BAMA MAMMOTHS

FREEMAN LINE

USGS Topo Quad 33087a6 Fosters

from the April 15, 1891 SOUTHERN STAR (Newton, AL)

comments by University of Alabama engineering professor, R.A. Hardaway: "The public lands in Alabama have two distinct surveys; that in South Alabama, known as the St. Stephens meridian, and having the 31st parallel of north latitude on its east and west base (present-day Alabama-Florida line), is known commonly as Freeman's survey. In North Alabama, Coffee's survey, beginning at the Tennessee line at the 35th parallel north latitude running south; its principal meridian passing through Huntsville and terminates on the 24th range of townships of Freeman's survey, measured from the 31st parallel of north latitude.

"The Coffee survey completed the 21st township south from Tennessee, in which range of townships Columbiana, Tuscaloosa and Carrolton are situated, but it leaves the 22nd township incomplete, and unfortunately the north and south lines of the Freeman and Coffee surveys are not prolongations of each other and do not have the same angle of variations. This causes much confusion and uncertainty in description of lands lying on the junction of those two surveys."

from the June 20, 2000 TUSCALOOSA NEWS