The directions today made it pretty hard to get lost - turn right on US Highway 12 and continue for about 100 miles to Aberdeen, SD. Unfortunately, the directions were the only thing simple about today's ride. With a stiff headwind, plenty of road construction, and periods of heat interrupted by the occasional thunderstorm, I inched my way across the Great Plains at a painfully slow pace of 11 mph. I am moving up my rest day to hopefully take advantage of more favorable winds forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Traveling in South Dakota makes you keenly aware of the grid that divides up rural lands across most of the northern US. Section markers and gravel cross streets with drab names like 394th Avenue ticked by mile by mile as I rode westward on the highway. A legacy of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and subsequent laws organizing the disposal of public lands, settlers were offered a 1 mile square box of land - a section within a 6 mile x 6 mile township organized on a rectangular grid. Much of that grid survives today (just look out your window on your next flight).
In addition to organizing the settlement of the Old Northwest and the Great Plains, the Land Ordinance established enduring American institutions of public education and local government. When originally debating how to settle land outside the thirteen colonies, Congress faced a choice between adopting the land settlement practices of New England or the South and chose the former.
One section within each township was reserved for schooling creating an expectation for public education provided by the township. The unique decentralized system of education in the US follows in no small measure from this practice. Similarly, several sections within each township were reserved to the local government; this land provided an important source of revenues for the township as public sections were parceled off to raise funds to enhance township services. Moreover, the administration of these communal sections encouraged active participation by the citizens in local government. Something to consider as I moved (slowly) from section to section, township to township further west.
Distance - 95.4 miles
Cumulative Distance - 1685.9 miles
Vertical Elevation - 2284 feet
Traveling in South Dakota makes you keenly aware of the grid that divides up rural lands across most of the northern US. Section markers and gravel cross streets with drab names like 394th Avenue ticked by mile by mile as I rode westward on the highway. A legacy of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and subsequent laws organizing the disposal of public lands, settlers were offered a 1 mile square box of land - a section within a 6 mile x 6 mile township organized on a rectangular grid. Much of that grid survives today (just look out your window on your next flight).
In addition to organizing the settlement of the Old Northwest and the Great Plains, the Land Ordinance established enduring American institutions of public education and local government. When originally debating how to settle land outside the thirteen colonies, Congress faced a choice between adopting the land settlement practices of New England or the South and chose the former.
One section within each township was reserved for schooling creating an expectation for public education provided by the township. The unique decentralized system of education in the US follows in no small measure from this practice. Similarly, several sections within each township were reserved to the local government; this land provided an important source of revenues for the township as public sections were parceled off to raise funds to enhance township services. Moreover, the administration of these communal sections encouraged active participation by the citizens in local government. Something to consider as I moved (slowly) from section to section, township to township further west.
Starting Point - Milbank, SD
Ending Point - Aberdeen, SDDistance - 95.4 miles
Cumulative Distance - 1685.9 miles
Vertical Elevation - 2284 feet
Counties - Grant, Roberts, Day, Brown, SD
Wind - strong headwind
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