In the event of conflict among calls in a description, which call has the lowest priority?

In surveying, when there is a conflict among calls in a property description, the hierarchy of calls helps determine which call should take precedence. In this context, the call for distance is given the lowest priority.

The rationale behind this prioritization is based on the concept of establishing boundaries and locating points. Generally, the hierarchy is as follows: natural monuments (physical features such as trees or rocks) and artificial monuments (man-made markers like fences or buildings) take precedence because they provide a tangible way to identify boundaries. Following those, course directions such as bearings are also prioritized since they indicate the intended direction of property lines.

Distance, while important, is considered less definitive because it can be more easily disputed or mismeasured compared to the physical presence of monuments or the precise direction indicated by courses. Therefore, in cases where distances conflict with other calls, surveyors will rely on the more reliable evidence represented by monuments and bearings to resolve the discrepancy. This hierarchy ensures that the most accurate and definitive means of identifying property boundaries is used, maintaining the integrity of the property description.