Saturday, November 17, 2012

French and English land measures formerly used in Missouri

Note:  The following information was included in a report presented to the U. S. Senate in March 1824, concerning contracts for surveying the public lands in Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas from January 1, 1819 to April 1822.

Source reference: American State Papers, Public Lands, Volume 4, page 19, No. 423.


A comparative statement of the land measures of the United States,
and the French measures formerly used in the late province of Louisiana

Lineal measure
   72 French feet = 77 English (U.S.) feet
   6 French perches = 7 English (U.S.) poles = 1.75 chains
   10 French perches = 1 lineal French Arpent
   12 lineal French Arpents = 35 chains

Superficial measure (area)
   288 Arpents = 245 acres
   1 League square = 7056 Arpents = 6002.50 acres

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Surveyor General Comments on Little Prairie, Missouri

A plat of the Village of Little Prairie as it existed in 1806 is found of record on pages 84 and 85 of Book E in the Office of the U. S. Recorder of land titles, and a copy of the same is on file in this office [i.e., the Surveyor General's office].

The survey of said village as directed to be made according to the provisions of the act of 13th June 1812 and 26 May 1824 was contracted for with Jos. C. Brown on the 26th April 1843. Instructions to that effect were issued to said Brown on the 7th May 1845. See letter book K p. 282.

Mr. Brown when he afterward returned the papers furnished him to that purpose, reported that no survey of the old village could be made, because the ground on which it was situated having been washed away by the Mississippi river. For a statement of which fact see his receipt filed with his account, being Voucher No. 1 of account current under appropriations for towns and villages, 1st quarter of 1846 and Record thereof in Book B of accounts p. 151.

See also the Commissioner’s letter of the 26th January 1847, book S, p. 3, and the Surveyor General’s answer of 17th February 1847, Book M, p. 83.

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Source Reference: Book of Reference, Vol. 33N, page 45,
Missouri Department of Natural Resources microfiche location: 720/2778A2

Monday, November 12, 2012

Joseph C. Brown's contract dated September 15, 1835

The following is the text of the contract document between Elias T. Langham, Surveyor of the Public Lands in Illinois and Missouri, and Joseph C. Brown, U. S. Deputy Surveyor, for the survey of town and village lots in Saint Louis, Missouri.
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Articles of Agreement had, made, and concluded, the fifteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty five, between Elias T. Langham Surveyor of the public lands in Illinois and Missouri, acting for and in behalf of the United States of the one part, and Joseph C. Brown of the County of Saint Louis, and State of Missouri of the other part, witnesseth: That the said Joseph C. Brown for and in consideration of the terms, provisions and covenants, herein after expressed and according to the true intent and meaning thereof, doth hereby covenant and agree, with the said Elias T. Langham in his capacity aforesaid, that he the said Joseph C. Brown will under his own personal and immediate superintendance and not by sub-contract, execute the following described surveying, situate in the County of St. Louis and State of Missouri, agreeably to the laws of the United States, and such instructions as may be given to him by the said Elias T. Langham, Viz: He will survey the Town and out lots of the Town (now City) of Saint Louis, and the lots of the common fields attached thereto, which have been confirmed by the laws of the United States and have not heretofore been surveyed, and he will also survey the out boundaries of the Town, and of the several common fields, either in separate parcels, or in one general survey, according as he may be instructed by the said Langham, and the said Joseph C. Brown further covenants and agrees that he will complete the aforesaid surveying and make returns to the office of the Surveyor of the lands of the United States in Illinois and Missouri within six months from the date hereof, his field notes and a separate plat of each lot and block, showing the proper connection in every case with the adjoining and adjacent lots and blocks. And the said Elias T. Langham covenants and agrees in his capacity aforesaid, that on the completion of the work in the manner aforesaid, there shall be paid to the said Joseph C. Brown as a full compensation for his own personal services and expenses, at the rate of six dollars per day, from the time he shall commence work, until the surveys and returns aforesaid are completed, and also, all other necessary expenses, provided the Surveys and returns shall be approved of by the Surveyor of the lands of the United States, in Illinois and Missouri. In witness whereof, the parties to this agreement, hereunto set their hands & seals in duplicate, signed at St. Louis in the State of Missouri, this fifteenth day of September 1835.

{signed} E. T. Langham (seal)
{signed} Jos C. Brown (seal)
Witness: William Milburn

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Source Reference:  Missouri Contracts 1815-1843, pages 313-315,
Missouri Department of Natural Resources microfiche location: 720/3303A4


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Transcribed by Steven E. Weible