Texas Surveyors Practice Exam

Who provided the first written instructions for U.S. surveys?

1. Edward Tiffin

2. Rufus Putnam

3. John Quincy Adams

4. James Monroe

The correct answer is: Edward Tiffin

Edward Tiffin is credited with providing the first written instructions for U.S. surveys. His instructions were significant in standardizing the surveying process during an important time of expansion in the United States. Tiffin, who served as the Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory, was responsible for laying out the system that would be utilized extensively in the surveying of public lands. This included the establishment of benchmarks, the use of chains for measuring, and methods to accurately report findings. Tiffin’s contributions helped shape the surveying practices in the emerging frontier, making a lasting impact on land measurement and the establishment of property boundaries. The other individuals mentioned played various roles in American history; however, their contributions were not focused on establishing the initial framework for land surveys in the way Tiffin did. For example, Rufus Putnam was an important figure in the surveying of the Northwest Territory but did not provide the first written instructions. John Quincy Adams and James Monroe, both President of the United States, were influential in political and diplomatic matters rather than in the technical aspects of surveying. Their relevance to surveying is more indirect, as their policies impacted land acquisition and expansion, but they were not directly responsible for the written instructions that standardized surveying practices.