Interesting. I did not know that about the direction of survey, short quarters, etc.

I think Ohio was the first state laid out in sections -- or at least part of it was (Congress Lands). Prior to OH, it was all metes and bounds, follow a river, etc. 

But even though I grew up in section land, we don't often describe tracts as "the north half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of a section" or similar. Instead, a deed description might say "Being a part of Section 19, more fully described as follows," then provide a survey, typically starting in a roadway. When owners sold off part of a section, there was no real attempt to follow lines at half- or quarter-mile intervals. We also don't talk about farming sections or quarters.

I wonder when or where this changed?