Comments on: How the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) Works

By: RSL

RSL — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:33:56 +0000

In reply to Willis Whitney. In theory, a quarter-quarter-quarter is 10 acres. In practice, however, it is unlikely to be a "true", i.e., exactly 10 acres. If you're inquiring about a particular land parcel (you didn't provide the state or the PM, so it's hard to know), your best bet is to look up the parcel in the county's tax records. Many counties, but not all, have their land parcel maps available online.

By: RSL

RSL — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:27:26 +0000

In reply to Larry. The surveyors were instructed to measure "level" distances and made adjustments in the field to the chaining methods to account for slopes. I don't have the exact details of how that was done, but the old manuals have been available online and could be checked as to the exact techniques. It would be very interesting, but I don't have the time to look it up right now.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:28:59 +0000

I don’t understand how surveyors dealt with hills and valleys, or streams and rivers. They laid out basically a flat surface. Chaining out a flat surface is one thing, but how can that work going up or down hill? the distance would not be the same.

By: Ellen Schleicher

Ellen Schleicher — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 21:22:59 +0000

In a legal description how would you interpret a comma?
Example: That part of the Northwest Quarter (NW1/4), Northwest Quarter (NW1/4) of Section thirteen (13), Township Sixteen (16) North, Range Twenty (2), East

Do you consider the comma as a “and” or “including” part of the legal?

By: Willis Whitney

Willis Whitney — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 22:25:02 +0000

Is NeNeNw of section 36 1S7E a true 10 acres?

By: Richard Whittington

Richard Whittington — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:12:21 +0000

Hello,
Are 40 corners assigned gps coordinates? How are 40 corners located by a surveyor?
Thank You,
Richard Whittington