Introduction
This site utilizes the Cadastral Automated Images Display System (CAIDS) to
view "tif" images of the Cadastral Survey Plats, with information to guide
you to other plats and documents containing supporting land information. Upon
selection of a particular image file it will open automatically in the
viewer. Within the viewer you can ZOOM, PAN, SAVE and PRINT copies of the
image for future use. For "Help" using the Image Viewer see (How to use this Site)
These images are updated on a quarterly basis. If more current information is
needed contact the BLM Public Room at: (801) 539-4001.
BackgroundThe plat is the drawing which represents the lines surveyed,
established, retraced, or resurveyed, showing the direction and length of each
line; the relation to the adjoining official survey; the boundaries,
description, and area of each parcel of the land; and, as far as practicable,
the topography, culture, and improvements within the limits of the survey.
Occasionally the plat may constitute the entire record of the survey. The legal
significance of the plat and field notes is set out in Alaska United Gold
Mining Co. v. Cincinnatti-Alaska Mining Co., 45 L.D.330 (1916).
It has been repeatedly held by both State and Federal courts that plats and
field notes referred to in patents may be resorted to for the purpose of
determining the limits of the area that passed under such patents. In the case
of Gragin v. Powell (128 U.S. 691, 696), the Supreme Court said:
"It is a well settled principle that when lands are granted according to an
official plat of the survey of such lands, the plat itself, with all its
notes, lines descriptions and landmarks, becomes as much a part of the grant
or deed by which they are conveyed, and controls so far as limits are
concerned, as if such descriptive features were written out upon the face of
the deed or the grant itself."
These legal principles apply to subsequent deeds of transfer related to the
official plat. The public lands are not considered surveyed or identified until
approval of the survey and filing of the plat in the administering land office
by direction of the Bureau of Land Management. United State v. Cowlinshaw,
202 Fed. 317 (1913). No subdivision are to be "disposed of" until so
identified. United States v. Hurlburt, 72 F. 2d 427 (1934). Therefore,
the field notes and plat must be examined to obtain the "complete" legal
record.
Disclaimer
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) maintains this server to enhance public
access to BLM information. BLM provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to
the accuracy, reliability or completeness of furnished data.
Only Public information will be maintained on the BLM home page or made
accessible through links to other Web pages. We strongly recommend that BLM data
be acquired directly from a BLM server and not through other sources that may
change the data in some way. Use external links only when there is a direct
relationship between the program coverage of the BLM home page and the material
to which it links.
Some of the documents on this server may contain live references (or
pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please
note that BLM does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness,
or accuracy of these outside materials.
While BLM makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information,
various data such as names, telephone numbers, etc. may change prior to
updating. BLM welcomes suggestions on how to improve our home page and correct
errors.
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