Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/399

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Corner posts and "bearing trees" to the corner of sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, Township 4 South, Range 5 East W. M. as described in the field notes of the Government survey.

The marks on the trees were made with a marking iron by the Deputy United States Surveyor, at the time the survey was made, and more particularly described as follows to-wit:

Set post 4 feet long, 4 inches square, 24 inches in ground for corner to sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, marked T. 4. S. S. 25, on North East face, R. 5 E. S. 36, on South East face, S. 35, on South West face, S. 26 on North West face, with one notch on South and East edges, from which a fir 48 inches diameter, bears North 20 degrees East 27 links' distance, marked T. 4. S. R. 5. E. S. 25. B. T.

A Cedar 18 inches diameter, bears South 28 degrees East, 23 1/2 links distance, marked T. 4. S. R. 5. E. S. 36. B. T.

A Fir 60 inches diameter, bears South 60 degrees West, IZVz links distance, marked T. 4. S. R. 5. E. S. 35. B. T.

A White Pine 24 inches diameter, bears North 30 degrees West, 61'2 links distance, marked T. 4. S. R. 5. E. S. 26. B. T.

Thus it will be seen, that it is an utter impossibility to find a duplication of trees at any two section corners, taking into consideration the character of the trees, as well as the angle and distance they lay from the corner post. Hence, it is easy to determine if the correct corner has been found. By an inspection of the field notes on file in the Surveyor General's Office, which describes accurately the distance each bearing tree is from the corner, its variety, and such other details as will enable a person to ascertain whether any trick has been played when a locator shows one the land.

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