Figure 24-56. Plat illustrating principles of township and range designations. 



pens of varying sizes are used. Likewise, the spacing between letters is important 

 in the appearance of a name. It is good practice to employ wide spacing for 

 linear features and compressed spacing for locations of small areal extent. Slant 

 letters should be used for surface hydrographic features, such as streams or lakes, 

 and for descriptive or explanatory notations. Vertical letters in upper and lower 

 case are used for geologic and geographic names. Large letters made with fine 

 pens are less troublesome in obscuring control points or figures than are small 

 letters in heavy lines. Lettering on vertical lines should read from the bottom 

 upward. Lines that are even slightly inclined to the left at the top are lettered 

 from the top downward. In other words, the letters should never be even slightly 

 upside down. 



(4) Legends and explanations — All symbols whose meanings might be 

 misconstrued should be fully explained in a legend. This precaution applies also 

 to colors and colored lines that are not identified by notations where they occur. 

 The best location for the legend is near the title of the map. It is bad drafting 

 practice to place portions of the legend at several locations in the margins. 



527 



