"buttman" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 28, 10:14 am, Big John wrote:
Jay

Be sure and remind him that the fence lines run N-S and E-W in Iowa.
Great help in navigation.

Big John

Don't they run like that everywhere?

No. They only run where ther are section lines. The property lines in the
east are run along the "metes and bounds" system. Farmer Johns property run
along the creek to the top of the hill over to the big rock and back, based
on topography.

Surveying by using section lines happened during the time the west was
"won." Section lines start to show up in eastern Ohio and go west from
there.

That's why there are no straight roads in New England.

Karl Curator