MODE OF WOEK. 23 



well as ill tlie otlier Lake Superior iron-bearing districts which have been 

 previously surveyed. 



The Upper Peninsula of Michigan affords an excellent example of the 

 excellence which can be obtained in the rectangular land survey, when 

 properly carried out by the Government. The section corner posts originally 

 established are in many cases still to be seen, and of course the bearing 

 trees are even more common. Since the original survey the timber value 

 has increased so much that in certain forested areas the section lines have 

 been resurveyed. Not uncommonly trails follow the section lines for long 

 distances. Moreover, the roads are frequently laid out along the section 

 lines, thus giving permanent land boundaries. The section corners con- 

 sequently ofPer the most reliable points from which to make locations. 



Traverses are made across each section, either from east to west or from 

 north to south, and at varying intervals, according to the discretion of the 

 geologist and the exigencies of the case. Each geologist is accompanied by 

 a compassman, whose duty it is to determine the course of the traverses by 

 means of a dial compass, and the distance traveled by pacing at the rate of 

 2,000 steps to the mile. Corrections are made at the corner and quarter 

 posts. The compassmen employed are Michigan woodsmen, land lookers 

 or cruisers as they are frequently called, and it is remarkable with what 

 accuracy they will pace mile after mile through swamp and over rough 

 hills, windfalls, etc. 



The geologist explores the territory on both sides of the line followed 

 by the compassman. Ledges are located by the geologist pacing to the 

 compassman as he comes opposite him in a due east-west or north-south 

 ■direction. With two coordinates thus determined, the ledges are located 

 with reference to the starting point. For uniformity and to facilitate ref- 

 erence and cataloguing, it is customary to give the location with reference 

 tothe southeast corner of the section. Thus, 1,000 N., 1,000 W., SE. cor. 

 sec. 6, T. 42 N., R. 33 W., gives the location of the outcrop at the center 

 of the section, and affords a means of finding that ledge which could not 

 be so accurately and concisely stated bj' the use of any ordinary land- 

 marks. Moreover, easily recognized landmarks, such as houses, quarries, 

 etc., are few, and exceedingly great changes may occur very rapidly, such, 

 for instance, as those caused by widespread forest fires, so that such a 

 method of location is practically valueless. 



