The northwest ordinance of 1785 reserved some land in each township for use. foreign indian public civilian government

The ordinance laid out land in each township for government use. Each township was thirty-six square miles in area, divided into thirty-six one mile square lots. Of the thirty-six lots, five were reserved for government or public use. In particular, the sixteenth lot of every township was reserved for use by public schools. Other lots were earmarked for later sale by government in order to secure the money necessary to fund public projects.