Rectangular Government Survey: Base lines run in which direction?

Rectangular Government Survey: Base lines run in which direction?

• A. East and West
• B. North and South
• C. Diagonal
• D. Vertical

Answer: (A)

In the Rectangular Government Survey, the grid is defined by a principal meridian that runs north-south and a baseline that runs east-west. The baseline serves as the reference line for measuring how far north or south a parcel is from it, so base lines run in the east–west direction. Townships are laid out in six-mile squares bounded by township lines (which run parallel to the baseline, i.e., east-west) and range lines (which run parallel to the principal meridian, i.e., north-south). Since the baseline is oriented east-west, that is the direction it runs. The other directions don’t fit this system: the meridian is north-south, diagonals aren’t used for baseline orientation, and vertical would imply a north-south line rather than east-west.

In the Rectangular Government Survey, the grid is defined by a principal meridian that runs north-south and a baseline that runs east-west. The baseline serves as the reference line for measuring how far north or south a parcel is from it, so base lines run in the east–west direction. Townships are laid out in six-mile squares bounded by township lines (which run parallel to the baseline, i.e., east-west) and range lines (which run parallel to the principal meridian, i.e., north-south). Since the baseline is oriented east-west, that is the direction it runs. The other directions don’t fit this system: the meridian is north-south, diagonals aren’t used for baseline orientation, and vertical would imply a north-south line rather than east-west.