Much
of the government work had been rather indifferently done, or the
government corners had been imperfectly preserved, and there were
frequent disputes between adjacent land-owners about boundary lines.
Frequently Lincoln was called upon in such cases to find the corner
in controversy. His verdict was invariably the end of the dispute, so
general was the confidence in his honesty and skill. Some of these
old corners located by him are still in existence. The people of
Petersburg proudly remember that they live in a town which was laid
out by Lincoln. This he did in 1836, and it was the work of several
weeks.
Lincoln's pay as a surveyor was three dollars a day, more than he had
ever before earned. Compared with the compensation for like services
nowadays it seems small enough; but at that time it was really
princely. The Governor of the State received a salary of only one
thousand dollars a year, the Secretary of State six hundred dollars,
and good board and lodging could be obtained for one dollar a week.
But even three dollars a day did not enable him to meet all his
financial obligations.
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