What is the E-W axis referred to in a government land survey?

The correct answer, which identifies the E-W (East-West) axis in government land surveys, is referred to as the baseline. In the context of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) used in the United States, the baseline serves as a reference line for surveying and mapping. It is specifically used to establish the starting point for measuring townships and sections north or south of that line.

The baseline is crucial for creating a grid over land areas, which allows for clear demarcation of parcels and facilitates land management and taxation. When surveys are conducted, the baseline is utilized alongside principal meridians, which are the North-South reference lines, to form a comprehensive and organized way of mapping out land.

In contrast, principal meridians are specifically oriented north-south, section lines divide townships into sections, and lines of longitude represent vertical lines on the Earth's surface, thus providing a different context. Therefore, understanding the role of the baseline is essential when dealing with government land surveys as it represents the fundamental east-west reference for laying out land divisions.