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==== Principal Meridians and Base Lines ==== | ==== Principal Meridians and Base Lines ==== | ||
The rectangular survey system is based on '''''principal meridians ''''' and '''''base lines ''''' determined by precise scientific measurements. As each territory or state opened new public lands, the government identified a meridian (running north and south) and a base line (running east and west) to guide all future land surveys in that area.<ref name="Hawkins">Kenneth Hawkins, ''Research in the Land Entry Files of the General Land Office: Record Group 49'', Reference Information Paper, 114 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2007), 9. {{WorldCat|146498814|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}} {{FHL|1440124|item|disp=FHL Ref Book 973 J53hrL}}</ref> Each color-block in the following map shows the states, or part of a state, surveyed on the same principal meridian and base line. | The rectangular survey system is based on '''''principal meridians ''''' and '''''base lines ''''' determined by precise scientific measurements. As each territory or state opened new public lands, the government identified a meridian (running north and south) and a base line (running east and west) to guide all future land surveys in that area.<ref name="Hawkins">Kenneth Hawkins, ''Research in the Land Entry Files of the General Land Office: Record Group 49'', Reference Information Paper, 114 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2007), 9. {{WorldCat|146498814|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}} {{FHL|1440124|item|disp=FHL Ref Book 973 J53hrL}}</ref> Each color-block in the following map shows the states, or part of a state, surveyed on the same principal meridian and base line. | ||
[[Image:U.S. Principal Meridians and Base Lines.png|647px|U.S. Principal Meridians and Base Lines.png]] | [[Image:U.S. Principal Meridians and Base Lines.png|647px|U.S. Principal Meridians and Base Lines.png]] | ||
For a more readable, enlarged version of this map, [http://www.blm.gov/cadastral/meridians/pmmap2.jpg click here], and then click on an area of the map to enlarge it. | |||
==== Numbered Townships and Ranges ==== | ==== Numbered Townships and Ranges ==== | ||