Government Lots

SGROBER · Post by **SGROBER** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:26 am

Hello, I am working on right of way maps in Township 3 South, Range 2 West,San Bernardino Meridian. In Section 4, I have a disagreement with the location of the Northwest corner of Gov. Lot 13, as shown on the previous right of way map drawn in 1974. I have experience breaking down sections into Gov lots, but I do not consider myself an expert and I have never ran into this situation before.There is a distance of 1.04 chains from the S.E cor. of Section 5 to the S.W. cor. of Section 4. (See PDF) I know the method and the record distance (20 chains) that was previously used to
calculate the distance from the Southeast corner of Section 5 to the N.W. cor of Gov Lot 13 in Section 4. My proration used a different record distance (18.96 chains) involving the same corners.

My mentor once told me "If you disagree with another survey, consider yourself to bein the wrong until proven otherwise". I have brought this problem to the attention of 3 other license surveyors and we are in agreement. If I am wrong please enlighten me.The state needs to acquire
property from Gov. lot 13.

This could make a good problem on the LS exam. The pdf drawing shows the original Government
Plat record distances and areas. The field measurements are the coordinates. Thank you.

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:42 am

Typically, stay within the section to proportion and follow the Manual.

My question is why is the south half of section 4 Lotted? Are these truly Gov't Lots or Lots of a subdivision?

Keithwill · Post by **Keithwill** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:14 pm

Am I missing something?

The south 1/16 sec. cor. of sec. 4 only, is at midpoint?

Without seeing the original GLO survey plat, it looks like the section line distances are out of limits and therefore the need to lot the subdivisions.

Keith

land butcher · Post by **land butcher** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:40 pm

Without looking at all the history, I too would stay in sec 4 and reset the nw cor per the original, or oldest, msmts.
Sec 5 is a world all it's own connected to sec 4.

Stan_K · Post by **Stan_K** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:41 pm

The 1910 GLO plat shows Section 4 & 5 as fully lotted and the 1.04 ch offset. Interesting.

The plat also shows 40.00 ch, same as your sketch. The west side of both Lots 12 & 13 are 20.00 ch GLO Record.

Need to read the field notes to verify the directions, but the south "?" on you sketch should be 18.96 ch record.

SGROBER · Post by **SGROBER** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:55 pm

Thanks Stan and everyone else. I also received advise over the phone. The general rule is to skip the SE cor of Sec 5 and prorate the record 20 chains along the West line of Section 4 from the SW cor of Section 4. This would result in changing my location of the NW cor. of Gov. Lot 13 by 0.12'. I had originally used a record of 18.96 chains from the SE cor. Sec 5 to prorate.
No one has yet agreed to the position and the method used to establish the NW cor Gov Lot 13 per the old right of way map.

Keithwill · Post by **Keithwill** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 4:35 pm

The midpoint for the south 1/16, sec. 4 only, will protect the original acreage calculations of the subdivisions. The SE cor. of sec. 5 has nothing to do with the problem.

Keith

SGROBER · Post by **SGROBER** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:03 am

Thanks Keith, you're correct. By prorating the distance from the SW cor Sec 4 to the W 1/4 Sec 4 into 20 chains each for both Lot 12 and Lot 13, which the original plat intended, I would be splitting the distance. This is what a friend at the BLM also stated as to the correct procedure.