WINTEE MEETING. 257 



four miles square, as nearly as may be, which shall be subdivided into 

 tracts of land six miles square by two sets of lines, one conforming to 

 true meridians, crossed by others conforming to parallels of latitude 

 at intervals of six miles, containing 23,040 acres, as nearly as may be, 

 and designated townships. Such townships shall be subdivid<)d into 

 thirty-six tracts, called sections, each of which shall contain 640 acres, 

 as nearly as may be, by two sets of parallel lines — one set parUlel to a 

 true meridian, and the other conforming to parallels of latitude, mutu- 

 ally intersecting at intervals of one mile, and at right angles as 

 nearly as may be. Any series of contiguous townships situated north 

 and south of each other constitutes a range, while such a series situ- 

 ated in an east and west direction constitutes a tier. 



The section lines are surveyed from south to north, and from east 

 to west, in order to throw the excess or deficiency in measurement on 

 the north and west sides of the townships. 



Standard parallels shall be established at intervals of every twenty- 

 four miles north and south of the base line, and guide meridians at 

 intervals of every twenty-four miles east and west of the principle 

 meridian, thus confining the errors resulting from conveyance of meri- 

 dians and inaccuracies in measurement within comparatively small 

 areas. 



There is a growing restiveness at the inherited defects in our land 

 laws which make a transfer of real estate so costly without insuring a 

 perfect title. This evil does not affect the Western states, where land 

 has been recently purchased from the Government ; but in the older 

 states it is a very serious matter. A person who has thousands of dol- 

 lars to invest can purchase bonds or stocks, as well as any other mov- 

 able property for a trifling commission and with absolute certainty as 

 to title. But acquiring title to houses or farms is quite a different mat- 

 ter. It takes at least a month to examine the title. The lawyers and 

 officials' bills are very costly, and there is really no assurance that 

 your title is secure. 



At the end of long years of possession it may be found that some 

 dower right or party in interest had not given consent to a sale that 

 took place some twenty years ago. - And there are all manner of liens 

 against real estate. Every time a title is transferred the work has to 

 be done over again, and the purchaser has to pay needless and exas- 

 perating charges. 



That this is not necessary is shown by the fact that in Kew Zea- 

 land, Australia and Prussia the acquiring of title to real estate is easy, 

 inexpensive and certain. In those countries the government insures 

 H— 17 



