface, see Area Survey: called for, 346 corrective, 146 direction of, 345, 371 first, 48–49 lines, 472 mineral, 217 original, 47–49 private, 467 retracement, 48–49, 325 Survey systems, 94 Surveyor: authority, 467 ethics, 478 liability, 474 responsibility, 467 Swamp and overflowed lands, 267 Symmes Purchase, 193 Tangent, 121, 122 Taxation, 25 Tax deed, 130–132 Tax maps, 25 Tax parcel, 130–132 Tenant, 17 Tennessee, 4, 15, 203 townships, 203 526 INDEX Tenure, 16, 17 Terminus, 6, 33 Terms: ambiguous, 347–349 controlling, 346, 347 general acceptance of, 352 least likely mistake of, 352 Testimony, 299 Texas, 135, 136 Thalweg, 270–272 Theta angle, 128 Thread, 270, 292 Thread of river, 270–372 Tidal datum, 258 Tidal datum planes, 262 Tidal epoch, 258–260 Tidal waters, 258–262 Tide, 259 Tide cycle, 258–260 Tidelands, 262, 263 Tiffin, 164 Tiffin’s Instructions, 164 Title, 15, 59, 61 chain of, 61 color of, 15, 22 monuments, 398 obtaining, 46–48, 59 original written, 15 rights of, 16 sources of, 59 Torrens, 62 transfer of, 53, 63 unwritten, 62 Title insurance, 66 Title transfer, 63 “To,” importance of, 362 Topography calls, 330 Torrens System, 61 Torrens title, 61, 62 Township: exterior, 125, 154, 155 five mile, 169–172 lost corner of, 302 New England, 189, 190 Transverse Mercator grid, 128, 129 Transverse Mercator projection, 128, 129 Travel, direction of, 117 Tree: line, 153, 155 witness, 152, 183 Triple corner, 168 True meridian, 130 True point of beginning, 76 Tunnel location, 220 Uncalled for monuments, 361–362, 402 United States, as defendant, 85 United States Military Reserve, 195 United States mineral surveyor, 223 Unit implied, 376 Units of measure, 69–72 definition of, 69–72 table of, 72 Usage, common, 300 Vacated streets, 248 Vacation of streets, 219 Vara, 72 Variation, magnetic, 74 Vein, 218, 221 Virginia, 15, 194 Virginia Military District, 194 Walls, 217 Water boundaries: in general, 213 Hawaii, 219–213 Puerto Rico, 213–215 Water, mineral laws, 216 West Virginia, 15 William I, 17 Wills, 386, 432 Witness evidence, 355 Witness trees, 153 X axis, Lambert, 129 Y axis, Lambert, 129 If you enjoyed this book, you may also like these: Interpreting Land Records by Donald A Wilson ISBN: 9780471715436 Professional Surveyors and Real Property Descriptions by Stephen V Estopinal Wendy Lathrop ISBN: 9780470542590 Easements Relating to Land Surveying and Title Examination by Donald A Wilson ISBN: 9781118349984 Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location by Walter G Robillard Donald A Wilson Curtis M Brown ISBN: 9780470404782 ... BROWN S BOUNDARY CONTROL AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES BROWN S BOUNDARY CONTROL AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES Seventh Edition WALTER G ROBILLARD, B.S., M.A., L.L.M., J.D Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and. .. (Walter George), 1930– Brown s boundary control and legal principles / Walter G Robillard, B.S., M.A., L.L.M., J.D Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina licensed land surveyor, attorney... Surveying—Law and legislation—United States Title examinations—United States I Wilson, Donald A., 1941– II Brown, Curtis M (Curtis Maitland), 1908–1993 Boundary control and legal principles III