Question

Which of these was a characteristic of the metes and bounds system? A) It divided land into rectangular parcels. B) It surveyed land west of the Appalachian Mountains. C) It relied on natural features such as bodies of water and trees. D) It was designed by Thomas Jefferson to evenly populate farmlands. E) It divided land into narrow parcels extending to rivers and roads.

Answer 1

The metes and bounds system relied on natural features such as bodies of water and trees to divide land. This system introduced by English settlers during the colonial period proved to have difficulties in determining property lines. A later system, introduced by Thomas Jefferson, used rectangular grid lines to divide land into well-ordered parcels.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic of the metes and bounds system was C) It relied on natural features such as bodies of water and trees. This cadastral system, introduced by English settlers during the colonial period, involved scouting and hiring surveyors to inspect and describe the land using local landmarks like trees, boulders, or streams. The irregularity of this system created difficulties in determining property lines defined by moveable objects. Unlike the metes and bounds system, the township and range system introduced by Thomas Jefferson used rectangular grid lines to divide land into well-ordered and easily identifiable parcels, promoting the sale of land and the emergence of a middle class of yeoman farmers.

Answer 2

The metes and the bounds system is the system that is utilized in real estate, land, and real property description. This system is typically utilized in local geography to describe the physical features. Therefore, the characteristic that fits the definition of metes and bounds system is statement E.