Page 39 - Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook

26 Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook

Sample sections showing rectangular land
descriptions, acreages and distances

Figure 3

Figure 2

Figure 5

Figure 4

Metes and bounds descriptions IMPORTANT: To locate a tract of land from a metes and
bounds description, start from the point of beginning and
follow it out (do not read backwards as in the case of a rec-
A metes and bounds description is a description of land
tangular description).
obtained by starting at a given point, running so many feet in
The small tract of land just located by the above metes and
a certain direction, so many feet in another direction, etc.,
bounds description could also be described as the SW 1/4 SW
back to the point of beginning.
1/4 NE 1/4 of the section. In most cases, the same tract of land
Example: In Figure 1, notice the small tract of land outlined. may be described in different ways. The rectangular system of
A typical metes and bounds description of this tract of land describing and locating land as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5
would be as follows: “Begin at the center of the section, is the simplest and is almost always used when possible.
thence north 660 feet, thence east 660 feet, thence south 660 In land descriptions, degree readings are not a measure of
feet, thence west 660 feet, back to the point of beginning and distance. They are combined with either north or south to
containing 10 acres, being a part of Section No. 2.” show the direction a line runs from a given point.