Survey Legend

W Terms in Land Surveying

W Terms in Land Surveying

W Terms

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  W (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ West.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WAĀ  ā€“ Washington.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WAA (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ War Assets Administration.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WAR DEPT (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ War Department.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WASH.Ā  ā€“ Washington. Ā SeeĀ Washington Land Surveyors
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WASH MER (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Washington Meridian.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WCĀ  ā€“ Witness Corner.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  W/CHG (Land Status Records ) ā€“ With Change(s).
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WCMCĀ Ā  ā€“ Witness Corner Meander Corner. WC is the abbreviation for Witness Corner when used alone or, as in this
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  case, with another abbreviation; however, in the field notes or in simply talking about it, a surveyor would say,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€œWitness Meander Corner,ā€Ā  notĀ  ā€œWitness Corner Meander Corner.ā€
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WD (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Warranty deed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WDL (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Withdrawal.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WDN (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Withdrawn.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WFOĀ  ā€“ Western Field Office. Established in Portland, Oregon in 1973. See SPECIAL OFFICES (BLM).
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WIĀ  ā€“ Wisconsin. SeeĀ Wisconsin Land Surveyors
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WILL MER (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Williamette Meridian.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WIS.Ā  ā€“ Wisconsin. SeeĀ Wisconsin Land Surveyors
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  W/O (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Without.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WOĀ  ā€“ Washington Office.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WP (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Water Power.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  W PĀ  ā€“ Witness Point.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  W.P.C.Ā  ā€“ Witness private claim. Used in the speciman field notes in the General Instructions of 1855.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WP DES (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Water Power Designation.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WR (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Water rights.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WR MER (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Wind River Meridian.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WS (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Watershed.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WT (Land Status Records)Ā  ā€“ Warrant.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WVĀ  ā€“ West Virginia. SeeĀ West Virginia Land Surveyors
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WYĀ  ā€“ Wyoming. Ā SeeĀ Wyoming Land Surveyors
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WYOĀ  ā€“ Wyoming. SeeĀ Wyoming Land Surveyors
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WAGON ROAD GRANTĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ A grant of public lands made to a State to aid in the construction of military wagon roads.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WARRANTYĀ Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ A promise that a statement is true. In conveyancing, a warranty deed conveys fee title (to the land
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  described) to the grantee and in addition guarantees the grantor will make good the title if it is found wanting. See
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  DEED, BARGAIN AND SALE and PATENT.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WASHINGTON MERIDANĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ 1) The Act of SeptemberĀ  28, 1850 (9 Stat. 515), provided for the adoption of the
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  meridian of the observatory at Washington, which passes through the old Naval Observatory at 24th Street and
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., as the American Meridian for all astronomic purposes. The meridian
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  of Greenwich was, under this act, adopted for all nautical purposes. The act was repealed August 22, 1912 (37 Stat.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  342). During the nearly 62 years the act was in force, the meridional boundaries of the Territories and States of
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Arizona, Colorado, Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming and the States of Kansas, Nebraska, New
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  o
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Mexico and Utah were referred to the Washington Meridian, which is 77Ā  03ā€™02ā€ .3 west of Greenwich, according to
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  o
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Geological Survey Bulletin 1212. Aaron L. Shalowitz, LL.M., Coast and Geodetic Survey, says it is 77 03ā€™06ā€ .276.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  2) The principal meridian, adopted in 1803, which governs surveys in the southwestern part of Mississippi is also
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  named the Washington Meridian.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WATERS OF THE UNITED STATESĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ All waters within the United States which are navigable for the purpose of
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  commerce, or whose navigation successfully aids commerce.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WAYĀ  ā€“ A road, street or other passage. Technically, a right of passage over land.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WAYLEAVEĀ Ā Ā  ā€“ A right of way over or through land for the carriage of minerals from a mine or quarry. It is an
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  easement of the class calledĀ  ā€œrights of way,ā€Ā  and is generally created by express grant or reservation.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WEEKS LAW LANDSĀ Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ Federal acquired lands within National Forest boundaries acquired under 36 Stat. 961, the
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  weeks law.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WHARFING OUT, RIGHT OFĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ A right to the exclusive use of submerged lands as by the affixing thereto or the
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  establishment thereon of a permanent structure to some point within a navigable body of water. It presupposes
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  exclusive use and to that extent it may interfere with fishing or navigation.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WHARF PERMITĀ Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ A permit which authorizes the use of a shore-space reserve for wharfage purposes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WILDLIFE REFUGEĀ Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ A reservation for the protection of wildlife.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WILDLIFE REFUGE EXCHANGEĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ An exchange whereby the Federal Government receives title to lands within a
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  wildlife refuge.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WILLIAMETTE MERIDIANĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ The principal meridian governing surveys in Oregon and Washington; it was adopted
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  in 1851.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WIND RIVER MERIDIANĀ Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ The principal meridian governing surveys in a small area in Wyoming; it was adopted
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  in 1875.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WINZEĀ  ā€“ In mining, a vertical or steeply inclined passageway driven to connect a mine working with another.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WITHDRAWALĀ Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ An action which restricts the disposition of public lands and which holds them for specific public
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  purposes; also, public lands which have been dedicated to public purposes. See WITHDRAWAL, GENERAL
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ORDERS OF; RESERVATION.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WITHDRAWAL, GENERAL ORDERS OFĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ Under Executive orders Numbers 6910 (Nov. 26, 1934), and 6964
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  (Feb. 5, 1935), known as theĀ  ā€œGeneral Orders of Withdrawal,ā€Ā  all vacant public lands in Alabama, Arizona,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  and Wyoming were withdrawn for classification.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WITHIN LIMITSĀ Ā  ā€“ At less than allowable linear and angular errors of closure as set forth in the Manual of Surveying
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Instructions. Also within rectangular limits.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WITNESSĀ  ā€“ A person who testifies as to what he has observed. See EXPERT WITNESS.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WITNESS CORNERĀ Ā Ā Ā  ā€“ A monumented survey point usually on the line of survey near a corner established as a
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  reference when the corner is so situated as to render its monumentation or ready use impracticable.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WITNESS POINTĀ Ā  ā€“ A monumented station on a line of the survey, employed to perpetuate an important location
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  without special relation to any regular corner, except that the bearing or distance may be known.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WITNESS TREEĀ Ā Ā  ā€“ According to the General Instructions of 1846, and other instructions prior to that year,Ā  ā€œWitness
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  trees are signalized and marked as (bearing trees), but the course and distance to them, as well as the small chop,
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  are omitted.ā€Ā  Later, all trees used as corner accessories were marked as bearing trees, and the distance and bearing
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  from the corner was recorded. The termĀ  ā€œWitness treeā€Ā  became obsolete. See BEARING TREE.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  WRIT OF ERRORĀ Ā Ā  ā€“ A process of common law origin, it is a precept issued in writing by an appellate court to a lower
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  court for supposed error in law apparent on record. A writ of error removes nothing to the higher court for re-
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  examination except the law. See APPEAL.

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