The following is
the text of the contract document between William Rector, Principal Deputy Surveyor of the
Territory of Missouri, and Prospect K. Robbins, U. S. Deputy
Surveyor, for the survey of the Fifth Principal Meridian.
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Articles of agreement had, made and concluded upon the Ninth day of October in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. Between William Rector principal deputy Surveyor of the Territory of Missouri, acting under the direction of the Surveyor General of the United States, and in behalf of the United States, of the one part and Prospect K. Robbins of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Prospect K. Robbins for and in consideration of the conditions, terms, provisions and covenants herein after expressed and according to the true intent and meaning thereof, doth hereby covenant and agree with the said William Rector, in his capacity aforesaid, that he the said Prospect K. Robbins will faithfully and accurately do and perform the following Surveying in the Missouri Territory, agreeably to the Land of the United States and the instructions given him by the said William Rector, which are hereunto annexed. That is to say, he the said Prospect K. Robbins, will survey as aforesaid a line due North agreeably to the true meridian, from the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers to the Southerly bank of the Missouri river, which said line is known and termed on the annexed plat - The fifth principal meridian, and the said P. K. Robbins, will in case it should become necessary, as mentioned in the annexed instructions, Survey a base line due West, agreeably to the true meridian from the mouth of the St. Francis river, until it shall intersect the said fifth principal meridian. And the said Prospect K. Robbins covenants and agrees that if in the course of performing the Surveys of the said Meridian line any corner shall fall (whether of Townships, sections or quarter sections) within any prairie, where bearing trees within a reasonable distance from such corner can not be found, then and in that case, he will erect a mound of earth or sod as the marks of such corners and will finally place therein posts of the usual size. The mounds to be at least two feet six inches high and two feet six inches diameter at the Base. And the said Prospect K. Robbins further covenants and agrees that he will make out three neat and accurate plats of the aforesaid line or lines which shall be laid down by a scale of Five miles or four hundred chains to an inch & that he will complete the Survey and plats aforesaid and make return thereof within three months from the date thereof on penalty of forfeiture, and paying to the United States the sum of Two thousand dollars if default be made in any of the foregoing conditions. And the said William Rector covenants and agrees that on the completion of the work in manner aforesaid, there shall be paid to the said Prospect K. Robbins on account of the United States, as a full compensation for the expense of surveying and making the plats aforesaid, Three dollars per mile for every mile and part of a mile actually run and marked, random lines and offsets not included, provided no member of Congress have any part in this contract. In testimony whereof the parties to this indenture have interchangably set their hands and seals the day and year aforesaid.
{signed} William Rector, Principal Deputy Surveyor of the Territory of Missouri
{signed} Prospect. K. Robbins, Deputy Surveyor, Territory of Missouri
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us
D. Delawney
William L. May
Oct. 9th 1815=========================================================================
Source Reference: Missouri Contracts 1815-1843, pages
1-2,
Missouri Department of Natural
Resources microfiche location: 720/3286B3
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Transcribed by Steven E. Weible
