Basic Legal Concepts - Practical Boundary Surveying - page 20

Fig. 3.2 An old stone bound—an example of real, or physical evidence
Smith's property line would be a record monument. If your deed calls for your
east line to run along Main Street, then the line of Main Street would be a record
monument.
Record monuments are potentially more difficult to establish on the ground
than are physical monuments. If you deed calls for a stone wall as your southerly
boundary and if the wall is still there and it is the same wall that was in existence
when the original deed was created, it should not be too difficult to establish your
property line. The line is wherever the wall is located.
But what if your deed just says that your north line is bounded by land of
Samuel Smith, making no reference to physical monuments? How do you locate
your boundary? Your deed is actually saying that in order to establish your prop-
erty line you must establish Samuel Smith's property line. Your next step would