The magnetic drift affects the entire globe. Whether the phenomenon exists elsewhere depends on how common building walls along magnetic compass lines has histo

The magnetic drift affects the entire globe. Whether the phenomenon exists elsewhere depends on how common building walls along magnetic compass lines has historically been. I wouldn't be surprised if it were more prevalent in colonial America. Much of Eurasia was divided up earlier, and much of the rest of the world later. This is pure speculation, but I wouldn't be surprised if the window of "compass-driven surveying" was brief. Likely the author just focused on his neighborhood, though.