Fred, It appears that the numbers like 5- are the numbered points along the border where the direction changes. As long as you have a direction and distance for each point, then DeedMapper will draw the figure. If you are missing one or the other for any point, DeedMapper doesn't know where the next point so it truncates the drawing, There are ways to get around this, but it takes some tedious fussing with the data to do it. I don't know what to do about streets, but I see no reason why you couldn't import a street map into DeedMapper. If you have a GPS or a friend who has one, you could get one of the points in Lat/Long coordinates and start from that point in DeedMapper too. Then you wouldn't need a street map. Barry Clark Fredericksburg, VA

On 23 Jul 2004 at 7:45, William B Clark wrote: Hi, > It appears that the numbers like 5- are the numbered points along \ > the border where the direction changes. Figured that one out already. :-) > As long as you have a direction and distance for each point, then > DeedMapper will draw the figure. If you are missing one or the other > for any point, DeedMapper doesn't know where the next point so it > truncates the drawing, There are ways to get around this, but it > takes some tedious fussing with the data to do it. I think that will be a problem as I go back in time where they say so many feet to a tree or a rock on the bank of the Delaware river or something similar. But I guess I'll worry about that when I get to it. I really would like to 'paint' the original farm lands and owners of our city as the place is only 1/2 square mile big and it should be doable. I gather that the trick is to have accurate directional degrees on a property description but the program permits entry of "North 85 degrees 10 Minutes West" even though I don't understand what that means? I guess it says in a general northwesterly direction, right? > I don't know what to do about streets, but I see no reason why you > couldn't import a street map into DeedMapper. The problem is which streets? Even recent property descriptions talk about a street which never really existed except as a sort of carriage route into the back of the properties. That street ran through my property and there is a mention of a right of way for others to get through. Today it's my boundary and I removed an iron fence with a big gate in it a few years ago because a tree had surrounded the gate. :-) The gate proved that 'something' was back there for carriages to get into. Maybe it doesn't even matter as all measurements are from the center of only two streets and I can manually enter their curb lines. > If you have a GPS or a friend who has one, you could get one of the > points in Lat/Long coordinates and start from that point in DeedMapper > too. Then you wouldn't need a street map. > > Barry Clark > Fredericksburg, VA Well, if I'm going to spend $99 just to draw my property lines through the ages, I think I can also buy a GPS system if it will help. How would this work? I just stand in the center of two intersecting streets and get a location reading and draw everything else relevant to that? Exactly what does that do for me? I mean no latitudes/longitudes are ever mentioned anywhere and I know where my property is. This is all very new to me but I do want to learn. Fred PS I have another question. Does deeding a property back and forth make any sense to anyone. It seems that in 1950 my place was sold (deeded) and bought right back again on the same date and time. Doesn't make a bit of sense to me as to why anyone would do that. 26 Warren St. Beverly, NJ 08010 FredRump@earthlink.net 609-386-6846 "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)