136 On Land Surveys in the United States. 



resulting from the wear and consequent stretching of its parts, the 

 ignorance and carelessness of chainmen and from other causes which 

 it is not important at present to detail. 



The disagreements which have been known to exist in measure- 

 ments made by different surveyors may be attributed to a part or all 

 of the causes above recited. The influence of those causes is indeed 

 often so great that the " balance of errors " constitutes one of the most 

 important items in a surveyor's estimate of the result of his meas- 

 urement. 



The preceding remarks upon instruments for the mensuration of 

 angles have reference exclusively to the circumferentor, and they are 

 thus directed under the conviction that for a length of time to come, 

 instruments of that description must continue to be used as a principal 

 dependence in the tracing of lines in all surveys in this country. In- 

 deed, the possession of a good theodolite or other similar instrument by 

 any of our surveyors would in the present state of things prove almost 

 an anomaly, and, if I mistake not, the day has not long passed, if 

 indeed it has quite gone by, when some of our surveyor's general 

 were unprovided by their respective states with any instruments of 

 an order superior to the common circumferentor or compass. 



The little expense and study demanded in preparing an individual 

 for this department has caused it to be filled by many who are quite 

 incompetent to the correct discharge of its duties, and of course has 

 depreciated it very much in the estimation of the public. So great 

 is the number now engaged in this profession, compared with the 

 business to be done that few are willing professedly to qualify them- 

 selves and to incur the expense of providing the requisite instruments, 

 and perhaps an instance can scarcely be found, especially in the older 

 states, of an individual deriving a respectable and competent support 

 from surveying business alone. Under these circumstances it cannot 

 be expected, that the profession in comparison with others should 

 take a very high rank, or one corresponding at all to its importance. 



I do not presume to say that there are not many of the profession 

 who deservedly sustain a higher character than I have described. 

 The remarks which I have made will however I tliink apply generally 

 and with justice. 



A state of things like this must obviously be attended with many 

 consequences unfavorable to the interests of the community generally. 

 The various litigations and disputes about boundaries, which our 

 courts of justice are constantly called upon to decide, are most of 



