California Surveyors Forums

Under certain situations, 1/4 corners are established from one direction only, not the prefered method but allowed by the Manual of Instructions. i.e. large bodies of water, impassable ground, etc. Or maybe someone did not follow the Manual and used inproper method. Stubbing refers to one pt. control. Rember with few exceptions, the Manual is the only reference when dealing with the PLSS.

To expand on RAM's explanation, in the context you present, the County Surveyor would have started at one of the exterior 1/4 corners and ran 2640' on Cardinal Direction to set the C 1/4.

Please take a look at the attached word document. Its an Oregon case that covers some of the same issues you instructor is asking you to comment about. Take a look at section 3-76 in the 1973 BLM manual, it describes very well what the BLM's opinion is of the role of the private surveyor and/or the county surveyor with respect to lands that were subdivided originally under federal rules and those lands are now private lands. From my point of view "Stubbing in" referes to an unapproved method of setting original corners in the PLSS. Generally, "stubbed in" corners or most likely to have been set on an east/west section line, that was according to the approved method supposed to have been run twice once on a random line and then on a true line.