Iowa
Survey, then Sell
On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union. The Board of Public Works was created in 1847 to supervise the improvement of the river, sell the adjacent land, and apply the proceeds to pay for the expenses of the improvement. The government was selling all public land for $1.25 per acre. An entire section of 640 acres would sell for $800.00. Land surveying was done under a contract system. The deputy surveyor was contracted by the surveyor general at $3.25 per mile for township lines and $2.75 per mile for section lines. They were required to pay for all of the expenses of the party until the contract was completed. Typically, each member was paid $15 per month plus their keep. One deputy surveyor said that they could make "good money" if the weather was optimal, which it often wasn't. Surveying section lines within a township typically took five to 15 days. Surveying 60 miles of section lines required about 120 miles of walking.