34 . FQRST REGULATION 



an area small enough so that any work can be inspected, any results 

 be verified, and any task repeated. But this calls for a Detail 

 examination based on a definite subdivision of the land. 



2. Detail Survey, or Examination of Property. 



Since the information in this case is desired by definite areas 

 the task divides itself naturally into : 



Division of the land into suitable tracts. 



Orderly covering of these tracts in making the estimates, de- 

 scriptions and maps. 



a. Land Division. 



In level country and where the land is subdivided by United 

 States Survey, the smallest actual division is a Section of 640 acres, 

 and the lines and corners clearly marked on the ground, the descrip- 

 tion and estimate may be started at once without further subdivision. 

 But even in this case, (which is rather the exception) it is desirable 

 that the information be gathered by smaller areas, usually by forties 

 or by 8o-acre tracts. This latter especially commends itself. 



Where the survey is old, badly done, monuments and marks 

 largely destroyed, it is a waste of time, in most cases, to have the 

 crew which describes the property, hunt up and re-establish the 

 land survey, and it makes for efficiency and accuracy to make a 

 separate task of this work. In this case, especially, it adds but little 

 to the total expense per acre to have the Section subdivided into 

 eight lots, by running the middle line E. & W., and marking on all 

 K. & W. lines the T /8, as well as the l /\ posts. In level and rolling 

 country not covered by United States Survey, the United States 

 method should have preference. In hill and mountain countries, 

 or parts of such where the rectilinear survey is unsatisfactory, or 

 where no survey exists, the subdivision should adapt itself to topo- 

 graphy. Here the ridges, primary and secondary, together with the 

 streams, normally form the permanent bases. The lots are no 

 longer of regular form and size. 



The danger here is two-fold : 



To make the lots or tracts too large, and 



To make the lines on all ridges too crooked ; both should be and 

 can be avoided. ' 



