If a large rock happened to lie at the corner of a range or lot, the surveyor sometimes marked it with a drill.
Such rocks made the best corners.
Usually the four corners of the town were established by means of low, square granite posts, set in the earth and with the initial letter of the township cut in it with a drill.
As if it were yesterday I remember that sharp, cold morning.

Hard-frozen snow a foot deep still covered the cleared land, and in the woods it was much deeper.

The first heavy rainstorm of spring had come two days before, but it had cleared off cold and windy the preceding evening, with snow squalls and zero weather again.

Nevertheless, Addison and I were delighted at the old Squire's proposal, especially since the old gentleman had hinted that we could have the fee, which was usually four dollars when two of the selectmen walked the lines and were out all day.
"Go to the northeast corner of the town first," the old Squire said.
"The corner post is three miles and a half from here; you will find it in the cleared land a hundred rods northeast of the barn on the Jotham Silver place.

Start from there and go due west till you reach the wood-lot on the Silver farm.